comorbid bipolar
Are panic attacks mental problems with physical characteristics or physical problems with mental characteristics? Regardless of the cause, there is always that something that triggers the occurrence of such attacks. The medical community believes that the causes are multifaceted and the pre-disposing factors are many.
I have included some of the factors that I believe are pertinent.
Medical Causes:
There are a variety of medical conditions that could allow for the development of panic disorders and panic attacks.
Hypoglycemia: The lowering of blood glucose which can cause confusion, clumsiness, and/or fainting. Severe cases can lead to seizures and comas, and if untreated even death.
Hyperthyroidism: The increased production of the thyroid hormone T3 & T4 can produce symptoms including the following: rapid heartbeat, some palpitations, excessive sweating, nervousness and irritability, and shakiness and muscle weakness (often with trembling in the hands). Although many symptoms of hyperthyroidism cause distress, most are not dangerous.
Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP): The mitral valve is one of the 4 valves in the heart that control blood flow between the heart’s left atrium and the left ventricle. MVP happens when the valve does not close securely and causes a backflow leek from the left ventricle to the left atrium. Some of the symptoms for MVP are, bursts of rapid heartbeats (palpitations), chest discomfort, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath and anxiety. You should check with your doctor because in most cases this can be treated with medication.
Medication Withdrawal: Abrupt withdrawal from medications is also believed to be a cause of panic or anxiety attacks, since this triggers sudden changes in the body. Another that may lead to the development of panic attacks is the use of stimulant substances such as caffeinated beverages with high levels of caffeine.
Medications: The body’s reactions to medication or foreign properties is not always necessarily positive. There are cases when the substances found in some medication produce the right conditions in the body conducive to the arousal of a panic attack. For example; Methylphenidate, which is more commonly known as Ritalin is used for patients of ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder as well as narcolepsy and could cause panic attack for some people.
Genders:
As reported by the American Journal of Psychiatry there are gender differences in panic disorders and/or panic attacks. The findings from the National Comorbidity Survey, indicate that several epidemiological studies have demonstrated a higher prevalence of panic disorders in women than in men. This study explored whether the prevalence of specific panic symptoms differs by gender. Data obtained from 609 respondents who met the criteria for panic disorders or panic attacks were tested across 18 different panic symptomatic triggers. Results indicate that gender differences are true, Females had 2.5 times greater response than that of the male during a panic attack according to the criteria of the 18 different symptom triggers. These symptoms differences may involve gender differences in sensitivity to CO2 and in the threshold for panic attacks.
Genetics:
If your great grandfather had panic attacks, there is a relative possibility that you might develop the disorder as well. In typical cases, those people who have relatives with panic attacks are twice as likely to experience either acute or chronic but intermittent episodes of panic disorders than normal people. Nonetheless, there are people who have family history of panic attacks that do not develop the disorder.
Phobias:
Although the statistics are not established yet, it seems clear that people who have severe cases of phobias are more susceptible to developing panic disorders. This could be due to the fact that phobias cause elevated levels of fear to start with.
My name is Willy Finn and I started this website to help people deal with and be aware of Anxiety and Panic disorders. Hopefully, you will get some answers to those questions. For more information visit http://www.anxietytopanicdisorders.com.
Comorbidity in Pediatric Bipolar Disorder – Dr. Kiki Chang
