What is Causing My Panic Attacks?

November 22, 2009

There is an amazing statistic on Panic Attacks. Over 20% of emergency room visits are due to panic attack causes and those experiencing anxiety disorders are 13% more likely than the general population to visit the ER. About 10% of the U.S. population has experienced anxiety attacks. With all that being said, a person experiencing a first time attack that is unable to get to their primary doctor should not hesitate to visit the ER.

In 2008 a study was done in Germany and scientific evidence seems to support a genetic link, which may be a cause of several forms of anxiety including panic attacks. The researcher looked at the gene COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase). The study indicates that this gene may be a triggering agent that creates and enzyme that weakens the neurotransmitter, dopamine. However, this study was not a double blind study and the sample was way to small to be conclusive with their findings.

The brain uses chemicals to send messages to different parts of the brain. Norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin are the names of those chemical messengers. Some researchers believe that a chemical imbalance of anyone of these messengers or a combination of all of them could be the cause of anxiety and panic attacks. Most pharmaceuticals used for the treatment of symptoms of anxiety target serotonin production to bring it into balance.

One thing for sure is that panic attacks that go untreated are life threatening. A British research group found that patients with this disorder were more prone to have some sort of heart disease. The conclusion is that whether the illness or the stress of dealing with the illness heart disease was higher than non-panic attack victims.

There are many theories and studies associated with the cause of panic attacks and anxiety disorders. They are focused on various triggers including environmental, metabolic, and genetic yet to date there is no known reason for this debilitating illness.

Most patients just want the symptoms to stop and therefore go to their family doctor for help. Unfortunately most of these doctors are not trained in dealing with the underlying issue that may be triggering your attack. Pharmaceuticals are very addictive and have many unpleasant side effects. One of the major side effects with these drugs is a negative impact on you labido or sex drive.

It is such a horrible thing to go through a panic attack yet most are thought to be totally insignificant in regards to your overall health.

Use natural remedies to overcome the symptoms associated with this illness and learn to take back your life. There are various natural remedies such as hypnotherapy, acupuncture, acupressure, relaxation techniques, as well as herbs, etc. You deserve to be free of this illness; not going through life medicated all the time. Find yourself a good psychologist or psychiatrist and search for the trigger to your attacks. A specialist will usually use cognitive behavioral therapy, natural remedies and if need then a combination of these therapies and drugs as a last resort.

Find the right health provider for you and your situation.

Randy Beckett is a panic attacks expert. For more information on panic attacks cause ,visit http://www.solvingpanicattacks.com.

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