The National Health Service in England has estimated that "at least one person in 10 experiences occasional panic attacks." Other reports claim that almost two-and-a-half million American adults have them. But how many people really know much about this condition, or any of the other disabling conditions that are grouped as anxiety disorders? What should people know about this debilitating condition?

What is a panic attack?

A panic attack is a sudden, short episode of intense anxiety or fear with no identifiable cause accompanied by an intense physical reaction.

What are the symptoms of panic attack?

Some of the most commonly cited physical symptoms include an accelerated heart beat, hot flashes, chills and sweating, difficulty breathing and swallowing, dizziness, feeling faint or shaking, nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhea. Mentally, people experience intense fear, including the fear that they are dying and/or that they are going crazy. There is often a feeling of dissociation or mental numbness.

Who gets this condition?

Anyone can experience an attack. Statistically, however, more women than men experience them, and they often begin in the late adolescent or early adult years. These attacks rarely begin in people over age 65.

Can a panic attack kill you?

These attacks are not lethal, though some of the physical symptoms-the racing heartbeat and shortness of breath-lead people to fear they are having a heart attack. Research has shown that isolated panic attacks do not lead to immediate heart damage. The heart attack signals people often experience can however be linked to underlying cardiovascular disease. It's definitely a good idea to have a thorough physical examination. There is an identified correlation between panic disorder and stroke, but no causation has been established.

If I had one panic attack, will I have more?

Not necessarily. And if you do, the frequency is highly unpredictable. Sometimes a person will have several attacks close together, and then none for months. Unfortunately, worrying about having further attacks actually increases the possibility.

How long does an attack last?

They can be as short as 15 seconds or as long as 30 minutes. Occasionally (but rarely) they can come in a quick series, one after another, with the whole sequence lasting for some hours.

What is the difference between a panic attack and panic disorder?

A panic attack is an isolated incident. When a person has had two or more panic attacks and experienced prolonged (for a month at least) anxiety and concern about the possibility of another one, they are diagnosed with panic disorder.

What causes the attacks or panic disorder?

No one yet knows what the underlying cause of these attacks and panic disorder are. It seems likely that there may be a number of origins. The illness runs in some families, so there may be an inherited, genetic component. There is also evidence that a chemical imbalance in the brain is the source for many people.

How is debilitating condition treated?

There are several treatment methods for panic attack, often used in combination. The medications most often prescribed are anti-anxiety drugs anti-depressants, and beta blockers. But in most cases it is recommended that medications be supported with some kind of therapy. Behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and psychotherapy can all be helpful in understanding and controlling the attacks.

Can panic disorder be cured?

There is no one answer to this question. Some people may experience one attack and never have another. Sometimes the attacks will recur for weeks or months, and then cease for extended periods. Medication and therapy alone or together can prevent or control the attacks well enough to be regarded as a "cure" for many people, to the extent that the drug treatment may be discontinued and the learned therapeutic techniques alone prevent recurrence.

These questions only scratch the surface in explaining what panic attacks are and how they can be treated. But information is one of the first and most important resources for dealing with this condition, whether you know or think you are having them, or whether someone you know may be and you want to understand and help them.