Panic Attack Shortness Of Breath
Are you having a panic attack? Shortness of breath may be one of the first signs that you are suffering from some sort of anxiety. If you are suffering some any kind of shortness of breath and you are in much distress, be sure to consult a professional to make sure that it is not anything life threatening.
Anxiety attacks affect nearly everyone at some stage in their lives. While doctors are quick to prescribe medication to cure the problem, this is not necessarily the best bet. While anxiety medication can help, sometimes it is best for the anxiety sufferer to explore other avenues of treatment.
There are many natural remedies on the market that can help with panic attacks. Shortness of breath may be one of the symptoms, and these remedies can help to calm you down and relax. Natural remedies also do not contain the harsh chemicals of prescription medication which can have uncomfortable side effects.
Another method to help cure panic attacks is by following guides that are readily available online. These offer step by step methods to ease and eventually get rid of your problem. Take a look at Panic Away, the top selling online guide.
If you are suffering from some sort of shortness of breath anxiety, take a step back and try to relax. If it gets worse, make sure that you consult a medical professional as soon as possible. There is no use in risking your health and not seeking medical advice.
Anxiety Health Denied Insurance
Anxiety health denied insurance is a problem that affects many panic attack sufferers around the country. There are actually documented cases of health insurance companies denying coverage because the person as an anxiety problem.
If you are looking to get insurance, or you are looking to change your insurance it is in your best interest to try and cure your anxiety. This is easier said than done, but it is important for you to know that there are many methods that you can follow and learn that will help ease your anxiety and eventually put an end to all of your panic attacks.
Everyone suffers from some sort of anxiety at some stage in their lives; the only difference is that some know how to deal with it better. Health insurance is a very important service and it is highly recommended that people get some sort of cover. To be denied because of an anxiety problem would be terrible.
There is no need to take expensive therapy or mood altering medication. There are many guides online that will help you overcome your anxiety issues. These are designed to help you from the comfort of your own home. Not only can you remain anonymous, you can also run through these at your own pace.
The top guide online at the moment is by far Panic Away. Packed with detailed information, fantastic support and a money back guarantee, you will be feeling much better within hours.
Read my Panic Away Review here.
How to live with Panic and Anxiety Attacks
Statistically 1 out of every 1130 Americans will have suffered or will suffer from a panic attack between the age of 18 and 54. There is no quick fix cure to panic or anxiety attacks, some people are lucky enough to only experience one attack in their lives other live in fear of having a panic or anxiety attack yearly, monthly and even daily. With the prevalence of panic and anxiety attacks in today’s society it is important to firstly understand what these attacks mean and how to deal with them.
What is a Panic and Anxiety Attack?
Panic Attacks are can occur with out warning; it is a sudden intense fear, terror or nervousness and normally carries on for 10 minutes or so before the feeling subsides. Generally these panic feelings are associated with your body or your mind, such as a feeling that you may be having a heart attack.
Panic attacks when occurring on several occasions are a symptom of Panic Disorder. It is currently unknown what causes panic disorders although it is thought that it is a combination of biological and environmental factors including family history and reaction to stress.
Anxiety Attacks are very similar to panic attacks, as you get an extreme feeling of anxiety, panic or fear, the difference been that you are thinking about something bad and as a result you have these feelings. These attacks generally do no last longer than 10-30 minutes and are stress related.
Anxiety attacks can often turn into panic attacks when a sufferer gets so worked up that they start thinking something bad is going to happen to them. These attacks are very similar disorders, however when seeking medical treatment the prescribed medication will vary.
Rapid heart beat or increased palpitations, sweating , shaking, choking sensations, shortness of breath sensations, chest pain or discomfort , nausea, bloating, indigestion or abdominal discomfort, dizziness or unsteadiness , feeling light-headed, derealization (feeling unreal or dreamy) , depersonalization (feeling outside yourself or like you don’t exist), hot and cold flushes. These are just many of the symptoms.
If you have any of the above symptoms which occur when you feel anxious or have panic attacks, they ARE caused by the anxiety, not some other unidentified condition.
