Panic Attacks
Why Do Panic Attacks Occur
Panic attack is a mental disorder characterized by the intense feeling of anxiety and fear. There are many reasons why people experience panic attack. Some studies even trace the cause of the attacks to heredity. This means that if the rest of your family members tend to go through an episode of panic attack, then you are most likely to suffer the same fate. However, just because not any of your relatives has a history of panic attack doesn't guarantee that you won't develop the disease ever at all. There are other reasons why panic attack occurs. And the biological reasons are the most common ones.
People who are suffering from either physical or mental disorders are also likely to develop panic attacks. Certain diseases that may contribute to its progress are hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia, mitral valve prolapse, and Wilson's disease. Those who are deficient in Vitamin B are also prone to acquiring it. On the other hand, the mental states contributing to panic attacks include stress, traumas, and phobias.
Researches also show that caffeine and nicotine may induce panic attack in a person. Dangerous and regulated drugs like marijuana and psilocybin may also induce panic in some, regardless if they have pre-existing medical conditions. In some cases, certain drugs provoke panic in an individual as a side effect. An example of such drug would be Ritalin.
Panic attacks have many effects on the body. For one, it prevents a person to think rationally. When a person's judgment is clouded, more dangerous situations can be expected. It's a good thing that there are now many ways to treat panic attacks. A lot of physicians are currently focusing all their resources to unveil the ultimate cure for the disease.
Many of the treatment strategies for panic attacks available to patients today are composed of oral medications, behavioral correction therapies, and mental conditioning techniques. Patients are encouraged to consult with an expert and not self-medicate if they suspect that they are suffering from the disease.