The 4 Symptoms of a Panic Attack

1. Accelerated Heart Beat (Heart palpitations)
2. Trembling (Often unstoppable)
3. Excessive Sweating
4. Difficulty Breathing (Feeling of suffocating)

The American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders lists four key panic attack symptoms. Each of these panic attack symptoms can all cause sufferers to experience extreme discomfort, adding to the fear that they experience during an attack. Firstly, the most noticeable symptom is an accelerated heartbeat, often accompanied by heart palpitations. Secondly, panic attack cause unstoppable trembling. Sweating is another common symptom of panic attacks and the last major panic attack symptom heavy breathing. Sufferers often say that they are unable to catch their breath or even feel as though they are suffocating. Other common panic attack symptoms include pain in the chest, head or abdomen. It is also not uncommon for sufferers to feel nauseous.

More Panic Attack Symptoms

As if the main four panic attack symptoms aren’t enough, there are even more symptoms that can be experienced. Additional symptoms include dizziness, feeling faint and a loss of balance. People have also reported a strange feeling of being out of their own body. In addition, panic attack sufferers often feel as though they are losing control over their bodies and have been known to feel numb or experience a tingling sensation. Hot or cold flashes are also commonly experienced.

These symptoms might not sound frightening, and they probably aren’t if experienced separately, but when combined the result is quite terrifying. In the throws of a particularly serious panic attack people can be completely paralysed, leaving them unable to call for help. However, it is important to remember that these symptoms will only last as long as the panic attack itself.

There are so many different panic attack symptoms that diagnosis can be difficult. Even gender causes an issue as each gender will experience different panic attack symptoms. For example, women are far more likely to display certain symptoms, such as heavy breathing and hyperventilation, whereas this is much less common with men.

What Should You Do If Suffering A Panic Attack?

Firstly, if you recognize these symptoms and think that you or somebody else is CURRENTLY suffering a panic attack, you should call for a doctor or dial 911 straight away. Panic attacks will subside after they have run their course, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

If you have a tendency to suffer from panic symptoms regularly and you would like to know how to be cured of panic attacks, there are several natural techniques you can use outlined in an excellent guide here.

Panic attacks often occur only once and do not repeat, leaving both doctor and patient at a loss as to its cause. However, If you suffer frequent panic attacks it becomes necessary to refer yourself to a medical professional for further investigation into the cause of the attacks. Panic attacks can be linked to more serious medical conditions conditions and could indicate a more serious health condition.