Symptoms and Complications
Panic attacks occur with the sudden appearance or occurrence of at least four of the following symptoms:
- chest pain or discomfort
- choking
- dizziness, or feeling faint or unsteady
- fear of dying
- fear of losing control
- feelings of not being part of your environment
- flushing or chills
- nausea, stomach ache, or diarrhea
- numbness or tingling
- racing heart
- sweating
- trembling or shaking
- trouble breathing
Panic attacks do not usually last longer than 10 minutes. However, since the symptoms affect the lungs, heart, and other important organs, a person might worry that they are having a serious medical problem that requires emergency medical treatment. However, the panic attack is usually over by the time the doctor sees the person who has had the attack.
Since panic attacks are unpredictable, a person often worries about having another attack. If a person starts to avoid the places where they had previous panic attacks, they may develop a condition called agoraphobia. This type of anxiety disorder causes a person to avoid many places (including places with many people) and may lead them to become housebound.