Panic Attack Symptoms: Shortness of Breath, Racing Heart, & More




Shortness of Breath, Racing Heart, & More




Panic attacks involve sudden feelings of terror that strike without warning. These episodes can occur at any time, even during sleep. People experiencing a panic attack may believe they are dying or going crazy. The fear and terror that a person experiences during a panic attack are not in proportion to the true situation and may be unrelated to what is happening around them.


You may also think you're having a heart attack, and it's true that some of the symptoms can be similar. However, most people having a panic attack have had one before, triggered by a similar event or situation.


The chest pain of a panic attack usually stays in the mid-chest area (the pain of a heart attack commonly moves toward the left arm or jaw). You may also have rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, and fear. Panic attacks come and disappear suddenly, but leave you exhausted.


If you suddenly have four or more of these symptoms, you may be having a panic attack:



  • Sudden high anxiety with or without a cause

  • A "racing" heart

  • Feeling weak, faint, or dizzy

  • Shaking

  • Tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers

  • Sense of terror, or impending doom or death

  • Feeling sweaty or having chills

  • Nausea


  • Chest pain or discomfort

  • Breathing difficulties, including a "smothering" sensation or shortness of breath

  • A feeling of choking

  • Feeling a loss of control

  • A sense of unreality

  • A fear of going crazy or losing control

  • A fear of dying




Panic attacks are generally brief, lasting less than 10 minutes, although some of the symptoms may last longer. An isolated panic attack, while extremely unpleasant, is not uncommon or life-threatening.


Panic attacks can be a symptom of other anxiety disorders, and people who’ve had one panic attack are at greater risk for another compared to those who’ve never had one. Panic attacks and panic disorder are not the same thing. When the attacks happen repeatedly and you worry about having more episodes, you may have panic disorder.




Readmore : How to Deal With Anxiety Attacks


Source: www.webmd.com

Employee Awarded $450,000 After Party Triggers Panic Attack




Employee Awarded $450,000 After Party Triggers Panic Attack




​In 2019, a Kentucky man experienced a panic attack after his employer threw him a workplace birthday party against his wishes. It then fired him for his reaction.


Last month, a jury awarded him $450,000 in damages.


Kevin Berling, who lives with an anxiety disorder, told his manager at Gravity Diagnostics, a medical laboratory in Covington, Ky., that he did not want his birthday celebrated at work because it would cause him significant stress.


The company forgot about his request and held a surprise party five days later, according to the lawsuit. This caused Berling to have an anxiety attack. The next day, he met with his managers to discuss the situation and had another panic attack. He was told to leave work afterward.


"They started giving [Berling] a pretty hard time for his response to the birthday celebration, actually accusing him of stealing his co-workers' joy," Tony Bucher, Berling's lawyer, told TV news outlet WKRC.


In an e-mail three days later, Gravity Diagnostics fired him over concerns that he posed a threat to his co-workers' safety. Berling had never received a negative performance review nor had he been disciplined by the company prior to his termination, according to court documents.


Berling sued the employer for disability discrimination and retaliation.


On March 31, jurors concluded that Berling experienced an adverse employment action because of a disability. The jury awarded him $150,000 in lost wages and benefits as well as $300,000 for suffering, embarrassment and loss of self-esteem.


Did the Company Violate the Law?


Fernanda Anzek, managing director of HR and diversity, equity and inclusion services for HR solutions company Insperity in Houston, said Berling was engaging in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) interactive process when he told Gravity Diagnostics that celebrating his birthday would trigger a panic attack.


Conditions that significantly limit a person's daily activity, such as chronic stress or an anxiety disorder, are typically covered by the ADA.


"The company did not accommodate the employee's request as required under the ADA," Anzek said. "Even though a party is not related to the employee's job, it is an event that takes place at work. And employers still have the same obligation to accommodate a reasonable request."


Andrew Gordon, an attorney with law firm Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said the lawsuit wouldn't have happened had the company respected the employee's reasonable wish to not have his birthday celebrated by others.


"This is the type of situation that just eats at HR professionals and employment law attorneys," Gordon said. "It's a textbook what-not-to-do scenario in terms of how to handle an employee who asks to be left out of certain nonperformance-related social functions at work for legitimate, and potentially legally protected, reasons."


Previous reports by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) suggested that employers should not arrange a birthday celebration without first asking if the employee is comfortable with it. Some companies even ask this question during onboarding.


A seemingly innocuous workplace birthday celebration could also spawn lawsuits about age and religious discrimination. For example, an employer could be sued if it holds a party for a worker who is a Jehovah's Witness, a religion that doesn't celebrate birthdays.


"If this was something different, like an important team meeting that happened every week and during which important work-related information was discussed, we would possibly be having a different conversation," Gordon said. "But not over a two-minute birthday celebration."


Destigmatizing Mental Health Problems


Mental illness has long been stigmatized in the U.S. The Mayo Clinic indicated that stigma can lead to bullying, physical violence or harassment in the workplace, which can compromise a company's culture as well as its recruitment and retention efforts.


Anzek implored companies to create a work environment that welcomes openness, acceptance and transparency. Business leaders openly discussing their own mental health problems can help create such an atmosphere.


