The Most Common Symptoms of Panic Attacks And What You Can Do To Stop Them

Want to know what a panic attack feels like? Trust me you don’t. I’ve heard people attribute it to a heart attack. Personally my experiences dealt more with shortness of breath. I was on heart medication called beta-blockers which perhaps prevented my heart rate from rising too rapidly but the feeling is immense, uncomfortable and you just want it gone. If are looking for symptoms of panic attacks they most traditionally include:

1. Chest Pain – The most common symptom of people suffering from panic attack is chest pain. Many elderly including my grandfather that I have mentioned on this blog earlier get and intense amount of chest pain while having a panic attack. This seems to be caused by a reaction in the brain that causes the heart to pump blood faster despite not having any reason to do so. It’s estimated that about 1/4^th of visits to the ER regarding chest pain are anxiety related.
2. Heart Palpitations – An irregular or fast heartbeat is what you should feel when you are being chased by a lion. Not when you are standing in line at McDonald’s.  That doesn’t mean though that your condition is not serious. Heart palpitations are often a symptom of panic attacks.
3. Upset Stomach – Many people have digestive reactions related to stress and anxiety. Anxiety is the problem, a panic attack is the result but stress is usually the cause. When stress is poorly managed it results is digestive issues that may be related to an upset stomach.  An upset stomach is a symptom of a panic attack but not always needed.
4. Difficulty Breathing -  If you are having a hard time breathing and feel as if you asre gasping for air this is certainly a sure syptom of a panic attack. This for me personally was one of the most major and scariest feelings you could have because losing air makes you feel like you are dying and that is real fear.

These are the 4 major symptoms that I have personally seen in panic attacks. Others include but are not limited to terror, unexplained or irrational fears of death, hot flashes in women or chills, dizzy spells and immediate need to escape.  All of these are symptoms of panic attacks and if you are having them now you need to visit a doctor. It is okay to call 911 if you feel like you are having or a loved one is suffering from a panic attack.

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