Causes of Panic Attacks

For organizations, the causes and triggers for panic attacks or anxiety will be listed numerically without any specific order. The terms panic attacks and anxiety attacks will be used interchangeably in this article. However, it is advised that the following list does not always apply to every panic attack patient, this is just the most common cause or trigger.

Causes of Disease: Studies have shown that people with panic attacks can inherit the suffering from their genes. It's often called "walking in the family." However, there are many cases where panic attacks develop a condition without a clear family history.

2. Biological Causes: Vitamin B deficiency, poor diet, Wilson's disease, ear problems or parasitic infections among other biological causes have also caused anxiety attacks.

3. Phobias: Common triggers for panic attacks have been found to be exposure to objects of fear or extreme phobias.

4. Other Short-Term Triggers: In addition to phobias, there are a number of triggers and other short-term causes that may cause panic attacks among their patients. These include tragic personal loss, significant life changes or transitions or stimulants such as nicotine or caffeine.

5. Lack of Assertiveness: It has been recognized that passive interpersonal communication styles, both polite and friendly, lead to a lack of firmness that, in the long run, can lead to panic attacks.

6. Effect of Taking Medications: Often an anxiety attack can be associated with medication. In particular Ritalin has panic attacks as a side effect listed. This can be a short-term side effect, it only occurs when the patient first uses the drug or it can maintain a side effect that will guarantee the change of the drug.

7. Hyperventilation Syndrome: This anxiety is characterized by excessive breathing of the chest causing atypical carbon dioxide output to oxygen in the blood flow ratio. This can lead to dizziness, an increase in heart rate or headache that can trigger an anxiety attack.

As mentioned earlier, this is not ALL the cause of panic attacks but only the most common. I hope this article helps readers develop a greater insight into the phenomenon of panic attacks.

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