Anxiety attacks, better known in psychology as panic attacks, affect approximately 3% of the world's population, although the incidence is estimated to be even higher as manypeople do not seek medical help.The first anxiety attack can occur at any time and at any age, although the first symptoms usually appear during adolescence or early adulthood and then subside in old age. Anxiety crisis is also known to be much more common in women than in men.Once the first anxiety attack occurs, this experience is likely to repeat itself unless we take precautions. Thus a vicious circle of fear and tension is generated which feeds anxiety by generating new attacks. However, the good news is that treatment for panic attacks is usually very effective: between 70 and 90% of people who undergo therapy are able to control their symptoms.However, we must remember that first we undergo treatment the better the results. Therefore it is very important to learn how to identify the symptoms of anxiety attacks.
The main symptoms of panic attacks
- Sweating - Shaking or shaking - Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing - Chest tightness - Palpitations and increased heart rate - Choking sensation - Nausea - Dizziness, loss of balance and / or fainting - Tingling or numbness - Chills or hot flashes see, most of the symptoms of panic attacks are similar to those experienced during a heart attack, which is why so many people are afraid of being on the verge of dying.This is because during these episodes our body reacts by producing "stress hormones", which are the ones that generate all these symptoms.
How to distinguish a panic attack from a heart attack?
Anxiety attacks are often accompanied by: - ​​Feelings of unreality or depersonalization; that is, one feels separate from the body - Fear of losing control In addition, it is almost always preceded by situations of high stress, such as the loss of a loved one, an overly stressful work plan, or a family conflict. In many cases, the person will also have livedpreviously small episodes that generated symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath and palpitations. Another key differentiator is time. Symptoms of the anxiety attack usually begin abruptly and
they peak during the first 10 minutes then go into remission. The pain from a heart attack usually lasts a few minutes, may fade and then return, but if it's your first episode it's best to see a doctor right away. This will determine whether it was a heart attack or a simple anxiety attack.In fact, we must not forget a study from Massachusetts General Hospital, according to which menopausal women who had had a panic attack in the past six months ran a four times the risk of suffering from a heart attack and three times the chance of suffering a cerebrovascular accident in a five-year period.
