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Tips On How To Prevent Panic Attacks

Panic attacks are extremely common; in fact around 1 in 3 people are thought to suffer an episode of them at least once in their life. You could be a stay at home mum or a high flying company director, it doesn't discriminate. Members of both sexes can have the attacks but they are more common in women, particularly younger women. We show you how you can prevent panic attacks.

The fear of dying from the attack or the sense of doom is one of the most common symptoms, but as frightening as it is you won't die from a panic attack. The length of time that they can continue for is anywhere between a couple of minutes to an hour or so with the symptoms increasing and decreasing within this time.

Any number of events in your life can contribute to the onset of panic attacks. Sometimes you may not recognise the problem that caused it all. Low blood sugar levels have been found to play a part in an attack commencing. Equally some medical conditions make you more prone to attacks, including diabetes.

It is of importance to monitor your diet. It is thought that low and falling blood sugar levels contribute to having a panic attack. Ensure you do not go without meals and if necessary eat little and often throughout the day. Caffeine should be drunk in moderation, as this can cause a racing heart and increase anxiety levels.

Prescription drugs such as tranquilizers, if coming off them, can set off panic attacks. Talk to your Dr if this is your circumstance and they can advise you further. Drugs like amphetamines which speed up the body and mind is able to bring them on too.

The symptoms experienced whilst in a panic attack are varied and can include; palpation's, vomiting, tightening of the chest, feeling faint along with the fear that you are about to die. The chemical reaction provoked by the brain will cause adrenalin to circulate in your body and can cause some of the symptoms.

Trying to control your breathing is the best way to get an attack under control. Focusing on your breathing rather than the attack with start to make you calmer and the symptoms will start to reduce. Doctors recommend keeping a paper bag handy and covering your nose and mouth with it, then taking deep, slow breaths. You will inhale the excessive carbon monoxide your hyperventilating has produced which in turn will lower levels of acidity in the blood, thus stopping the cycle of the attack.

Rather than giving you medication, most doctors like to treat panic attacks much more simply. Such as learning breathing techniques and being careful with your diet.

Reducing your stress levels and trying to avoid the things that cause you stress will go a long way to help combat the problem. Stress is one of the main triggers for panic attacks and addressing the problems helps.

Starting to do some exercise, whether its gentle exercise or more intensive is a good way to combat stress and to give you a healthy body and mind.

Yoga gives an all around sense of well being and peace whilst concentrating on how you breath which will help prevent and control attacks.

Sometimes talking through your problems may lessen the burden on you and you can then start to try to prevent the panic attacks. If you do not want to confide in people close to you, ask your Dr to recommend a counselor or therapist. You need to be aware of the reasons that the attacks started for in the first place and then you can start to address it.

By: Steve Watts

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