What is a panic attack?

A panic attack is a brief episode of intense fear. During a panic attack, the person experiences physical symptoms and extreme thoughts of fear repeatedly and unexpectedly while there is no external threat or danger.

What is panic disorder?

People with panic disorder experience repeated and unexpected panic attacks and often worry about when they will have another attack. People are diagnosed as having a panic disorder if they have had four attacks within a four week period, or if there fears about having another attack are persistent. Some people become housebound because of their fears of having panic attacks in public places, or where they believe no help or escape. This can also develop into agoraphobia.

Panic attacks are common, up to 30 per cent of the population experience a panic attack during any given year.

However, panic disorder is much less common, affecting 2 to 3 percent of the population.

Symptoms

A panic attack includes four or more of the following symptoms:

* Shortness of breath or smothering sensation
* Feeling of choking
* Dizziness, unsteady feelings or faintness
* Palpitations, pounding heart or accelerated heart rate
* Trembling or shaking
* Sweating
* Nausea or abdominal distress
* Numbness or tingling sensations
* Flushes or chills
* Feelings of unreality and detachment from self or the environment
* Fear of dying
* Fear of going crazy or doing something uncontrolled.