Panic attacks are the subset of evolutionary response commonly referred to as flight and fight responses that occur out of context.

Panic attack is a response of sympathetic nervous system.

This response floods the body with hormones, particularly adrenaline or epinephrine that aid it in defending against harm.

Signs and symptoms

The intense fear or discomfort, with other following symptoms develop abruptly and reaches the peak within 10 minutes:

• Palpitations or pounding heart
• Sweating or perspiration
• Trembling or shaking
• Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering, and even dyspnea some times
• Feeling of choking
• Chest discomfort or pain
• Nausea and vomiting or abdominal distress
• Dizziness, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
• Derealization (feelings of unreality) Depersonalization (being detached from oneself)
• Fear of losing control
• Fear of dying
• Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations especially in finger tips)
• Hot flushes

 Triggering factors and causes

•  Heredity
• Biological causes: Obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, Wilson's disease, inner ear disturbances, Pheochromacytoma, Vitamin B deficiency and parasitic infestations.
• Phobia
• Short term triggering factors: Caffeine, nicotine and marijuana
• Lack of assertiveness
• Medications like methylphenidate and Fluroquinolones
• Alcohol withdrawal effects or rebound effects
• Hyperventilation syndrome
• Chronic illness- Long QT syndrome

Treatment of panic attack

 Psychotherapy

 Cognitive behavioral therapy:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy helps in improving thinking patterns and behaviors.
• It’s also helps the patients to look at fears in a more realistic light.

 Exposure therapy for panic attacks

• Exposure to the physical sensations in a safe and controlled environment, giving the opportunity to learn healthier ways of coping
•  Medication treatment for panic attack

• Antidepressants: (SSRI’s, Tricyclic antidepressants, and MAOI’s)
• Anti-anxiety drugs: (Benzodiazepines)

Self help tips

• Learn  about panic: education on anxiety, panic disorder, flight and fight response.                                                                                                                       
• Avoid smoking and caffeine
• Breathing aerobic exercises helps to overcome hyperventilation
• Practice relaxation exercises like yoga and meditation