Symptoms of Anxiety Attacks
Physical Symptoms
A pounding heart, sweating, stomach upset or dizziness, frequent urination or diarrhea, shortness of breath, tremors, twitches, muscle tension, headaches, fatigue, and Insomnia.
Emotional Symptoms
Feelings of apprehension or dread, trouble concentrating, feeling tense and jumpy, anticipating the worst, irritability, restlessness, watching for signs of danger and feeling like your mind’s gone blank.
Cures of Panic & Anxiety Attacks
Unfortunately there are no known quick fix cures for pains and anxiety attacks. There are prescription drugs that can be taken such as anti depressants, but these can have side effects. Side effects include addiction and loss of fine motor skills. One of the best ways to deal with your Panic attacks is to figure out your triggers.
Most people have set triggers for Panic attack, this my be when they have to do something they hate, flying, they are confronted, or perhaps speaking to people they are intimated by. The fact is these triggers take many different shapes and forms. Even seeing a slug can set off a panic attack in some people!
When having frequent panic attacks you may often see a pattern, such as being an environment, a situation or seeing a person. This often means that these situations are triggers to the panic attack. By pin pointing the triggers you are able to prepare your self for these situations, by breathing and talking yourself into it. Eventually you would have prepared yourself for these situations, by learning how to live with panic and anxiety attacks and will no longer suffer from these triggered panic attacks.
How to live with Panic & Anxiety Attacks
Whilst suffering an episode there are a few things you are able to do to help you through the attack.
• Remember the attack only lasts 10-20 minutes so it will be over soon
• Establish a steady breathing pattern
• Repeat reassuring phrases
• Distract yourself by perhaps watching TV, singing a song
• Tell someone you trust so that they can reassure you that everything is going to be ok
• Go to a comfortable “happy” place such as your garden.
Always remember that these attacks will not last, they will be over and done with within 10-20 minutes.
The 10 Most Common Anxiety Attack Symptoms
Knowing the different kinds of anxiety attack symptoms can help you save lives.
Who knows, the life you end up saving can be yours?
Statistics reveal that 1 out of every 113 American adults, or roughly 1.6% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 54, have suffered – or will suffer – at least one episode of an anxiety attack this year. In terms of numbers, we’re talking about 2.5 million people, more or less. Hence, we can safely say that the chances of us encountering a panic attack – either an episode exhibited by someone we know or by ourselves for that matter – are alarmingly high.
Knowing the different kinds of anxiety attack symptoms will help us pinpoint the problem at the soonest possible time, prepare the required remedies as quickly as possible, and most importantly, help us avoid the things we shouldn’t be doing during an anxiety attack.
So, what are these symptoms of an anxiety/panic attack? Here are 10 of them:
1. Chest pain. Most people who are suffering from anxiety attacks experience mild to moderate chest pain. The pain is likened to a heavy object crushing one’s chest.
2. Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. If you will find yourself chasing your own breath for no apparent reason, then such an experience falls under this symptom.
3. Palpitations indicating a faster heart rate.
4. Gastro-intestinal discomfort. This ranges from feeling that there is gas in your tummy, or suffering from indigestion, or other feelings that can be likened to diarrhea.
5. Warm/cold sweat. If you’re perspiring with warm sweat, such should be excessive and is quite uncanny for the given climatic conditions.
6. Derealization (losing sense of what is real) or depersonification (losing sense of one’s self). Most anxiety attacks are dangerous for the subject because of this accompanying symptom.
7. Feeling of dread or terror. More often than not, such feeling is inexplicable, that is, the cause cannot be determined.
8. Trembling. Involuntary shaking is a sign that the body, as well as the mind, is quite rattled.
9. Nausea. This symptom isn’t always present, however.
10. Feeling of impending doom. This is the most common of the anxiety attack symptoms. It isn’t an anxiety/panic attack if the episode isn’t accompanied by the “fight or flight” feeling. A feeling of impending doom is a feeling that is caused by your body to tell you that something is wrong and that something must be done quickly to avoid disastrous consequences.
Not ever anxiety attack episode would have all of the anxiety attack symptoms enumerated above. However, no. 10 accompanied by any two or three other symptoms would indicate an ongoing panic attack.
