Are Symptoms Of Anxiety Deadly?
Medically reviewed by Julie Dodson, MA, LCSW
Updated October 8, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team
Panic attacks, also known as anxiety attacks, can occur suddenly and seemingly without reason. They’re often associated with panic disorder and anxiety disorder, and symptoms of a panic attack can be very distressing. You might feel shortness of breath, a spike in blood pressure, or even pain in your chest, which could lead some to fear they are having a heart attack.
But, can you die from a panic attack?
Whether it is your first time having a panic attack or something that occurs regularly, you may fear the symptoms you experience. Panic attacks are physical and emotional responses to anxiety, fear, and stress, causing physiological changes such as a racing heart and intense chest pain. As physical symptoms are commonly reported during panic attacks, one may believe that they are dying, harmed, or sick when they occur.
Although anxiety and panic disorder may have physical and mental health risks, it is not common to die from a panic attack. However, if you are having severe and unrelenting chest pain, fever, chills, heart palpitations, or shortness of breath, visit an emergency room to rule out a medical emergency due to cardiovascular issues, such as acute myocardial infarction or coronary artery disease, as these conditions are potentially fatal.
Are you struggling with uncontrollable feelings of anxiety?
Can you die from a panic attack?
It is not common for panic attacks to be fatal. They are often symptoms of a mental health condition, such as generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. In some cases, physical symptoms and extreme fear may worsen existing health conditions, like cardiovascular disease.
If you believe you may be experiencing symptoms of a physical illness on top of your panic attack, contact your primary healthcare provider for screening. In some cases, panic disorder may cause symptoms that seem impossible to bear on your own. Urgent care, hospitals, or your primary care physician, in the case of crisis, may also offer medical support through medication and psychological intervention.
Although panic attacks are unlikely to kill you, chronic anxiety and stress can negatively affect your health and lead to chronic health conditions like coronary heart disease. Stress can cause inflammation that may take a toll on the systems in your body, potentially leading to heart problems, including high blood pressure or heart muscle damage due to reduced blood flow. These subsequent health issues can directly cause cardiovascular death.
Coping with stress in unhealthy ways, such as smoking and drinking alcohol, increases the risk of heart attack. Effective long-term treatments for stress management can be vital in preventing both heart attacks and panic attacks. Some individuals talk to their psychiatrist or doctor about taking anti-anxiety medications to reduce the chance of panic attacks. To stay healthy and prevent anxiety and stress-related illnesses, consider reaching out for support for your panic attacks.
If you have chest pain, have never had a panic attack before, or have a family history of cardiac issues like heart disease, general medical advice from doctors and medically-reviewed sources would be to go to the hospital to ensure you’re not in danger.
The constant release of stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline in your body during an attack may cause an increased risk of health concerns over time. Additionally, one might experience migraines, headaches, stomach upset, and other physical symptoms commonly related to anxiety. Notably, a study published in the American Journal of Medicine also posits that individuals with heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation are more likely to develop anxiety disorders, which may include panic disorder.
Panic attack symptoms
At times, the symptoms of a panic attack might resemble those of a heart attack. Your chest may tighten, you may be dizzy, and it could become difficult to breathe. You may also experience a tingling sensation in your fingers or arms. However, there are a few differences between a cardiovascular emergency and a panic attack.
The tingling in your arms from a panic attack may be caused by hyperventilating from taking rapid breaths. You might experience numbness and pain on both sides of your body. When someone has a heart attack, on the other hand, the pain and tingling are usually isolated to the left arm and mostly the left side or center of the chest, combined with pressure or heaviness. Many people also experience heart attack pain in their back.
Sources state that heart attacks often occur during physical exertion, whereas panic attacks can occur at rest. Additionally, panic attacks are often short-term, whereas heart attacks may worsen over time and become unbearable.
When you have a panic attack, other physical symptoms may include:
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Tingling fingers, arms, and hands
- Chest pain
- Heart rate changes or palpitations
- Difficulty breathing
- Sensing you might faint
- Headache
Since the symptoms of panic attacks can look like a heart attack, doctors recommend visiting the ER if you’re unsure, as it may save your life. Some people may think it is better to have a false alarm than stay at home when experiencing a potential medical emergency. If panic attack symptoms do not improve after 30 minutes, consider contacting a medical professional for a heart scan to deal with the situation.
Panic episode causes
Panic attacks are often a symptom of panic disorder and are not the same as anxiety or fear. A panic episode is a sudden episode of intense fear that causes severe physical reactions. These attacks can occur at any time, and many people with panic disorder experience worry about the possibility of having another episode. You may also experience an attack without panic disorder — not everyone who experiences panic attacks will be diagnosed with a disorder.
Going to school, work, the grocery store, or driving may be difficult if anxiety or fear overwhelms the brain and body. Panic disorder often begins in the late teen years or early adulthood and is more common in women.
Panic attacks and the disorder are highly treatable health conditions. However, many may be afraid to seek diagnosis or treatment due to shame or fear. They may have experienced invalidation from medical professionals or worry that their symptoms cannot be helped. However, panic attacks are treatable.
There are steps to take to mitigate panic attack symptoms. However, making logical or cognitive decisions during an episode may be difficult. Physical symptoms might be overwhelming or may cause the feeling of being frozen or with the urge to run away. They can also cause crying, shaking, or curling up on the floor. These can be the usual symptoms of an episode.
