The Medical Minute – Anxiety or Panic Attack? It can be both.

A sudden attack can strike like a spring storm on a sunny day. Your heart pounds in an instant. You sweat and struggle to breathe. The symptoms disappear as quickly as they appear.

What was that? You might have thought you were experiencing a heart attack because it was intense, violent and painful.

It could have been a completely different organ – the brain.

You’ve experienced a panic disorder. Up to 4.7% of U.S. adults suffer from these intense anxiety attacks. These are often mistaken for anxiety attacks. They cover a wide range of ailments but are all less intense and have fewer physical manifestations than the most severe of all panic attacks.

As with anxiety, panic attack triggers can be objects, smells, or memories. However, the impetus may be so subtle that the attack appears to have no cause.

WHAT IS A PANIC ASSASSINATION?

I explained that “a panic attack is an intense surge of anxiety which peaks in minutes.” The panic attack peaks within 10 minutes and then resolves.

Symptoms include

• Heart palpitations
• Sweating
• Shortness of Breath
• Nausea
• Chest pain
• Tingling of the limbs
• Fear of death or going insane

It affects how you function. One panic attack can lead to another, and you may always feel anxious.

It may be a panic disorder if you experience panic attacks and worry about them or alter your behaviour.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PANIC AND ANXIETY ATTEMPT?

Anxiety can cause a wide range of problems. Nearly everyone experiences anxiety at some point.

When she first began at Penn State College of Medicine, Nguyen was anxious. The pressure of success and the hard work of her classmates made it difficult for her to sleep. She was having trouble sleeping and was worried that she would not live up to expectations. She talked to her peers and sought help from the College of Medicine’s mental health resources.

She said it took her about a week to feel better.

Boodoo also has battled anxiety. He felt the same pressure as Nguyen did as a medical student. Boodoo confesses that he still has significant anxiety, even though he enjoys caring for patients. Boodoo said that he is always concerned about the care he provides to his patients, but no one can be perfect. He also worries about making mistakes and feels pressure from the industry.

He relies on mindfulness meditation to calm down and confides in those he trusts.

Panic attacks are the most severe anxiety disorder. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not mention “anxiety attacks”. The term “anxiety attack” is not mentioned in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Boodoo explained that fear is an emotional reaction to an impending threat. “Anxiety is the anticipation of a potential threat.”

Anxiety disorders are caused when the anticipation of a situation causes distress or impairment. A doctor may diagnose social anxiety disorder if, for example, you suffer from social anxiety that interferes with your ability to perform at work.

Other disorders include social anxiety disorder (GAD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and separation anxiety disorder.

Boodoo defines anxiety attacks as any more intense episode than usual. A panic attack is a subset of an anxiety attack.

During an anxiety attack, patients can experience restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and muscle tension. The attack can last anywhere from minutes to several hours. People can function normally through panic attacks.

WHAT is the best way to treat panic assassins?

Doctors can provide psychotherapy and medication. Boodoo: “We try to use psychotherapy first.”

Boodoo suggests strategies to help his patients who are also undergoing psychotherapy during a panic attack, including:

• Deep Breathing
• Visualization exercises
• Self-reassurance: (realizing that even though you have also a panic episode, it will pass).

It’s important not to say, “Don’t be worried”, if you know someone experiencing a panic disorder.

Boodoo said, “They will worry.” It’s also so intense. You can add to their anxiety by telling them to stop doing what they cannot do at the time.

Let the victim know that you are there to support them.

Boodoo stated that cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy is the best-studied treatment for anxiety disorders, including panic disorder. This type of therapy attempts to change thought patterns and mental conditioning.

WHAT KINDS OF MEDICINE WORK

Doctors usually only prescribe psychiatric medication to those suffering from panic disorder. Pills might not work if you have only had one panic attack or are experiencing a low-level anxiety disorder.

There are two main types of medications for panic attacks.

• Antidepressants, specifically Selective Serotonin-Reuptake Inhibitors. The FDA has approved sertraline, Zoloft and paroxetine, Paxil and Prozac. Patients take these pills daily who experience fewer panic attacks over time. In two to four weeks, you will notice a difference.
• Rescue Drugs– These drugs are taken at the beginning or during a panic attack. They work quickly and relieve the symptoms. FDA-approved rescue drugs include benzodiazepines like clonazepam, Klonopin, and alprazolam, or Xanax. Doctors often prescribe two drugs that aren’t FDA-approved because they’re less addictive and safer for overdoses: clonidine (Catapres) and hydroxyzine (Vistaril).

Cognitive behavioural therapy is generally considered more effective than pills.

You may experience panic attacks if you stop taking the medication.

You have a greater chance of eradicating anxiety if you identify the cause.