Determining the severity of the anxiety attack would be very helpful in knowing the proper remedy to take. Simple questionnaires like the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and the Beck Anxiety Index will help you pinpoint the gravity of the condition.
What should you do if some of the anxiety attack symptoms above are present? Try to relax as much as you can and always remember that if it is indeed a panic attack, it will pass soon enough. Do not do anything drastic. Do not act on your fears. Let it play out and you’ll be alright after 10 minutes or so.
Easy-To-Follow Anxiety Cures For Panic Attack Episodes
Is your heart palpitating? Is its racing so fast for no apparent reason? Are your senses impaired? Blurry vision? Numbness in feeling? Do you feel dizzy? Do you find it hard to concentrate? Are you feeling tensed? Nervous? Are you sweating profusely? Cold sweats perhaps? Are you feeling extreme terror and dread?
Most importantly, do you have a feeling that there’s something terribly wrong with you? Do you have a strong feeling that you are about to die?
Chances are, if you’re not suffering from a congenital heart disease, you’re undergoing a panic attack episode. As such, you will need anxiety cures.
Let’s get one thing straight, however, before we proceed on discussing the different kinds of anxiety cures. A panic attack won’t kill you. The only time when a panic attack can be fatal is when the subject is suffering from a preexisting medical condition that can be aggravated by the stress and tension brought about by an anxiety attack. Otherwise, a panic attack is generally harmless.
“Generally,” however, doesn’t mean “always.” The biggest danger during a panic attack is the possibility that the subject will do something about his fears, irrational as they may be, and end up hurting himself or someone proximate to him. This is because during an anxiety attack, the subject may suffer from derealization (confusion between what is real and what is not) as well as depersonalization (forgetting who he is). In his mind, the terror and dread he is experiencing are real. His body will command him to fight or flee. If he decides to fight, people may get hurt.
Hence, the anxiety cures we will be discussing in this article aren’t only about medications and medical treatments. They are also about exercises/activities that can be employed during an anxiety attack.
During an episode of a panic attack, the following anxiety cures may be resorted to:
- Reminding one’s self that a panic attack often lasts for less than 10 minutes. Hence, the episode must be allowed to pass.
- Coping up statements can be recited to remind one’s self of what is real and what should be done. “This won’t last long,” “this won’t kill me,” “it feels bad but it’s much better in reality” and “I can endure this” are just some of the things the subject can keep repeating in his mind so that he can properly deal with the situation.
- Find a person you can trust. Anxiety cures aren’t always self-implemented. Another person, either a friend or a loved one, can remind you of what’s real and what’s not. She can be your anchor during the trying minutes of a panic attack episode.
- Diversionary activities. Looking for something else to do will keep your mind off the terror and dread that accompanies a panic attack episode. This is, perhaps, the simplest of the anxiety cures.
- Establish a relaxing breathing pattern. Experts say that breathing through the nose via the diaphragm can correct any imbalance of C02 and Oxygen on the bloodstream and can help alleviate the discomforts that are caused by a panic attack episode.
- Anti-anxiety medication. Drugs such as Clonazepam and Alprazolam can be used as anxiety cures, but only if prescribed by a doctor and only as a last resort.
Anxiety cures aren’t really meant to cure an anxiety attack. Anxiety cures are meant to help you deal with the effects of an anxiety attack. Anxiety, per se, can be cured but it will take a thorough determination of the specific trigger and a complete reorientation of one’s lifestyle to defeat the root and prevent anxiety from ever taking over the life of the subject.
How To Beat Anxiety Prostate Problems
Many people would tend to think that anxiety prostate problems stem from exhausting, terrifying, dreadful and other stressful situations that the subject is exposed to, situations which eventually lead to the development of diseases that affect the exocrine gland of his reproductive system. This would be a fair assumption, since stress and anxiety weakens our bodies’ defense system and makes our organs more susceptible to degradation.
It is still, however, just an assumption.
The fact is, anxiety prostate problems are related to issues that arise from the development of prostate diseases, and not the other way around. This is, of course, expected, given the uncertainties involved with the diagnosis of a prostate disease.
