| There is no hard scientific evidence of what causes | | | | of their medication |
| panic attacks symptoms. But there has to be | | | | 5. Fears and Phobias |
| underlying issues or conditions that can help trigger the | | | | People with fears and phobias seem to be more likely |
| symptoms of a panic attack. And there are several | | | | to suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, because |
| potential causes that many professionals seem to | | | | they already have increased levels of stress and |
| agree on. You'll discover what these are here. | | | | anxiety in their lives. In other words it only takes a |
| Panic Attacks Causes | | | | relatively small increase in stress (e.g. caught in an |
| 1. Life Experiences / Upbringing | | | | elevator, stuck in traffic, etc.) to trigger a full-blown |
| Any traumatic event or situation in a person's | | | | panic attack. |
| upbringing or later life, may lead to anxiety and panic | | | | 6. Family History (Genetics) |
| attacks at some point in the future. This is especially | | | | As with many other conditions, it seems that your |
| true where the person hasn't been able to confront | | | | family history may have an influence on your |
| the event and accept the change that such an event | | | | predisposition to anxiety and panic attacks. For |
| brings about. This could be things like a death of a | | | | example, if someone in your family had anxiety |
| loved one, parents' divorce, etc. In these circumstances | | | | disorder and panic attacks, you are more likely to have |
| the person who is unable to accept these changes | | | | the same, compared with somebody who hadn't had |
| retains their angst, fears, stress, and anxiety over a | | | | such a history. Some numbers seem to suggest that, |
| period of time, so that it can take over their lives. | | | | where it 'runs in the family,' you are twice as likely to |
| When this occurs they are often diagnosed with an | | | | suffer anxiety and panic attacks. On the other hand, |
| anxiety disorder, which is an ideal platform for causing | | | | there are many people who fall into this category who |
| panic attacks. | | | | never suffer panic attacks. |
| 2. Your Gender | | | | At the heart of most, if not all, of the above is that, |
| Studies have shown that the female population is 50% | | | | whatever the underlying condition, the person |
| more likely to suffer anxiety and panic attacks than | | | | concerned is likely to have higher-than-normal levels of |
| men. There is no obvious reason for this, but one could | | | | anxiety. And it usually only takes a relatively small |
| argue that, because of their more nurturing nature, they | | | | increase in stress to trigger a panic attack. |
| react to events more deeply and in a different way. In | | | | Panic Attack Symptoms and the Fear of Panic |
| other words, the basic primeval differences between | | | | Attacks |
| men's and women's psyche come into play. | | | | But let's look at someone who already has had a |
| 3. Medical Conditions | | | | panic attack. The symptoms; tightness in chest / throat, |
| The American Heart Foundation have found that there | | | | hyperventilation, sweating, palpitations, dizziness, tingling |
| is a link between panic attacks and mitral valve | | | | fingers, the real feeling of impending doom, are just so |
| prolapse. MVP is a disease of the heart whose | | | | terrifying that they don't want to experience those |
| symptoms are similar to a panic attack (see 'Panic | | | | symptoms again. Perhaps this is you. So this 'fear' of |
| Attack Symptoms' below). So although the symptoms | | | | having another attack is imprinted on the psyche. The |
| of the condition are similar to a panic attack, someone | | | | fear is then built on an already increased level of |
| with MVP can have an actual panic attack. Other | | | | anxiety, so that all it takes is a relatively small increase |
| medical conditions are things such as, using stimulants, | | | | in stress to trigger a panic attack. |
| suddenly stopping certain medications, hyperthyroidism, | | | | Basically you are in a vicious cycle of anxiety that |
| and hypoglycemia. | | | | goes something like this: anxiety > fear > panic |
| 4. Medications | | | | attack > anxiety > fear > panic attack, etc. |
| Some medications contain chemicals that can provide | | | | And as long as this psychological fear of another |
| the underlying conditions in the patient to make it more | | | | attack persists, you are more likely to have such an |
| likely that a panic attack can occur. Attention Deficit | | | | attack and keep on having them. You need to break |
| Hyperactivity Disorder patients, for example, who are | | | | the cycle of anxiety to prevent further attacks and to |
| prescribed Ritalin, can suffer panic attacks as a result | | | | then cure your general anxiety. |