eats. They also believe that it may be caused by a chemical imbalance. People who suffer are more likely to get one at a younger age due to the outside stresses they face with growing up. The symptoms found during the attack include:* Pounding of the heart* Shortness of breath * Dizziness or lightheadedness* Nausea or stomach pains* Chest pains or pressure* Choking sensation * Chills or hot flashes* Sweating* Fear of dying* Feeling of death* Numbness* Shaking and trembling* Fear of losing control or going crazy. Diagnosing a panic attack can be confusing for doctors because their symptoms are easily confused with other conditions. A thorough physical examination is needed in order to rule out other medical conditions. Since the symptoms are so closely related to heart problems it is hard for doctors to defer between the two. Treatment is usually done using cognitive-behavioral therapy. It usually last for a few months and has to be done repeatedly. It teaches the patients how to identify and change your feelings about the fears you hold within yourself, how to calm down and breathe slowly by doing several breathing exercises, how to come face to face with your panic situation and gradually let go of it, and to control your rapid heart rate. At the same time, people may find that medication can help reduce or prevent panic attacks by changing the way certain chemicals interact in the brain. People who begin taking the medication realize within two months if the medication is working. There are several kinds of medications being given now and they are: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's). They are antidepressants like Paxil or Prozac, some are approved specifically for panic. Next is Tricyclic antidepressants such as Anafranil. Also prescriptions of benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Klonopin are given for the purpose of panic. Lastly patients can make lifestyle changes to help keep panic at ease, such as eliminating caffeine,...
