In today’s anxious world, panic attacks have become quite common. However, they remain poorly understood, which is why this psychological condition is often mistaken for a stroke. Specialists from the press service of Perm Polytechnic University shared some details with Gazeta.Ru.
Experts define a panic attack as a sudden onset of fear accompanied by a rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, trembling, and a range of other pronounced physical symptoms.
Valery Litvinov, a candidate of medical sciences and senior researcher at the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology at PNIPU, identified the brain’s amygdala as the key trigger for the fear response. This organ constantly analyzes signals from the senses and assesses their safety. Once a potential threat is detected, the body shifts into a “fight or flight” mode.
Experts highlight a distinctive feature of this reaction: during an attack, not only adrenaline and other stress hormones are released, but also dopamine. The latter is typically associated with pleasure and positivity, but during episodes of panic, it helps the brain more easily remember danger and subsequently avoid similar situations.
Yulia Neverova, a senior lecturer at the Department of Sociology and Political Science at PNIPU, added that the manifestations of a panic attack are sometimes confused with symptoms of serious illnesses. Specifically, they may resemble a stroke, a heart attack, or certain endocrine disorders. Therefore, specialists strongly advise against self-medication and recommend consulting a doctor for advice.
The primary sources of such conditions, according to experts, include heightened anxiety, sleep disturbances—particularly apnea—and a range of other factors.
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