To cope with a panic episode, try to remember that the attacks are often temporary, short-term, and not dangerous. If you have trouble calming down, consider contacting a mental health professional or a trusted friend. If there are coping skills that generally work when you’re anxious, they may benefit you during an attack.
Treating panic attacks
Many potential interventions and therapeutic approaches are suitable for managing anxiety disorders and panic attacks. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help people begin to understand ways of thinking that might contribute to the development of an attack and subsequently change those patterns to help decrease both the frequency and intensity of future episodes.
Exposure therapy
Your therapist might also recommend exposure therapy. In this type of therapy, the person is exposed to the sensations that accompany panic in a controlled environment so that effective ways of coping with those sensations can be learned.
Exposure strategies often include relaxation techniques, which may calm your body down to reduce the physical symptoms of the panic attack and thus focus on quieting the anxiety in your mind. A commonly used relaxation technique is diaphragmatic breathing. Relaxed diaphragmatic breathing (slow breathing from your diaphragm) is a natural way to end, control, and prevent anxiety attacks.
For those who like more dynamic therapy sessions, group therapy may be another option that will allow you to receive more support from people facing similar problems during your treatment.
Medications
In addition to therapy, some medications can effectively treat anxiety disorders, which may reduce the frequency of panic attacks. Since medication may not treat the root of panic attacks, many clinicians do not recommend medication as the only form of long-term treatment. However, it can be a viable supplement to other forms of treatment. Consult a medical provider before deciding to start or stop any medication.
Relaxation techniques
Other strategies that may help people cope with panic attacks on their own include using various relaxation techniques (like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or yoga) and being intentional in recovery.
Studies show that expressive writing, like journaling, may benefit mental health. Mindfulness also helps ground you in the present moment. Since panic attacks may cause disassociation or separation from reality, mindfulness or meditation could interrupt your attack as it is approaching or occurring.
Distractions
Distracting your attention might prevent attacks. Focus on the physical sensations with which you are familiar, like digging your feet into the ground or sensing the texture of your clothing on your hands. Strong sensory experiences may be more distracting, so consider drinking cold water, sucking on a sour piece of candy, or smelling something intense like a candle or cologne. Additionally, peer-reviewed studies show that temporarily submerging your body or head in cold water may lessen stress markers.
These specific sensations could ground you firmly in reality and give you something neutral on which to focus. Bringing yourself back to the moment and attempting to ground yourself through physical sensations can be beneficial.
Regular exercise
In addition to the positive benefits to one’s physical and mental health, regular physical activity can play an essential role in preventing anxiety and panic attacks. Additionally, exercise has been proven to improve mood and increase mental health overall. When experiencing a panic attack, some people find that taking a walk and focusing on the people around them can help to distract their minds and alleviate some of the anxiety symptoms.
Remembering that panic is temporary
Panic attacks end. No matter how intense or frightening, panic attacks may only last up to 30 minutes. You might have more control than you believe at the moment. If you’re having difficulty gaining control, consider having a friend or trusted individual by your side to help guide you out of the attack.
Strategies that might prevent panic attacks
Counseling can play a significant role in the treatment of frequent panic attacks. However, you can make a few changes wherever you are when you sense the beginning symptoms of an attack or anxiety.
Use deep breathing and mindfulness exercises
Ground yourself in the present moment. Try to avoid thoughts of what might occur in the future. Mindfulness exercises such as meditation and deep breathing can effectively bring you back to the present. If you’re having trouble focusing, consider a guided meditation that uses soothing sounds and instructions.
Acknowledge and work around your triggers
Overcoming anxiety may involve knowing what causes your anxiety in the first place and working through those problems to ensure that you know how to avoid them. Take note of your triggers if you can identify them. Triggers might be caffeine, social interactions, and many other situations and stimuli. If you’re having difficulty identifying your triggers, talking to a therapist could help.
Shift your mindset
Another potentially critical component to successfully treating anxiety is maintaining a positive mindset and analyzing each situation realistically. It might help to learn how to find the “silver lining” in each situation, no matter how difficult.
Are you struggling with uncontrollable feelings of anxiety?
CBT for anxiety and panic disorder
Talk therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), is a proven treatment option that can help people who experience panic attacks and panic disorder with their symptoms. During cognitive behavioral therapy sessions, patients work with a therapist to help identify and change behavioral and thought patterns that may contribute to panic attacks.
Therapy may be a beneficial tool for those managing anxiety disorders. However, counseling might not always be available in your area, or you may be uncomfortable meeting face-to-face with counselors to find the proper fit. If you can relate to this problem, consider connecting with an online counselor.
Online cognitive behavioral therapy has been found to be as effective as in-person therapy for treating various mental health disorders. One cohort study found that those receiving internet-delivered CBT experienced reductions in anxiety symptoms, including those living with generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic disorder. In CBT, individuals may learn to take control of their thoughts and emotions and respond to situations healthily.
If you’re interested in meeting with a counselor online, platforms like BetterHelp can offer counseling administered by a licensed professional so you can learn how to cope with your anxiety in a safe and productive environment.
Takeaway
While panic attacks and anxiety can produce overwhelming physical symptoms, they do not typically result in immediate death or the immediate development of a heart disorder. However, over time, physical health risks can occur as a potential outcome of frequent or chronic stress.To avoid anxiety and its associated health risks, taking care of your mental and physical health is essential. If you’re interested in learning cognitive and behavioral principles for treating these attacks, consider reaching out to a counselor for further insight. If you are experiencing severe symptoms and are concerned, reach out to a medical professional.Frequently Asked Questions
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