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Panic attacks are sudden episodes of fear and anxiety that trigger symptoms such as a racing heartbeat, heavy perspiration and shortness of breath. Panic attacks provoke an overwhelming stress response that is greater than a situation would typically warrant. People who have panic attacks often feel as though they are having a heart attack or are losing control of their thoughts, and it is common for them to seek emergency medical treatment for these symptoms. According to some estimates, up to 30 percent of adults will experience at least one panic attack in their lifetime.

Panic attacks often begin suddenly and without warning. Once they start, they tend to peak within 10 minutes and last for a total of about 30 minutes. However, no two panic attacks are exactly alike, and some patients have reported panic attacks that last for several hours or even an entire day. Panic attacks can strike at any time during waking or sleeping hours, and a high percentage of patients report that these attacks awaken them in the middle of the night.

Although panic attacks themselves are relatively similar, they may occur under three sets of circumstances, according to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA):

• Unexpected. An attack that occurs without any warning and for no obvious reason.
  
  
• Situational. An attack that occurs in a given set of circumstances. For example, patients may experience symptoms whenever they are in a large crowd of people.
  
  
• Situationally predisposed. Situations in which a person sometimes has a panic attack, and other times does not.

Although panic attacks are frightening for many patients, they tend to be medically harmless. Many people have just one or two attacks during their lifetime. However, patients who experience repeated panic attacks may be diagnosed with panic disorder, which usually involves at least four panic attacks a month. Patients with panic disorder find themselves avoiding situations that tend to induce attacks. For example, a person who experienced a panic attack while driving across a bridge may avoid all bridges. Such avoidance can leave people isolated and adversely affect their quality of life, leading to increased risk of depression, substance abuse and even suicide. People who regularly suffer panic attacks have a high risk of developing agoraphobia, which is an inability to venture beyond comfortable surroundings (e.g., one’s home) due to intense anxiety.

People who experience repeated panic attacks or long-lasting attacks should seek medical care. Conditions such as impending heart attack or overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) can cause symptoms similar to those of a panic attack, as can other lung, intestinal or nervous system disorders.