There is always an underlying problem when a sufferer experiences a panic attack symptom. There is a reason why they are anxious about something; pinpointing the cause can be challenging in some cases. The symptoms can come out of nowhere with great intensity, causing the person to feel closed in and have the feeling that they are going to die or have a heart attack. Although in reality these attacks won't cause death, the feelings can become so intense that their minds are no longer connected to reality.

A panic attack symptom can be one or more at a time that suddenly takes over your whole well being with no warning; your body can react to the following: an uncontrollable fear-like pounding or racing heart, chest pains or difficulty breathing, stomach upset or nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, tingling or numbness in the hands, hot flashes or chills. Panic attacks can severely impede your thinking when in a full on attack and make it appear that you are dreaming, that the walls are closing in around you, and even acute embarrassment.

Although there are many symptoms of panic attacks, the most common problem is the fear of having another attack. If you have had a panic attack, chances are that you will have another sometime in your life. The symptoms can affect people in different ways and the level of severity is based on the individual and their own personal fears. If a person gets them enough times, this can lead them to develop a phobia and avoid certain situations. In their mind, this may be the only option. Avoidance is not a good thing, since it can either lead to other panic disorder problems or social issues.

A person who decides to not seek help may continue to go through these on again, off again symptoms. Don't leave this untreated since it can have a huge impact on your entire daily life. Generally, signs begin to emerge around the ages of 15 to 19 years of age for a first time panic attack. Once you establish a pattern of panic attacks, it said to be a disorder. These problems carry serious risks to your health and have affected 1.7%, or 3million people in the U.S.A. alone.

Panic attacks usually only last for a few minutes but in these few minutes it can cause great distress to the sufferer. To some the feeling of a heart attack is the best description that one can give regarding a panic attack. There are also nocturnal panic attacks and this form can come on in the sufferer's sleep. The amount of persons who suffer at night is drastically less that daytime sufferers.

Approximately 40% to 70% of daytime sufferer's are plagued with nighttime attacks as well. It may feel like forever for the time that it takes to calm down with one of these attacks while in reality it is only 10 minutes. No matter what the symptoms that you have associated with your panic attacks, the facts still remain the same; the brain sees these attacks as being an uncontrollable fear.