Am I Having a Panic Attack?

As with anxiety disorders, the underlying causes that can cause panic attacks are varied. Current clinical evidence is showing that the development of panic attack disorder may be caused in part by genetics and hereditary factors. On the other hand, there is also clinical evidence that could prove that panic attacks are a learned response by the human body, and panic attacks can be produced in an otherwise healthy person given the right circumstances. Life experience, like physical abuse or molestation, or certain lifestyle choices may also contribute to the frequency and severity of an individual’s attacks. These potential causes of panic attacks are currently being studied in depth at universities and other medical research facilities.

A panic disorder is considered to be a different diagnosis from that of panic attacks, but the two conditions are interrelated. Individuals who suffer from panic attacks and who meet other criteria may be diagnosed with a panic disorder. Panic disorder is believed to be caused by more genetic and hereditary factors than panic attacks that are not directly related to the disorder. Specific medical conditions, which include asthma and heart disease, can produce panic attacks that are not caused by a panic disorder. Similarly, the consumption of certain medications, like steroids, can also produce panic attacks as a symptom. Interestingly, individuals who are diagnosed with a panic disorder are placed at an increased risk of having a particular heart valve abnormality, which is referred to as mitral valve prolapse. Confirming the diagnosis of this condition is important, because it can alter the manner in which future medical procedures are formed.

Currently, there are also medical studies being conducted that are evaluating the effects that nutritional deficiencies, like zinc or magnesium, may have upon panic attacks. In addition, the consumption of certain food additives, like aspartame and food dyes, are thought to trigger the development of panic attacks in certain individuals. However, further research is needed in these areas before conclusions can be drawn. Clinical studies and trials have shown that individuals who internalize their feelings are at an increased risk for developing panic attacks. For these individuals, physical illness or another life crisis can serve as the catalyst for the development of panic attacks. The primary difficulty in diagnosing panic attacks is that the cause of the attacks varies so widely from person to person; however, as more research is being performed, the medical community is gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the causes of this condition.

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