What is a Panic Attack? Have you ever suddenly felt an extreme amount of fear for no apparent reason? Does this fear trigger a physiological response? If you answered yes to the following questions, then you could have had a panic attack.
With these attacks comes an immense amount of fear.
This fear comes from the physiological effects, which can be a feeling of losing complete control to having a heart attack, that an individual feels doing the attack.
During these experiences, the individual usually panics more, making the attack that much more of an intense experience.
Just because an individual has had a panic attack does not mean that he or she will have multiple attacks during their lifetime.
However, in the event that an individual does have multiple attacks, then he or she may be dealing with what is known as Panic Disorder, which is a type of anxiety disorder.
Individuals with Panic Disorder can experience the disorder in two ways.
These ways are with or without Agoraphobia, which is experiencing anxiety about, or avoiding places or situations from which an individual may have trouble escaping from or escape may be embarrassing or in which help may not be available in the event of having a Panic Attack or panic like symptoms.
Symptoms There are many symptoms of a panic attack.
However, every individual does not experience every symptom nor is the experience the same for them.
In order to be considered a panic attack, an individual must experience at least four of the following thirteen symptoms.
In addition, the symptoms must have developed abruptly and reached a peak within ten minutes.
The symptoms include:

• Pounding Heart
• Sweating
• Shaking
• Feelings of shortness of breath
• Feeling of choking
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Nausea or abdominal distress
• Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
• Feelings of unreality or being detached from oneself
• Fear of losing control or going crazy
• Fear of dying
• Numbness or tingling sensations
• Chills or hot flashes

As mentioned above, an individual may experience many or just a few of the symptoms.
Once the symptoms subside, an individual may feel very fatigued.
The important aspect is to remember that it is very important to seek medical help because the symptoms are similar to those of an individual having a heart attack.
If you experience recurrent unexpected panic attacks that are followed by one month or more of persistently worrying about having additional attacks, worry about the implications or consequences of the attacks, or a significant change in behavior related to the attacks, then you may be diagnosed with Panic Disorder.
Causes The actual cause(s) of a panic attack is unknown.
However, there are several hypotheses of what might be the cause of them.
These hypotheses include: genetics, stress, and changes in brain function due to imbalances of neurotransmitters.
Researchers have suggested that a panic attack is the result of the body's flight or fight response system.
What occurs in this system is that the two subsystems of the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system) balance one another.
For example, if an individual is faced with a dangerous situation, such as being chased by a vicious dog, then his or her sympathetic nervous system will kick in and begin to pump adrenaline so the individual can escape.
When the danger is over with, the parasympathetic nervous system kicks in restoring an individual back to rest.
However, in the case of a panic attack the parasympathetic nervous system does not kick in so the individual remains in a state of arousal.
Risk Factors Due to the subjectivity of diagnosis, it is hard to come to a precise conclusion of what is causing the attacks.
Whatever the cause/factor of the attacks, they affect between 2 and 6 million Americans.
Of the 2 to 6 million American effected by panic attacks, the majority of them are women.
These attacks normally begin in adolescence or in the thirties.
Fortunately, just because an individual experiences an attack, it does not mean that he or she will suffer for a lifetime.
Factors that may increase your chance of having a panic attack include but are not limited to: - Stress - Family History - Significant Life Changes When to seek medical advice It is important that you seek medical attention promptly when experiencing panic attacks to rule out any other medical condition.
If the symptoms are in fact due to an attack, then your primary physician can refer you to a psychologist and/or a psychiatrist.
Unfortunately these options can be quite costly especially if you're only experiencing milder forms of anxiety disorders.
There are dozens of books and step-by-step (video-)guides that teach and show you techniques that can help keep the symptoms at a minimum when facing the triggers.
You'll find some of these on my website listed below.