Panic attacks can be very frightening experiences. The intense fear and physical symptoms can leave someone wondering – can a panic attack actually kill you? Let’s take a look at what panic attacks are, what happens in the body during an attack, and whether they can be fatal.
What are panic attacks?
Panic attacks are sudden, intense surges of fear and discomfort that reach a peak within minutes. They include both physical and psychological symptoms like:
- Racing heart or palpitations
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling of choking
- Chest pain
- Nausea or stomach discomfort
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or faintness
- Chills or hot flashes
- Tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers
- Fear of losing control or “going crazy”
- Fear of death
Panic attacks typically reach their peak within 10 minutes or less and then start subsiding. Most panic attacks are over within 20-30 minutes. People who experience recurrent, unexpected panic attacks may have a condition called panic disorder.
What happens in the body during a panic attack?
During a panic attack, the body goes into an intense “fight or flight” response, even when there is no apparent physical threat or trigger. This leads to a rush of physical symptoms driven by the nervous system and stress hormones.
In particular, a part of the nervous system called the sympathetic nervous system becomes activated. This triggers the release of adrenaline and other stress hormones like cortisol. As a result, the body experiences effects like:
- Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate
- Blood flowing away from the skin and extremities and towards the major muscles
- Perspiration to cool the body
- Dilated pupils to improve vision
- Tightening of muscles to prepare for action
These physical changes are the body’s normal reaction to danger. But in a panic attack they occur in the absence of any real threat. The combination of racing heart, chest pain, sweating, and shortness of breath can feel like life-threatening distress in the moment.
Can the physical effects be dangerous?
The intensity of the physical symptoms during a panic attack can definitely feel like they are putting your body at risk. However, panic attacks themselves are not actually dangerous or life-threatening. Here are some reasons why:
- The increase in heart rate and blood pressure, while uncomfortable, does not reach dangerous levels that could risk a heart attack or stroke in an otherwise healthy individual.
- Hyperventilation and feeling unable to breathe deeply is common in panic attacks but does not actually reduce oxygen levels to a hazardous degree.
- The lightheadedness or tingling sensations, while scary, are caused by short-term changes in breathing and blood flow. They do not signify any underlying medical emergency.
In the vast majority of cases, once the panic attack resolves and the body calms down, there are no harmful after-effects.
Can panic attacks be fatal?
Panic attacks themselves do not cause death or directly endanger life in someone who is otherwise healthy. The physical symptoms, while extremely uncomfortable, remain within the body’s normal range of function when it goes into temporary “fight-or-flight” mode.
However, in very rare cases, it is possible for a panic attack to trigger a life-threatening medical emergency in someone with a pre-existing heart or lung condition. Some examples include:
- Causing sudden cardiac arrest in someone with severe coronary artery disease
- Triggering a heart attack in someone with a history of heart disease
- Leading to suffocation from laryngospasm in someone with severe asthma
Situations like these are very unusual. Generally, panic attacks do not directly cause death or other irreversible harm. But the symptoms should still be taken seriously, both for psychological reasons and the small possibility of risk in vulnerable individuals.
When should you seek emergency help?
As mentioned above, healthy adults are very unlikely to experience a life-threatening event from a panic attack alone. However, for high-risk groups, it is important to seek medical care quickly if you experience:
- Sudden severe chest pain, pressure, or tightness
- Rapid, irregular heartbeat that does not resolve
- Fainting or loss of consciousness
- Severe difficulty breathing even when trying to calm down
If you have been diagnosed with a heart condition, lung disease like asthma or COPD, or other major medical illness, call emergency services if a panic attack is accompanied by sudden worsening of your usual symptoms.
Get medical care immediately if you experience signs of a heart attack, such as pain spreading to your jaw, arms, or back that does not go away with rest. The same applies for symptoms of a stroke, like difficulty speaking, weakness on one side of the body, or drooping facial muscles.
Even if the symptoms end up being anxiety-related, it is still best to err on the side of caution and get evaluated in cases like these where the cause is unclear.
Can frequent panic attacks lead to other health issues?
Recurring panic attacks may not directly endanger life in the short-term. But over the long run, chronic anxiety and repeated “fight-or-flight” responses can contribute to stress-related health problems like:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- peptic ulcers
- Digestive issues like IBS
- Headaches
- Chronic pain conditions
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Other mental health conditions
Managing panic disorder and minimizing attacks through lifestyle changes and therapy can help reduce these risks. Getting panic attacks under control leads to better long-term physical and mental health.
When to seek help for panic attacks
While not directly life-threatening, panic attacks should not be taken lightly. Their physical intensity can be very disruptive to quality of life. It is important to see a doctor or mental health professional if you experience:
- Sudden onset of panic attacks without an apparent cause
- Increasing frequency or worsening severity of attacks
- Fear of having attacks limiting your normal activities
- Multiple panic attacks per week or month
Effective treatment like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medications can help control symptoms and reduce panic attack frequency. The earlier you seek help, the sooner you can start managing panic disorder and improving day-to-day function.
Conclusion
Panic attacks can be extremely distressing in the moment. Their physical intensity leads many people to worry they are having a dangerous medical crisis like a heart attack when symptoms first start. However, in most cases panic attacks are not actually life-threatening – just very uncomfortable.
For people with known heart or lung conditions, severe panic attacks may very rarely trigger a serious event like a heart attack. Seek immediate medical care if chest pain, fainting, or breathing difficulties do not resolve when the panic attack ends.
While not directly fatal, repeated panic attacks can contribute to anxiety and long-term health issues. Seeking treatment for panic disorder can help reduce frequency and severity of attacks and improve overall wellbeing. But panic attacks themselves are highly unlikely to directly cause death or sustain any permanent damage in an otherwise healthy individual.