Anxiety and panic attack have been used interchangeably for a long time but they have different meaning to medical practitioners especially psychiatrists. Though they have similarities, it is important to distinguish between panic attack and anxiety attack as they will determine the type of treatment the patient will be given.A panic attack is a sudden surge of overwhelming fear that usually comes without any warning and may not have any reason. It has more intense symptoms as compared to an anxiety attack. Some of the symptoms of panic attacks include

• Palpitations and accelerated heart beats
• Sweating
• Sensation of smothering
• Chest pain and discomfort
• Nausea and abdominal pains
• Feeling faint
• Depersonalization and derealization
• Fear o f things like losing control  and dying
• Numbness or tingling sensations
• Chills or hot flushes.

Most of these symptoms subside after they have reached their peak, they are usually within a short period but others may last longer or may occur one after the other making it difficult to decide where one attack stops and the other starts.

People with fully blown and repeated panic attacks may be disabled by their conditions and they should seek medical attention as soon as possible and especially before they start keeping of situations or locations where they have had panic attacks. Though they are not dangerous panic attacks are terrifying and frightening due to the feeling of being out of control. If it is not checked in time it may lead to other complications such as phobias, depression substance abuse and even suicide.

Anxiety attack on the other hand, is considered to be a normal reaction to a stressful situation. It becomes a disorder when it turns into an excessive and irrational fear of normal everyday events. An anxiety attack usually intensifies over a period of time and has some similar symptoms to panic attacks though they are generally less intense. Some of the symptoms include

• Disturbed sleep
• Irritability
• Increased startle response
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath accompanied by increased hear rate
• Restlessness
• Fatigue
• Muscle tension
• Difficulty in concentrating.

There are people who have anxiety attacks that turn into panic attacks. Patients suffering from anxiety attacks are treated using antidepressants but some of them should not be used if the anxiety attack is more frequent as they come with habituation. Since the main cause of anxiety attacks is stress, relaxation is also a great technique of preventing it as it will get rid of the stressor.

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