A particular study by a French medical group shows that the anxiety level in people who are suffering from prostate problems increases during the period of the same. The same study revealed that males above the age of 55 displayed a 15% anxiety level when they were presented with a lecture on the dangers involved with prostate problems. However, when they were subjected to testing, their anxiety level rose to 36%. The males who were diagnosed with prostate problems maintained a 31% anxiety level. Males who were diagnosed to be free from prostate problems displayed a decreased anxiety level of 20%, which is still above the earlier number.
These numbers, of course, merely state the obvious about anxiety prostate problems. The same can be observed with people who are suffering from other diseases, especially those who are suffering from diseases which are quite debilitating and are potentially fatal.
So, how can one deal anxiety prostate problems? Here are some guidelines:
- Always remember that prostate diseases are treatable. However, to avail of the less complicated treatments, early determination of the problem and an early pursuit of a remedy would be critical. But even when it’s “late in the game,” so to speak, prostate problems can still be dealt with.
- Relaxation is your friend at this point in time. Rest will help your cells regenerate your cells – the prostate cells included. Being away from stress would also mean minimizing the anxiety you are feeling.
- Seek professional medical help. Believe it or not, whatever the doctor’s prognosis will be will contribute to your piece of mind. Not knowing what to expect caused a great part of anxiety prostate problems.
- Learn how to enjoy life. Developing a prostate disease is not the end of the world. Aside from dietary restrictions and avoidance of stressful situations, nothing has to change. You can still enjoy the things you’ve always enjoyed doing, albeit, with an eye for a healthier lifestyle this time around.
Anxiety prostate problems can be beaten. You are not a slave to their whims, so learn how to take control of your life.
Anxiety Scales: Which Is The Most Accurate?
In this day and age when most people are more or less informed about the conditions they have to go through, thanks in large part to the fountain of knowledge we call the internet, a panic attack episode has lost its aura of mystery. Whereas before, when an anxiety attack transpires, people would feel alarmed and confused, nowadays they can simply conduct a quick research on the internet to discover what, exactly, is causing what they’re feeling. This is, of course, a good thing. Access to accurate research materials will result in the early diagnosis – and treatment – of the condition, as well as the proper orientation of correct precautions to take when such a panic attack episode is indeed ongoing.
One of the things that people who have done their research have surely encountered are anxiety scales.
Basically, anxiety scales are questionnaires that seek to determine the severity of a particular panic attack episode. These questionnaires are usually facilitated by another person, however, they can also be carried out by the subject himself in the absence of another party.
These anxiety scales contain a variety of items. The severity of each item is to be measured by the subject (or the person observing the subject) in a scale of 0 to 4, where 0 means the non-existence of the item, and 4 means the most severe state of the same. When the gravity of all the items have been measured, their respective values will be collated and the total value will be compared to a score table that will dictate the actual severity of the panic attack episode that’s being observed. The level of severity ranges from mild, to moderate, to severe.
There are 2 widely used anxiety scales: the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Their structures are similar and their purpose is one and the same: to help the subject determine how serious the panic attack episode he is experiencing actually is.
Which of these 2 popular anxiety scales is more accurate?
Many people seem to agree that the Beck Anxiety Inventory is the better choice, for the following reasons:
- The BAI contains a more comprehensive number of items that the subject must observe, 21, as opposed to the HARS’ 14-item scale. More points of evaluation means better chances of a more accurate assessment.
- The BAI was actually designed to be a self-questionnaire. Indeed, another person may conduct the interview and do the observations required by the system, but of the 2 popular anxiety scales, the BAI is the one that is really meant for the subject to answer himself.
- The BAI, if implemented the way it should be implemented (i.e. as a self-questionnaire), would yield more accurate observations as the subject himself will be evaluating his own feelings and condition.
If both the popular anxiety scales are available for you during an episode of a panic attack, then choose the Beck Anxiety Inventory for the reasons mentioned above.
