Are Panic Attack Serious?

Yes, panic attacks are real, potentially quite emotionally disabling, but they can be controlled with specific treatments.

Because of the disturbing symptoms that accompany panic attacks, they may be mistaken for heart attacks or some other life-threatening medical illness. In fact, up to 25% of people who visit emergency rooms because of chest pain are actually experiencing panic.

As a result, people with this symptom often undergo extensive medical tests to rule out these other conditions.

Medical personnel generally attempt to reassure the panic-attack sufferer that he or she is not in great danger.

But these efforts at reassurance can sometimes add to the patient's difficulties: If the doctors use expressions such as "nothing serious," "all in your head," or "nothing to worry about," this may give the incorrect impression that there is no real problem and that treatment is not possible or necessary.

The point is that while panic attacks can certainly be serious, they are not organ-threatening.


However, panic attacks and anxiety attacks can be overcome, to learn more click here