This is the second article in a two part series on . anxiety attacks, symptoms:. mental and physical. The first article dealt with the mental elements of a panic attack. This article concerns the physical aspects of a panic attack and how they can be confused with heart attack symptoms.
For someone suffering through a anxiety attack, the physical symptoms appear to confirm the mental fears that include the thought that you might be having a heart attack, or going crazy. In many ways, these physical symptoms are indistinguishable from what most people think a heart attack is like.
Anxiety attack symptoms include:*
- A racing heart and/or chest pain.
- Difficulty breathing, or a choking sensation.
- Hyperventilation.
- Shivering, shaking.
- Hot flashes or chills.
- Nausea.
*Note: If you are experiencing any of these symptoms for the first time, please see your doctor as soon as possible. You want to rule out the possibility that you are suffering from some physical illness, rather than just a panic attack.
If you’ve have experienced panic attacks in the past, you know that they rarely last most than a few minutes. Of course, that knowledge doesn’t make it any easier. Panic attacks are debilitating. Still, at least you know it’s not a heart attack. For those who are experiencing their first anxiety attack, it’s good to know that there are no recorded instances of someone dying from a panic attack.
Here are some of the symptoms of a real heart attack from the American Heart Association. I’ve highlighted the important differences. However, I still advise seeing your doctor if the symptoms persist for longer than 10 minutes.
- Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes..
- Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms. The pain may be mild to intense. It may feel like pressure, tightness, burning, or heavy weight. It may be located in the chest, upper abdomen, neck, jaw, or inside the arms or shoulders..
- Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath.
- Anxiety, nervousness and/or cold, sweaty skin.
- Paleness or pallor.
- Increased or irregular heart rate.
- Feeling of impending doom.
You can see why a panic attack can resemble a heart attack. Five of seven indicators are shared. If you are young, fit and healthy except for an anxious disposition, you can probably assume it’s not a heart attack. Otherwise, get it checked out by medical professionals.
Let’s assume you are suffering from anxiety attacks. Symptoms come on suddenly and panic flares like an out of control gasoline fire. What do you do?
If you’re driving, pull over to the side of the ride as soon as it is safe to do so. If you’re in a social situation, excuse yourself and find a quiet spot such as bathroom. Now, take the bull by the horns and ride it out until the panic passes. It will I assure you. But this is just a stop gap measure, a method of “coping” with a panic attack. You want a real solution.
Treatment methods fall into three camps: Prescription medications (antidepressants), natural remedies for anxiety (such as anxiety herbs), and therapy. Speaking from personal experience, I didn’t want to go the prescription drug route. I’ve worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over two decades, and I saw first hand the impact of side effects and adverse drug reactions.
I looked everywhere for solutions to my anxiety: natural remedies anxiety herbs with exotic names such as kava kava and St John’s Wort, a couple of glasses of Cabernet at dinner…all without long lasting success. I finally found what worked for me with a specific type of therapy. I found the information in books, but the same techniques are now available online in the form of DVDs, audio tapes and e-books.
If you would like to find out more, please visit my website by following the links below in the author’s resource box.
Best of luck with treating your anxiety attacks! Symptoms of anxiety attacks can be successfully and permanently treated.
To find out more about what worked for me with my anxiety, please visit http://myanxietyandpanicattacks.net.
Or click on the following link for more information on
Anxiety and Panic Attack Symptoms by Charles Linden
With million of Americans suffering from one anxiety disorder or another, this mental illness is considered one of the most predominate and costly in the country. An estimated $22.8 billion is spent on anxiety-related problems each year. Understanding why these disorders are so debilitating starts with taking a closer look at anxiety symptoms.
In their worst forms, they can cause people to completely isolate themselves from the world outside. Which anxiety symptoms will appear in a person does depend a lot on the severity of the condition and the type of anxiety disorder present. Some symptoms are fairly common in people with anxiety conditions, but others tend to center around one specific disorder or another.
Some of the more common anxiety symptoms include:
- Extreme worry and tension. This may or may not be related to an irrational worry or concern.
- Unrealistic views. When people continually make mountains out of mole hills, this can be a sign of anxiety disorder.
- Angst. People with anxiety symptoms tend to be a bit on edge and are generally quite restless.
- Headaches. This is a “physical” symptom that can go along with some anxiety disorders. Other physical manifestations include sweating, nausea, muscle tightness and frequent urination.
- Lack of focus. Having a difficult time concentrating is a potential anxiety symptom. This is especially the case when concentration is blocked by other concerns.
- Insomnia. This is a very common anxiety symptom. When a person suffers from insomnia, it can also lead to irritability and crankiness.
Anxiety symptoms can range a great deal from person to person. If panic attacks happen to be present, they will tend to present with their own set of symptoms. In addition to the above anxiety symptoms, a person who suffers from attacks might feel:
- Extreme, sudden fear. Some people describe panic attacks as if it feels like a bus is hitting them. Without warning, they strike and overwhelm a person with fear – irrational or otherwise.
- Heart palpitations. A racing heart that feels like it is beating out of a chest is a very common sign of a panic attack. This is one of the reasons why many people believe they are having a heart attack.
- Fear of dying. Because of the physical symptoms of panic attacks, some people truly believe they are succumbing to deal in the throes of an episode.
- Trembling. Uncontrollable shaking, sweating and other physical signs can go along with an attack. Anxiety symptoms are felt by millions of people a year. In many cases, the symptoms are transient and might not ever return. For others, however, the symptoms become a part of life and generally require professional help to treat.
About the Author: Martin Richfield has been involved in online business since 1996. He uses article marketing as his primary traffic source. He has been involved in a number of industries which gives him the knowledge to write on a broad range of subjects.
For more details go to: http://anxiety.smartbizzness.com
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Anxiety Symptoms can Sideline a Life Anxiety Symptoms and Causes
http://www.panic-anxiety.com
My explanation of Anxiety and Panic Attack Symptoms by Charles Linden
http://www.thelindenmethod.co.uk
Duration : 0:9:17
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Discusses anxiety symptoms and their causes, including panic and anxiety attacks, fear and phobias, hypochondria, malaise, agoraphobia, unreality, derealization, depersonalization, worry, depression, and more.
Duration : 0:9:34
What causes this specific anxiety symptom?
You have to close your eyes, to shut out the world, almost as though you’ve suffered a sensory overload?
sounds like alot of stress more than anxiety.
Anxiety symptoms from anxietycentre.com
