Panic attacks Health Dictionary

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Panic Attacks: From 1 Different Sources

Panic attacks, or panic disorders, are recurrent short episodes of acute distress. Some sufferers may be mentally confused and fear impending death. Initially these attacks tend to occur unexpectedly but, if recurrent, they often become associated with certain places such as a con?ned space (lift) or among crowds. Symptoms include a feeling of breathing diffculties, including overbreathing, PALPITATION, dizziness, sweating, faintness and pains in the chest. Attacks are usually short (a few minutes) but not often associated with physical illness, although victims may have an anxiety disorder or PHOBIA. If troublesome or disabling, attacks can be treated symptomatically with short-term ANXIOLYTICS or on a long-term basis with BEHAVIOUR THERAPY.
Health Source: Medical Dictionary
Author: Health Dictionary

Salaam Attacks

See INFANTILE SPASMS.... salaam attacks

Breath-holding Attacks

Periods during which a toddler holds his or her breath, usually as an expression of pain, frustration, or anger.

The child usually becomes red or even blue in the face after a few seconds, and may faint.

Breathing quickly resumes as a natural reflex, ending the attack.

Attacks cause no damage and are usually outgrown.... breath-holding attacks

Panic Disorder

A type of anxiety disorder, characterized by recurrent panic attacks of intense anxiety and distressing physical symptoms.... panic disorder

Transient Ischaemic Attacks Or Episodes (tia, Tie)

Episodes of transient ISCHAEMIA of some part of the cerebral hemispheres or the brain stem (see BRAIN) lasting anything from a few minutes to several hours and followed by complete recovery. By de?nition, the ischaemic episode must be less than 24 hours. These episodes may be isolated or they may occur several times in a day. The cause is ATHEROMA of the carotid or vertebral arteries (see ARTERIES, DISEASES OF) and the embolisation (see EMBOLISM) of PLATELETS or CHOLESTEROL. These attacks present with strokes (see STROKE) that rapidly recover.... transient ischaemic attacks or episodes (tia, tie)

Panic Attack

A brief period of acute anxiety, often dominated by an intense fear of dying or losing one’s reason. Attacks are unpredictable at first, but tend to become associated with specific situations, such as a cramped lift.

Symptoms (a sense of breathing difficulty, chest pains, palpitations, feeling light-headed, dizziness, sweating, trembling, and faintness) begin suddenly. Hyperventilation often occurs, causing a pins-and-needles feeling, and feelings of depersonalization and derealization. The attacks end quickly.

Panic attacks are generally a feature of an anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, or other phobias. In some cases, such attacks are part of a somatization disorder or schizophrenia. Behaviour therapy and relaxation exercises may be used in treatment of this condition.... panic attack


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