When attacks occur they don’t only affect the sufferer they also have an impact on any onlookers who often feel powerless to help. Some of the symptoms include breathlessness, pain the chest (with a feeling of constriction), increased heart rates, hot or cold flashes, burning sensations in the face or neck region, nausea, dizzy spells, vertigo, and more. It is important that you understand the difference between a panic attack and other things, such as a heart attack, since both can display similar symptoms.

Often, because there are close similarities the person experiencing the attack feels as if they are actually having a heart attack and this makes them even more anxious.

What are some of the common causes of an attack?

The reasons could be varied including mental anxiety, stress, etc. Some other factors that have been known to cause attacks are; alcohol, tobacco withdrawal and prescription drugs. On top of that there is also evidence that genetics and hereditary factors play a role.

So what are panic attacks and can they can be controlled effectively?

Panic attacks are the sudden and unannounced onset of the symptoms mentioned earlier in this article, but an experienced sufferer ought to know the precise and specific trigger which can cause such an attack. Once the patient is aware of such triggers, he or she ought to take adequate precautions to avoid such conditions to recur. There are several common approaches which help in controlling attacks and these include:

Learning you control and regulate your breathing.
Learning yoga techniques for relaxing the mind and body.
Prescribed medication from your doctor to help minimize your anxiety.

It is important to remember that these attacks could be an indication of a deep-rooted illness and a doctor must be consulted if you find that the symptoms are persistent. So to answer the initial question of ‘what are panic attacks’ – watch out for these early symptoms:

Rapid rise in heart beats.
Dizziness
Nausea
Skin turning pale or reddish in color
Breathlessness

If you think you or a love one has experienced an attack or are likely to, you should not worry. There is help out there and there are ways of curing them or at the very least getting them under control. You might want to consider joining an anxiety support group to help you to cope.