| Panic disorder is characterized by | | | | pressuring during a panic attack within |
| spontaneous, unexpected, recurrent | | | | normal levels. |
| occurrences of panic attacks. Panic attacks | | | | |
| are relatively short lived (usually less than | | | | It might sound too simple, but it really does |
| 30 minutes) periods of intense anxiety or | | | | help if, while suffering a panic attack, you |
| fear, which are accompanied by such symptoms | | | | seek a cold drink of water. This cool drink |
| as palpitations, chest pain, sweating and | | | | of water can also help lower your blood |
| shortness of breath. The symptoms may be | | | | pressure during a panic attack, because the |
| misdiagnosed as a serious medical condition | | | | coolness of the water will hydrate you and |
| (e.g. heart attack). Individual seeking | | | | cause a naturally relaxing effect. You might |
| treatment will usually describe the fear as | | | | wonder why your blood pressure during a panic |
| intense and report that they were about to | | | | attack can become high. This can happen if |
| die, lose control, have a heart attack. They | | | | you already have a tendency toward high blood |
| also usually report an urgent desire to flee | | | | pressure, but at the same time adrenaline can |
| from wherever the attack is occurring. With | | | | also be a major cause. Specifically, high |
| recurrent attacks, some of the intense | | | | blood pressure during a panic attack can be |
| fearfulness may wane. | | | | caused by the adrenaline that triggers the |
| | | | panic attack in the first place. The |
| There are two characteristic types of panic | | | | adrenaline causes your heart to beat faster, |
| attacks with different relationships between | | | | and as such, the blood being pumped through |
| the onset of the attack and the presence or | | | | your body goes faster and faster, which can |
| absence of situational triggers. Unexpected | | | | result in high blood pressure. |
| panic attacks: in which the onset of the | | | | |
| panic attack is not associated with | | | | Interestingly enough, low blood pressure |
| situational trigger (ie occurring | | | | during a panic attack can also occur. For |
| spontaneously). Situationally bound panic | | | | example, if you are prone to panic attacks in |
| attack: in which the panic attack almost | | | | which you start to feel dizzy and |
| invariably occurs immediately on exposure to, | | | | lightheaded, this can be because you are not |
| or in anticipation of, the situational cue or | | | | receiving enough oxygen. Since oxygen is |
| trigger an immediate panic attack in a | | | | carried in the blood, too little oxygen can |
| particular person. Medical examination at | | | | sometimes result in low blood pressure. So, |
| time of panic attack may sometimes reveal | | | | if you tend to suffer from low blood pressure |
| rapid fast pulse (tachycardia) and mild | | | | during a panic attack, you should first try |
| elevation of systolic blood pressure. In | | | | to get your blood sugar regulated by drinking |
| between panic attacks the medical examination | | | | some orange juice. If you think that you are |
| is normal. The investigations like blood, | | | | suffering from high blood pressure, go to |
| urine, X Rays, ECG, 2D Echo, stress tests all | | | | your local drugstore and purchase an at-home |
| are normal. | | | | blood pressure kit. |
| | | | |
| You have been under a lot of emotional and | | | | When you feel a panic attack coming on, try |
| physical stress lately, and as such you have | | | | to take your blood pressure and record your |
| been suffering from panic attacks. An | | | | findings. It is important that you only use a |
| important thing to remember is that while | | | | safe and accurate home blood pressure kit. Go |
| panic attacks generally feel worse than they | | | | to your doctor and discuss ways that you can |
| really are, at the same time they can be | | | | not only stop your blood pressure from |
| damaging to your overall health, especially | | | | becoming dangerously high, but find a safe |
| in the form of high blood pressure. Thus, you | | | | way to stop your panic attacks. |
| need to know how to keep your blood | | | | |