A panic attack is an intense episode of sudden fear that occurs when there’s no apparent threat or danger. In some cases, you may mistake the symptoms of a panic attack with a heart attack.
You might experience a single panic attack. Or you might have multiple panic attacks throughout your life. If left untreated, recurrent panic attacks — and the fear of experiencing them — may lead you to avoid other people or public places. This may be a sign that you’ve developed a panic disorder.
惊恐发作会触发您的交感神经系统。这会导致面对危险时所经历的“战斗或飞行”反应。
恐慌发作可能会突然出现，而无需警告。它的症状可能逐渐出现，大约十分钟后达到顶峰。它们可能包括以下一个或多个：
- chest pain
- 吞咽困难
- difficulty breathing
- 气促
- hyperventilating
- rapid heartbeat
- feeling faint
- hot flashes
- 发冷
- shaking
- sweating
- nausea
- 肚子痛
- tingling or numbness
- feeling that death is imminent
在某些情况下，您可能会对遭受另一次恐慌发作的压倒性恐惧。这可能表明您已经患有恐慌症。
Panic attacks aren’t life threatening. But their symptoms can be similar to those of other life-threatening health conditions, such as heart attack. If you experience symptoms of a panic attack, seek medical attention right away. It’s important to rule out the possibility that you’re actually having a heart attack.
The exact cause of panic attacks is often unknown. In some cases, panic attacks are linked to an underlying mental health condition, such as:
- 恐慌症
- 恐惧症或其他恐惧症
- obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
压力也会导致惊恐发作。
多种因素会增加您经历惊恐发作的机会。这些包括：
- 有a family history of panic attacks
- 有
童年时代的历史 - 在职的
或生活在高压力的情况下 - 体验
a traumatic event, such as a serious car accident - undergoing
重大生活，例如生孩子 - losing
a loved one
Living with a mental health condition, such as a phobia or PTSD, can also raise your risk of panic attacks.
To diagnose a panic attack, your doctor will likely ask you about your symptoms and medical history. They may also conduct a physical exam.
他们可能需要进行测试以排除心脏病发作。将使用心电图（EKG）测量心脏的电函数。他们还可能建议进行血液检查以检查您的甲状腺激素水平。激素失衡会影响身体调节心脏节奏的能力。
如果他们怀疑您患有恐慌症或其他心理健康状况，您的医生可能会将您转介给心理健康专家。如果您可能患有恐慌症：
- experience frequent panic attacks
- develop a persistent fear of experiencing another panic
attack - 由于您担心经历，改变您的生活方式或行为
another panic attack
如果您的医生怀疑您的惊恐发作与潜在的心理健康状况有关，则可能会转介给心理健康专家。根据您的病情，您的医生可能建议使用药物，治疗和生活方式改变以控制症状。
药物
- Your doctor or mental health specialist may
recommend one or more of the following medications: - 选择性5-羟色胺再摄取抑制剂（SSRIs）：These
药物包括氟西汀
(Prozac),paroxetine
(Paxil and Pexeva), and舍曲林
（Zoloft）。它们通常被用作预防恐慌的一线治疗
attacks because they tend to cause lesser side effects than many other
medications. - 苯二氮卓： 这些
药物包括阿普唑仑
(Niravam, Xanax),clonazepam
(Klonopin), and劳拉西m
(安定)。他们压低你的中央nervous system and have a mild sedative
影响。这些药物可以在恐慌发作的急性阶段给予。 - Beta blockers： 这些
药物包括卡维迪洛,
普萘洛尔,
和timolol.
They may reduce the symptoms associated with a panic attack, including
sweating, dizziness, and a pounding heartbeat. - Selective and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs）：Venlafaxine
hydrochloride(Effexor XR) is an FDA-approved SNRI used to treat panic
疾病，可能有助于防止将来的攻击。
Therapy
If you have a panic disorder or other mental health condition, your doctor may recommend psychotherapy to help treat it. For example, they may recommend cognitive behavioral therapy. Your therapist will try to address the thoughts, behaviors, and reactions associated with your panic attacks. This may help reduce your fears and anxieties about them. They may also help “re-train” your brain to better differentiate between real and perceived threats.
参加支持小组也可以帮助您管理恐慌症。它可以帮助您开发积极的应对机制来应对恐惧，焦虑和压力。
生活方式改变
采取措施减轻压力并改善整体健康状况可能有助于减少恐慌发作的发生。例如，获得足够的睡眠和保持身体活跃可能有助于降低压力水平。压力管理技术，例如深呼吸或进行性肌肉放松，也可能有所帮助。避免或限制您对酒精，咖啡因和非法药物的消费也很重要。
如果未经治疗，反复的恐慌发作可能会导致您：
- feel anxiety when you
think
关于另一次惊恐发作的可能性 - 避免其他人或公共场所担心
经历惊恐发作 - 发展广告恐惧症，对存在的强烈恐惧
在公共场所
To avoid these complications, it’s important to seek treatment for panic attacks.
大多数惊恐发作是不可预测的。结果，防止它们可能具有挑战性。
但是，您可以采取一些步骤来增强您的整体福祉并降低恐慌发作的风险。例如，重要的是要通过以下方式来实现整体健康的生活方式
- 吃均衡的饮食
- exercising regularly
- getting enough sleep
- 采取措施减轻压力
如果您遇到惊恐发作，请寻求医生的帮助也很重要。接受治疗可能会帮助您避免将来更多的惊恐发作。