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Panic attack is a condition where a person experiences sudden feelings of dread and fear without any warning. The event usually takes no more than 10 minutes, but for a person experiencing a panic attack, it would seem like an eternity.
When a person experiences a panic attack, the first thing that would always come into mind is that they are having a heart attack. This is not surprising since a person experiencing these two conditions go through the same symptoms, which includes shortness of breath, tightening of the chest, numbing sensation of the face and extremities and severe heart palpitations.
For many years, many experts have considered the similarity between the symptoms as the only link between these two health conditions. After all, panic attacks are considered to be a mental health condition while a heart attack is one of the many symptoms associated with cardiovascular diseases. But that perception has now changed with many studies that have been published that people with panic attacks have a higher chance of developing cardiovascular diseases and suffer a heart attack compared to those who do not.
According to one study that was published in Archives of General Psychiatry, they determined that older women who suffer from the symptoms of a panic attack are three times more likely to suffer from a heart attack or a stroke within the next five years. These findings were supported by another study that was published in the Psychosomatic Medicine.
The main reason between the link between these two health conditions is that many of the people who suffer from the symptoms common to both conditions share the same type of lifestyle. Based on the studies that have been conducted regarding the link between these health conditions, the researchers found that people with panic attacks are often smokers, overweight, have high blood pressure and cholesterol levels and tend to consume considerable amounts of alcohol. These health characteristics have long been attributed to be leading factors for people to develop from some form of cardiovascular disease.
While there may be a proven link between both medical conditions, it does not mean to say that everyone experiencing a panic attack will suffer from a heart attack or any type of cardiovascular disease. That is because panic attacks can happen to people of all ages, including young children. This is why research studies continue to be underway in determining the extent of the link between these two health conditions to help medical professionals address both medical conditions, resulting in the improvement of treatments provided.
About this Author
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