what makes people vulnerable to panic attacks
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In the last issue we talked about some of different ways that you can handle an anxiety attack. In this issue we are going to talk about what makes people vulnerable to panic attacks.
Panic attacks don’t come from out of nowhere, though the possibility of them coming out of the blue can’t be discounted. Nonetheless, there is always that something that triggers the occurrence of such attacks. Experts believe that there are many pre-disposing factors that make people vulnerable to panic attacks.
Including the following:
Genetics.
Panic attacks run in the family. If your great grandfather suffered with an anxiety and/or panic disorder, then there is a relative possibility that you might as well. In typical cases, people who have relatives with panic attacks are twice more likely to experience either acute or chronic but intermittent episodes of panic disorder than people who don’t. Nonetheless, there are people who have family history of panic attacks that don’t develop the disorder.
Medical causes.
There are several medical conditions that can lead to the development of panic disorder and panic attacks. Among them are mitral valve prolapse, hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, abrupt withdrawal from medication usage, and use of stimulants.
Mitral valve prolapse, otherwise known as MVP, is a heart disease that affects the mitral valves, the part of the heart that prevents the back flow of blood. The symptoms of this disease is shortness of breath and chest pain along with others.
Not only do these symptoms resemble those of panic attacks but research by the American Heart Association confirmed that there is a direct link between MVP and panic attacks.
Hypoglycemia, on the other hand, is a condition characterized by a lower level of blood glucose. Meanwhile, hyperthyroidism is also a condition that is somehow linked with panic attacks. This condition is caused by the overproduction of thyroid hormones namely T3 and T4 hormones.
Abrupt withdrawal from certain medications is also believed to be a cause of panic attacks since it may trigger sudden changes in the body. Another factor that may lead to the development of panic attacks is the use of stimulant substances such as beverages with high caffeine content and marijuana.
Medications.
The body’s reaction to foreign materials with medical properties isn’t always necessarily positive. There are cases when the substances found in the drugs produce the right conditions in the body conducive to the arousal of panic attacks.
For example, methylphenidate which is more commonly known as Ritalin is used for patients with ADHD or Attention Deficit. It is used to treat Hyperactivity Disorder as well as narcolepsy which can also cause panic attacks for some people.
Gender.
According to studies females are 50% more likely than their male counterparts to develop the disorder.
Major life events.
Substantial events in life that lead to extreme changes can create the right environments for the occurrence of panic attacks. This may be because such drastic changes create tension in a person’s life, upsetting the order of things and forcing the person to confront the changes.
If the person fails to respond accordingly, the tension may persist and they might be overcome by it. Thus, producing a number of symptoms that could be characterized under psychological disorders, panic attacks included.
Phobias.
Although the statistics are not established yet, it seems clear that people who have severe cases of phobias are more susceptible to developing panic disorders. This could be due to the fact that phobias cause elevated levels of fear to start with.
So as you can see there are many factors that can make people vulnerable to panic attacks regardless of age, race or family history. Understanding what may lead to a panic disorder will help you to better understanding how to combat the symptoms associated with them.
Make sure you look for your next issue soon. We will be talking about the various treatments available for panic attacks.
