In recent years the so-called “panic attack” or “panic disorder” has become a recurring theme. A new disease of modern society that can affect anyone, regardless of sex, social status or age. But let us first see what is this disease:

Panic Attack

When the first episodes occur, symptoms usually appear for no apparent reason that incurs. Later crisis are adding associated with places or situations, such as leaving home, being alone, with many people spaces or confined spaces.

As a result of these crises a person begins to feel worried because they do not want to re-experience the same situation again and then the tendency is to avoid situations and places associated with any new episode.

The logical consequence of this type of painting is a state of fear called “anticipatory anxiety” and so the person begins to develop several behaviors to avoid situations known as “Agorafobia” with the aim of not being exposed to the risk of living moments which may generate the risk of further panic attacks.

The panic attack usually occurs between the second and third decade of life, however, can occur at any age including children. Moreover, it is noteworthy that panic disorder most often affects people who suffer from other diseases related to moods such as depression or bipolar disorder or also anxiety, social anxiety and cases of post-traumatic stress.

Some of the most common symptoms can appear before a panic attack are:

  • Dizziness, unsteadiness and a feeling of emptiness in the head
  • Fear of fainting
  • Feeling weak
  • Sweating, shaking or chills
  • Fear of dying or losing control
  • Chest tightness, palpitations
  • Palpitations and rapid pulse
  • Shortness of breath and shortness of breath
  • Malaise

Furthermore, this disease has three main elements or features:

  1. The recurrent panic attacks: It is the primary disorder characterized by extreme panic attacks, starting abruptly and for no apparent reason that generates it. Physical symptoms are intense, feeling of death, state of lawlessness and terror. As the disease progresses crisis may occur more limited intensity that you feel you can gain control. These crises often go unnoticed and this favors the fact that a residual symptoms persist consequently resulting in relapses.
  2. Anticipatory anxiety: This stage is often characterized by a state of constant concern, fearing that the crisis will continue and increase anxiety when the patient should meet some of the situations which you fear, being one of the symptoms that it causes more suffering because the accompanying continuously.
  3. Avoidance behaviors (Agoraphobia): The person tends to avoid those situations or sites that may be associated with new episodes, for example, avoid traveling alone or just leaving home, confined spaces, or too busy, social gatherings, cross including tunnels and public transport.


It tries to avoid situations or places that are associated with new episodes, or the difficulty of escape or receive timely assistance in case of a new crisis, Common examples are to avoid going out or traveling alone, confined spaces, crowded or isolated, meetings social, use public transport and through tunnels.

Causes of Panic attacks are varied including:

  • The Biological: There are studies that have come to determine the existence of poor regulation of the central nervous system functions, especially a structure called the amygdala that is responsible for regulating the response to fear. The familial predisposition but not inherited the disease but because of an increased susceptibility to this disease.
  • Environmental factors: In general, people with this disease have faced situations closely related to abandonment, separation, loss or other events in your life that have been significant prior to onset of symptoms. They may have been situations encountered in childhood or adolescence.
  • The psychological: It has been found that people suffering from panic attacks less tolerant to those situations in which they believe threatened important interpersonal relationships. There a family history of apprehensive and overprotective. On the other hand face the insecurity generated panic attacks and a significant dependence.

There are important factors that facilitate the episodes of panic attacks such as:

  • The use of some drugs
  • Consumption of alcohol excessively
  • The alcohol withdrawal syndrome
  • The intake of “diet pills”
  • Excessive consumption of caffeine (cola and coffee)
  • Consumption of snuff
  • Thyroid problems, sudden low blood pressure, asthma and heart rhythm problems
  • Strenuous exercise
  • Spend the night in excess
  • Stress

There are various treatments to control panic attacks and include special medications, psychotherapy, understanding through education about the disorder. Always get better results when you combine several treatments.

Usually in an initial stage of treatment drugs are used in order to correct the lack of biological regulation that is characteristic of this disease. It looks at this early stage to overcome the fears and this can be achieved in a short time, about eight weeks, maintaining the drug treatment for at least a year to prevent any relapse.

It is always advised a treatment that is integral to self-care measures to relieve distress and have a good long-term prognosis. Consistency is an important factor for a good result and the premature suspension of treatment is a major cause of subsequent relapse.

Factors that may cause relapses in this condition are always those who were not treated fully as mild panic or avoidance behaviors that are present some of the risk factors such as a malfunction of the thyroid or smoking and all those factors were not well resolved as the duels not sufficiently developed.

Finally, as measures of self-care is important information to understand how unpleasant it is an experience of panic attack but is not dangerous or involves immediate risks. Was considered that if they stop the thoughts associated with fear symptoms tend to decrease.

For those who are familiar with this fundamental problem is to accept that it is a disease that requires specialized treatment, helping patients to become aware of this as soon as possible to perform a query.

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