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What is panic attacks and panic disorder?
26 January 2026
This is a mental health condition consisting of episodes of intense, unfounded fear that generate diverse physical symptoms, even though there is no real cause motivating them.
The fear you can feel during a panic attack is excessive, leading to a total loss of mental control and resulting in physical symptoms so serious that you might feel like you are dying, even if you are not, thus significantly diminishing your quality of life.
No one is exempt from suffering a panic attack in a situation of extreme stress, but when the attacks become recurrent and you even fear their reappearance, we are facing a condition called Panic Disorder.
Potential Risks for Developing Panic Disorder include:
- Family members who suffer from panic attacks.
- Intense stress.
- Traumatic events.
- Smoking.
- Alcoholism.
- Drug addiction.
Signs and symptoms Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder
- Abrupt onset of the attack.
- Progressive development that reaches its climax in a few minutes.
- Extreme fatigue following the attack.
- Feeling like you are in imminent severe danger.
- Extreme fear.
- Palpitations.
- Sensation of a lump in the throat.
- Chills.
- Episodes of suffocation.
- Nausea.
- Abdominal cramps.
- Chest pain.
- Tachycardia (rapid heart rate).
- Excessive sweating.
- Excessive trembling.
- Shortness of breath (insufficient air).
- Headache (migraine).
- Dizziness.
- Numbness.
- Tingling.
- Disconnection from reality (Derealization/Depersonalization).
- Loss of consciousness.
- Irrational fear of suffering a new attack.
Diagnosis and treatment Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder
After analyzing your symptoms and clinical history, the doctor will perform a physical and psychological examination, and if deemed necessary, they will request other studies to rule out any physical condition.
The treatment to follow is based on psychotherapy and medication, the details of which will be established according to the specific case.
At the Neurological Center, a group of highly trained and certified doctors across various neurological specialties are prepared to assist you with the quality and warmth that characterizes us.
Related centers and departments Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder
Sources:
- neurologia.com
- topdoctors.es
- cun.es
- neurology.org
- espanol.ninds.nih.gov
- middlesexhealth.org
- mayoclinic.org
- msdmanuals.com
- medlineplus.gov
- Palomares CE, Campos CPE, Ostrosky SF, et al. Evaluación de funciones cognitivas: atención y memoria en pacientes con trastorno de pánico. Salud Mental. 2010;33(6):481-488.
- Saviñón TJA, Solís MF, Johnson RRO. Trastornos por pánico: Aspectos clínicos y psicofarmacológicos. Rev Neurol Neurocir Psiquiat. 2002;35(2):97-106.
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The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.
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