subject: Symptoms of Panic Attacks and Different Cures [print this page] Symptoms of Panic Attacks and Different Cures
A panic attack can really be distressful and for people who face it at the onset, the feeling is as if they are going to have heart failure. These attacks have been categorized into different types such as spontaneous, cued and situational. The seizure is completely sudden and catches the victim by surprise.
There is also no specific time when the person will have the seizure and it can be anytime during the day. One thing that has been found in statistical analysis is that these panic attacks are more common in women in comparison to men.
Reasons
There are various reasons associated with this disorder such as heredity problems, phobias or side effects of medications. Many times anxiety, stress and fear of physical harm also work as triggers.
Common Symptoms
Before proper treatment is started it is important to confirm that the problem has been correctly identified and it is not some other disorder. The common symptoms are:
Increase in pulse rate
High heart beat
Continuous sweating
Cheat pains
Nausea & dizziness
Difficulty in breathing
Fear of death
Cold flushes
Choking sensation
Treatment
Treatment can be of different types such as therapy or medication. Therapy is quite effective in controlling this problem and reducing the chances of recurrence. Some common therapies that are used include relaxation, cognitive behavior & exposure therapy.
In addition to different types of therapies, medication also plays an important part in treatment of these seizures. Medications such as beta blockers, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, inhibitors and tranquilizers are commonly part of the treatment of these attacks.
Beta Blockers: These are helpful in reducing rapid heartbeats & trembling and other similar physical symptoms.
Tricyclic Antidepressants: Antidepressants help in reducing the anxiety the patient goes through. But it has to be kept in mind that they have side effects and are only short term solution to the problem.
Benzodiazepines: This type of medication can be taken for a longer time period and according to many doctors these have been effective in reducing the symptoms in seventy percent of the patients.
Inhibitors: Inhibitors like MAOIs and SSRIs work effectively to reduce the problem and fall in the category of anti-depressants. They work by helping brain maintain proper level of serotonin which is normally low in patients with panic disorders.
We would like to add here that you should always consult a medical practitioner before starting any kind of medication to avoid suffering from side effects or negative reactions. By properly following the prescribed medications and therapies the problem can be easily rectified and future occurrences prevented.