"When people in positions of authority talk about their own mental health challenges, it normalizes these conversations for everybody around them," Anzek explained. "It's also important for managers to prioritize their own well-being because it shows employees that self-care is both encouraged and expected."


Read about the mental health and wellness initiative spearheaded by SHRM, the SHRM Foundation and mental health education site Psych Hub to build effective mental health strategies in the workplace.





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Readmore : Dealing With Anxiety Attacks


Source: www.shrm.org

Know The Difference Between Heart Attacks and Panic Attacks – ThedaCare









ThedaCare Interventional Cardiologist Explains Overlapping Symptoms
 


It can happen at any time: A sudden onset of an intense feeling of fear accompanied by scary physical symptoms like a racing heart, trembling, or trouble breathing. You could be in the grip of a panic attack, which many people experience at some point, but you might wonder if you’re having a heart attack instead. 



Dr. Samantha Kapphahn, an Interventional Cardiologist with ThedaCare Cardiovascular Care, said it’s the right question to ask.  


“Never second-guess chest pain or other symptoms of heart attack,” said Dr. Kapphahn. “It’s can be challenging to tell the difference, so you should seek immediate care if you are having certain symptoms. “While some people can be hesitant to seek care, avoiding immediate care can potentially translate into more serious health consequences if you are having a heart attack.” 


Symptoms of a panic attack might include: 



  • Sudden, strong feelings of anxiety, fear or doom 

  • A feeling of detachment from reality 

  • Trouble breathing, a pounding/racing heart, and/or sweating 

  • Shaking, trembling, dizziness or lightheadedness 

  • Abdominal pain, nausea, and/or headache 

  • Hot flashes or chills

  • Chest pain


Panic attacks may happen frequently for people who suffer from anxiety-related disorders. They also can just happen suddenly to anyone. 


Heart attacks occur when part of the heart isn’t getting enough oxygen, usually because of a blocked artery, preventing or slowing blood flow to the heart. 


Heart attacks share many symptoms with panic attacks. Some may include: 



  • Chest pain or pressure 

  • Trouble breathing/shortness of breath 

  • A pounding/racing heart 

  • A feeling of impending doom 

  • Sweating/cold sweats 

  • Shaking and trembling 

  • Lightheadedness and dizziness 

  • Nausea or vomiting 

  • Pain or discomfort in the upper body, particularly arms, shoulders, back, jaw or neck


While it can be difficult to differentiate between the two, for some people there can be differences between heart attacks and panic attacks: Chest pain that accompanies a panic attack typically remains in the chest, while chest pain that comes with a heart attack can often radiate to other areas, such as down the arms, shoulders, neck, or jaw, Dr. Kapphahn said.  


“Additionally, heart attack pain can be often described as deep pressure — the proverbial ‘elephant sitting on your chest’ feeling, or it can be described as feeling like heartburn, or even as a generalized discomfort in the chest,” she said. “Pain with a panic attack is often described as sharp or piercing.” 


Never wait to see if symptoms go away, Dr. Kapphahn said. Seek medical attention if you have any signs of heart attack, even if you think it may be a panic attack. ThedaCare hospitals are staffed 24 hours a day by teams who specialize in emergency medicine, offering a full range of emergency care options and support. For additional information about where to go for medical symptoms and conditions, please visit: thedacare.org/get-care-now/. 


“Women in particular should be aware that they may experience symptoms that appear different on occasion,” Dr. Kapphahn said. 


Heart attacks can manifest differently in women, who are more likely to not feel the typical chest pressure that accompanies a heart attack. They are more likely to experience pain in other areas of the body, such as the back or abdomen, and they may feel other symptoms common to both panic and heart attacks, such as shortness of breath or lightheadedness. 


Both panic attacks and heart attacks can often happen for no apparent reason, but often each has its own triggers. Heart attacks can occur following a period of physical exertion or strain, such with people who are normally sedentary and then shovel heavy snow, for example. Heart attacks also can occur after intense emotional events. Panic attacks may occur in people who have certain types of anxiety disorders, or they can occur in isolated situations to anyone, sometimes brought on by a period of emotional stress, such as a divorce or a death in the family. They may not always occur right at the moment of highest emotional experience.    


“Those who have anxiety or depression may also be at higher risk of heart problems,” Dr. Kapphahn said. “Chronic stress can contribute to higher blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart attack.” 


People who have had panic attacks should talk to their provider about additional screening to help prevent heart disease, as well as to help prevent more frequent or stronger panic attacks.  


“The takeaway is that we truly want people to understand and recognize the warning signs of serious heart events, she said. “Heart attacks are life-threatening, and we want people to feel empowered to seek immediate help.” 



About ThedaCare 


For more than 110 years, ThedaCare® has been committed to improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves in Northeast and Central Wisconsin. The organization delivers care to more than 600,000 residents in 17 counties and employs approximately 7,000 health care professionals. ThedaCare has 180 points of care, including seven hospitals. As an organization committed to being a leader in Population Health, team members are dedicated to empowering people to live their unique best lives. ThedaCare also partners with communities to understand needs, finding solutions together, and encouraging health awareness and action. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a not-for-profit health system with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs, as well as primary care. 




Readmore : Strategies for Handling Anxiety Attacks


Source: thedacare.org

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