A List Of 7 Things You MUST Know About Clonazepam Anti Anxiety Drug
Clonazepam Anti Anxiety drug is a prescribed medication that is meant to alleviate some of the symptoms of a panic attack episode, among other things. Since Clonazepam Anti Anxiety drug cannot be bought over the counter (OTC), it is quite useless to discuss whether or not you should resort to it during periods of severe anxiety. After all, you most probably arrived at this page because you were looking for information about Clonazepam Anti Anxiety drug as it was prescribed to you by your doctor.
The purpose of this article is to present to you 7 bits of information that you ought to know about Clonazepam Anti Anxiety drug.
1. Clonazepam is actually the generic name for a drug that most people would be familiar with as Klonopin (in the US market) or Rivotril (to markets outside of the US). This drug is manufactured and marketed by Roche, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.
2. Clonazepam Anti Anxiety drug is a kind of benzodiazepine, a type of psychoactive substance with hypnotic and sedative effects. Clonazepam is actually the second most used (some say “abused”) benzodiazepine in the world, the first being Alprazolam (sold under such brands as Xanax, Xanor and Niravam).
3. Among the common side effects of Clonazepam Anti Anxiety drug are the following: dizziness, impairment of memory, impairment of senses, sudden irritability, loss of sexual drive, sudden abnormality when it comes to motor functions, hallucinations, short term amnesia, and symptoms that resemble a hangover. It is not clear what combination of factors trigger any of these side effects.
4. Among the negative consequences of long term and improper usage of Clonazepam Anti Anxiety drug are the following: inability to control waste disposal functions of the body, psychosis, damage to the liver, and development of easily agitated behavior (may range from excitement, to anger, to impulsiveness).
5. People have different tolerance levels for this drug. A small dosage may be enough for some people, but others may require a large dosage to experience the desired effect. Also, the drug is known for developing acquired tolerance, meaning, chronic usage of the same will most definitely lead to increased tolerance on the part of the subject.
6. Clonazepam Anti Anxiety drug is known for causing some withdrawal syndromes to people who have become dependent on the same. These withdrawal syndromes include the following: insomnia, irritability, inexplicable anxiety, trembling, and even seizures.
7. Since Clonazepam Anti Anxiety drug is known to impair one’s judgment and his ability to operate vehicles and heavy machines, it is VERY IMPORTANT to remember not to take this medication before driving or before going to work if your job entails the manual operation of power tools or large machineries.
Prior to using Clonazepam for treatment of Anti Anxiety and Panic Attacks perhaps you should consider other methods of Panic Attack Cures and dealing with your condition.
8 Tips To Help You In Overcoming Panic Attacks
Suffering a panic attack episode is, by no means, a pleasant experience. In fact, a panic attack episode is one of the worst 10 minutes (or so) that you will ever have to endure in your lifetime. Just imagine the onerous tribulations that people with panic disorder are burdened with, as their condition makes them suffer recurring panic attacks of the severest nature.
There are methods, however, that will help you when it comes to overcoming panic attacks. These methods will not stop panic attacks per se, but they will help you conquer the otherwise undesirable symptoms and make an episode a lot more bearable.
Trust me, when it comes to overcoming panic attacks, you will need all the help you can get.
Here are 8 tips that will help you in overcoming panic attacks:
1. Accept that you are having a panic attack. Being in denial won’t help your cause. Most of the confusion when it comes to post-diagnosis of panic attacks stem from the fact that the subject refuses to accept that he actually suffered a psychological breakdown. Panic attacks can happen to anyone. 1.7% of the general population, in fact, will suffer a panic attack at least once a year. There is no shame in suffering an episode of extreme anxiety.
2. Make sure that it is a panic attack and not something worse. Before you can think about overcoming panic attacks, you must first ensure that you are indeed suffering a panic attack and not something graver, like a heart attack. A heart attacks and a panic attack share the same symptom. As a general rule, if the episode is accompanied by pain on the left arm and/or the left side of the chest, and if the episode lasts for more than 30 minutes, immediate medical attention must be sought.
3. Establish a relaxing breathing pattern. Taking deep breaths and savoring every air that you inhale and exhale is a great way to reestablish control over yourself and your thoughts during the rattling times of a panic attack.
