What is it?

You may have only one or two Panic Attacks in your lifetime. But if you have had several Panic Attacks and have spent long periods in constant fear of another attack, you may have a chronic condition called panic disorder.

Panic Attacks were once dismissed as nerves or stress, but they're now recognized as a real medical condition. Although Panic Attacks can significantly affect your quality of life, treatment is very effective.

How do I recognise it?

Panic Attacks typically include a few or many of these symptoms:

• A sense of impending doom or death
• Rapid heart rate
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Shortness of breath
• Hyperventilation
• Chills
• Hot flashes
• Nausea
• Abdominal cramping
• Chest pain
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Faintness
• Tightness in your throat
• Trouble swallowing

Causes

It's not known what causes Panic Attacks or panic disorder. Things that may play a role include:

• Genetics
• Stress
• Certain changes in the way parts of your brain function

How do you treat it?

Like any disease, even if there is no cure, there is almost always something you can do to manage it and take control. There are three main areas involved in the treatment of any disease:

• Conventional medicines
• Complementary medicines
• Complementary therapies

For information on medicines and therapies relevant to Panic Attacks, make an appointment at Lynch's Pharmacy, Broadale, Douglas, Cork on 021-4366923.

Learn all about the drugs used to treat the disease and any complementary medicines or therapies proven to help. Equip yourself with the tools to manage the condition and not be managed by it.

How do you live with it?

Certain adjustments may be needed to get on with your life, and often, some simple tips and advice can go a long way to making these changes. 

When you come to a Lynch's Pharmacy Clinic we give you all the necessary information available to make your life more manageable and allow you to live better with your condition.

References

Panic attacks-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_attacks

Panic Attacks, informatin for patients                                                                                                                                                    http://www.cks.nhs.uk/patient_information_leaflet/panic_disorder/diagnosis

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/panic-attacks/DS00338/DSECTION=alternative%2Dmedicine

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/panic-attack