Saturday, January 10, 2009

Can Panic Attacks Really Hurt You?

Panic attacks can be terrifying, and many sufferers experience strong (and quite convincing) feelings of being in danger or even close to death during an attack. But can panic attacks actually cause you "real" physical harm, or even put your life at risk?




The preponderance of evidence suggests that the attacks pose no real physical harm to the sufferer, though they are without question emotionally harmful, and can be devastating to a person's confidence and self image. Some sufferers experience the attacks so intensely, that they feel they could even die from them. But in reality, it is extremely unlikely a person would suffer any physical harm because of panic, and there are virtually no known cases of anyone dying from panic attacks or anxiety.




So the good news is, the research and statistics do not support the idea that anxiety or panic pose an immediate threat to anyone; however, there is a great deal of research that suggests that frequent panic attacks can have negative long-term effects on the human body if left unchecked.




A plethora of university level studies have shown a connection between stress and anxiety-- including panic attacks -- and the overall health of the body. For example, it has been fairly well-established that sustained at levels of anxiety can be detrimental to the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable and in a weakened state.




The implications of this connection are clear: prolonged anxiety and recurring panic attacks can leave the body more susceptible to infection, colds, influenza, and even more serious diseases.




So there is little doubt that our state of mind does affect our physical health, and in this sense, panic attacks can indeed be harmful. But like all stress and anxiety related issues, the effects of panic attacks can be brought under control by utilizing a number of proven strategies.




For individuals suffering with recurring panic attacks, keeping physically fit and eating a healthy diet is one of the most important aspects of overcoming the problem. Because, just as our mental health can affect our physical health, it is equally true that our physical health can affect our mental health and state of mind. In other words, it works both ways.




Getting enough physical exercise, staying hydrated, and eating a healthy balanced diet is one of the simplest ways to curb anxiety and panic. Many researchers have also noted that anxiety and panic attacks can often be related to food allergies, so sufferers may want to see an allergist and be tested to find out if something they are eating is affecting their mood.




This is actually more prevalent than many people think, and one common food allergy that is known to cause anxiety and other emotional issues is consuming dairy products. Frequent sufferers of anxiety or panic attacks may want to cut dairy out of their diet for a few weeks and notice the difference.




While food allergies are certainly not responsible for all panic attacks or stress related issues, they are one common cause that is often overlooked. And they are a good example of how our physical health affects our state of mind. By improving their physical health through exercise, proper diet and staying hydrated, almost anyone can reduce their overall level of stress, and their odds of experiencing frequent panic attacks.


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Article Source: www.articlesnatch.com

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