4. Reject those “what if” thoughts. Because of the terror and dread that you will be feeling, as well as the sense of impending doom that always accompanies an anxiety attack, you will tend to think of the worst. Don’t. Dwell in the present, not in the world of “what ifs.” Being able to reject these “what if” thoughts will go a long, long way in overcoming panic attacks.
5. Try to find diversionary activities. A hobby, perhaps? Or an exciting DVD movie? Or an entertaining TV show? Anything would do just to keep your mind away from the unsettling feelings brought about by the panic attack.
6. Look for someone who can monitor you throughout the episode. Some panic attack victims lose sense of what is real. Worse, some even lose their sense of self. By asking someone you trust to be with you for the duration of the episode, you’d be able to have an anchor on reality. You don’t have to be alone. You can seek out someone’s help in overcoming panic attacks.
7. Recite some coping statements that will remind you that the reality of a panic attack is actually not bad as you’d think it is. “This won’t kill me” and “this will pass soon enough” and “a few more minutes and this will be over” are excellent reinforcement sentences that will make you realize what is true.
8. Try to sleep it off. Medical experts, it seems, are divided on the matter. Some advise against sleeping during a panic attack because of the higher likelihood of cardiovascular and respiratory dangers. Others, however, say that sleeping it off is perfectly alright, if not absolutely ideal. When asleep, the mind will not be able to entertain the terror and the dread that the panic attack episode brings, after all.
The Causal Connection Between Panic Disorder And Agoraphobia
Panic disorder and agoraphobia aren’t like water and oil. In fact, they’re more like peanut butter and jelly, albeit, of a more unpleasant variety.
Before we proceed, a definition of terms is in order.
Panic disorder is often used synonymously with panic attack. This is incorrect. Panic attacks refer to episodes whereby the subject experiences feelings of extreme terror and dread, senses impending doom, and suffers a variety of psychosomatic symptoms. Panic attacks are brief, lasting less than 30 minutes per episode. Panic disorder, on the other hand, is a condition whereby the subject suffers recurring panic attacks of a severe nature. The subject is often observed for a month, and if intense anxiety attacks are experienced at least once per day, then panic disorder can be established.
It is easy to determine why panic disorder and agoraphobia are mistaken for each other. 36% of people suffering from panic disorder, after all, also suffer from agoraphobia.
What is agoraphobia?
Basically, agoraphobia is the fear of being trapped in an embarrassing situation from which there is no escape. People who are suffering from agoraphobia are often antisocial, preferring the solitude of their homes to the interactive nature of public places. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that agoraphobia comes from two Latin words: agora and phobia, which, when used together would mean “fear of the marketplace.”
So, what is the connection between panic disorder and agoraphobia?
Experts agree that the development of agoraphobia is one of the possible, and more likely, consequences of panic attacks, more so, a full blown panic disorder. During periods of extreme anxiety, the sufferer develops irrational fears. One of these irrational fears can be the fear of embarrassing situations which the subject cannot escape, i.e. agoraphobia.
The connection between panic disorder and agoraphobia also results in undesirable psychological conditions. Social phobia, also known as social anxiety, is one of these unwanted consequences. Because agoraphobics fear embarrassing situations and because embarrassment entails the presence of witnesses, they start to fear people – or the company of people – in general. This, of course, leads to an even bigger problem as the agoraphobic also tends to develop antisocial behavior.
Hence, the problem with agoraphobia is that it’s like the Ouroboros, the snake that eats its own tail. Agoraphobics fear public places, making it difficult to convince them to seek medical treatment for their condition. This is why agoraphobia – and panic disorder AND agoraphobia for the matter – is very prevalent these days. It’s a shame, really, because the success rate of treatments for agoraphobia remains at a high 90%.
What can be done to resolve the potentially serious problem of panic disorder and agoraphobia?
The first thing that should be done, of course, is to muster enough courage to actually seek professional help. This is easier said than done, indeed, but it still remains as something that SHOULD be done. Agoraphobia is a personal struggle, and one must find the strength to conquer his fear – at least his fear of going to a psychiatrist.
