Health Conditions

Panic attacks occur suddenly and without warning. During a panic attack, a person may experience chest pain or a pounding heart, an intense feeling of terror, dizziness, sweating, tingling or numbness in the fingers or toes, difficulty breathing, and nausea. The sufferer may genuinely believe that he or she is having a heart attack or stroke, or is on the verge of death. The sufferer cannot predict when an attack will occur, and many develop intense anxiety between episodes, worrying when and where the next one will strike. In between times there is a persistent, lingering worry that another attack could come any minute. Most panic attacks last for just a few minutes, but they can last longer. In rare cases, they may last an hour or more.

About 2% of American adults will be affected by panic disorder at some point in their lives. Women are affected two or three times more often than men. It can appear at any age, but most often it begins in young adults. Not everyone who experiences panic attacks will develop panic disorder. Panic disorder is often accompanied by other conditions such as depression, alcoholism, or social anxiety disorder. In addition, panic disorder may give rise to phobias, which can develop in places or situations where panic attacks have occurred. For example, if a panic attack strikes while the sufferer is out shopping, he or she may develop a fear of stores, and start avoiding them. Sometimes, the panic disorder is accompanied by a fear of public or open places, which is known as agoraphobia. In severe cases of agoraphobia, the sufferer can become completely housebound.

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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.