can frequent, long lasting panic attacks cause heart damage?
Panic attacks don’t cause heart damage. They acually protect your heart. According to wikipedia web dictionay…here is what your body does…While the various symptoms of a panic attack may feel that the body is failing, it is in fact protecting itself from harm. The various symptoms of a panic attack can be understood as follows. First, there is frequently (but not always) the sudden onset of fear with little provoking stimulus. This leads to a release of adrenaline (epinephrine) which brings about the so-called fight-or-flight response wherein the person’s body prepares for strenuous physical activity. This leads to an increased heart rate (tachycardia), rapid breathing (hyperventilation) which may be perceived as shortness of breath (dyspnea), and sweating (which increases grip and aids heat loss). Because strenuous activity rarely ensues, the hyperventilation leads to a drop in carbon dioxide levels in the lungs and then in the blood. This leads to shifts in blood pH (respiratory alkalosis or hypocapnia), which in turn can lead to many other symptoms, such as tingling or numbness, dizziness, burning and lightheadedness. Moreover, the release of adrenaline during a panic attack causes vasoconstriction resulting in slightly less blood flow to the head which causes dizziness and lightheadedness. A panic attack can cause blood sugar to be drawn away from the brain and towards the major muscles. It is also possible for the person experiencing such an attack to feel as though they are unable to catch their breath, and they begin to take deeper breaths, which also acts to decrease carbon dioxide levels in the blood.
Comments
Comment from cowboydoc
Time January 13, 2010 at 4:19 pm
I don’t agree with the first answer, I had a stress related heart attack and died on the table. Panic attacks and stress related attacks are the one factor that is most in common with heart attacks.
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Comment from chattterus
Time January 13, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Anything that causes stress will damage the heart over the long term.
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Comment from Seng
Time January 13, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Hey everyone,
I have Panic disorder for more than 12 years already and my condition has been improving a lot! My medication started from 20mg per day till just 10mg on alternate days (or just 5mg per day) – I even thought of quitting medication. I also realized that there are many others who have Panic Attacks out there and I decided to reach out and help them.
So I have started a blog to give free panic attack tips and techniques that have helped me for all these years:
http://PanicAttackResearch.blogspot.com
I do hope it will help you all =)
With Regards,
Seng
References :
Comment from Noir-Industries
Time January 13, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Panic attacks don’t cause heart damage. They acually protect your heart. According to wikipedia web dictionay…here is what your body does…While the various symptoms of a panic attack may feel that the body is failing, it is in fact protecting itself from harm. The various symptoms of a panic attack can be understood as follows. First, there is frequently (but not always) the sudden onset of fear with little provoking stimulus. This leads to a release of adrenaline (epinephrine) which brings about the so-called fight-or-flight response wherein the person’s body prepares for strenuous physical activity. This leads to an increased heart rate (tachycardia), rapid breathing (hyperventilation) which may be perceived as shortness of breath (dyspnea), and sweating (which increases grip and aids heat loss). Because strenuous activity rarely ensues, the hyperventilation leads to a drop in carbon dioxide levels in the lungs and then in the blood. This leads to shifts in blood pH (respiratory alkalosis or hypocapnia), which in turn can lead to many other symptoms, such as tingling or numbness, dizziness, burning and lightheadedness. Moreover, the release of adrenaline during a panic attack causes vasoconstriction resulting in slightly less blood flow to the head which causes dizziness and lightheadedness. A panic attack can cause blood sugar to be drawn away from the brain and towards the major muscles. It is also possible for the person experiencing such an attack to feel as though they are unable to catch their breath, and they begin to take deeper breaths, which also acts to decrease carbon dioxide levels in the blood.
References :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_attack