Panic disorder syndrome: Causes, symptoms and treatment

Panic disorder is a group of anxiety disorders, characterized by panic attacks that appear suddenly and strongly. The patient feels like he's dying or thinks he's having a heart attack, goes crazy, or loses control.

What you need to know about panic disorder

Panic attacks are usually short, sudden, and trigger intense bodily reactions. Feelings of anxiety and fear appear often even though there is no specific cause, without warning signs.

Causes of panic disorder

The exact cause of panic disorder is not yet known, but scientists have found a link between regions of the brain with fear and anxiety. Neurotransmitters (serotonin and epinephrine) may contribute to the etiology of the disease.

The exact cause of panic disorder is still unknown.

Panic attacks can come on suddenly and without warning, but over time they are often triggered by a specific situation. Some factors that may play a role in triggers include:

• Genetics
• Stressful, sensitive to stress or prone to negative emotions
• Some changes in the way parts of the brain function
• Caffeine, nicotine, and other substances can increase panic attacks
• Medications such as steroids, inhalers for respiratory ailments, thyroid medications, diet pills, allergy, cough and cold medications can also contribute to the disease.

Symptoms of panic disorder

Symptoms of panic disorder include:

• Heart rate and blood pressure increase
• Chest and stomach pain
• Dizziness, shortness of breath, shortness of breath or weakness
• Cold sweat
• Feelings of anxiety, despair and thoughts of bad things happening
• Feelings of impending danger, fear of losing control or death
• Restless, restless, talking very fast
• Habits such as removing fingers or toes, squeezing hands

Subjects at risk of panic disorder

• Panic disorder is common in adolescence, but is more common between the ages of 18-19 and is more common in women than men.
• People who have to bear too much pressure in life

People with factors that increase the risk of panic disorder, such as:

• Experiencing grief in life (losing loved ones, lovers, .)
• Severe trauma in the past, such as being sexually or physically abused or in a serious accident
• Having major life events like divorce or postpartum depression
• Tobacco addiction or caffeine abuse
• Family history of panic attacks or panic disorder

Prevention of panic disorder

To prevent panic disorder, you can take the following measures:

• Get enough sleep, exercise daily and build a balanced diet
• Try to reduce stress in your life
• Learn meditation, massage, yoga, tai chi and stress-relieving exercises
• Seek immediate medical attention if you experience frequent panic attacks or side effects from medications, are depressed, or have thoughts of suicide.

Diagnostic methods for panic disorder

The diagnostic criteria for panic disorder according to the American Psychiatric Association (DSM IV) are at least 4/13 of the following symptoms:

• Rapid pulse, palpitations
• Sweat a lot
• Trembling hands and feet
• Feeling suffocated
• The feeling of shallow breathing
• Pain or discomfort in the chest
• Nausea or stomachache
• Feeling dizzy, losing balance
• Dissolution of Reality or Dissolution of Personality
• Fear of losing control and going crazy
• Scared to death
• Feeling dumb
• Frozen or hot

Treatments for panic disorder

All patients with panic disorder should reduce stress by pursuing personal interests or participating in regular exercise activities and eating healthy.

There are many combination treatments that can reduce or eliminate panic disorder, such as:

• Behavioral therapy as biofeedback
• Patients learn to change muscle strength or brain waves by controlling breathing
• Other methods such as progressive muscle relaxation, visualization, meditation or hypnosis

Sedatives are also considered, but can cause side effects such as drowsiness or addiction. People with a history of using stimulants should not be given these drugs.