The Facts Regarding Anxiety and Panic Attacks
You step outside your front door and notice how beautiful the day is. You decide to enjoy the day to the fullest with a fun outdoor activity, whether 
it be walking in the warm sun, reading an engrossing novel in the backyard, or cooking a special dinner on the outside grill. Suddenly, you are stricken by an unforeseen, irrational and intense terror. Nothing in the outside world has changed, but your heart is racing, your mind is filled with anxiety and you begin to tremble. Now, you find yourself having difficulty breathing, and you feel a threat of impending doom. You then realize that you may be suffering from a panic or an anxiety attack.
Having the information you need to overcome your anxiety and panic attacks is half the battle
Panic attacks are sudden surges of overwhelming fear that come without warning or reason. Feelings of panic are more intense than having simple anxiety or becoming stressed-out, which is what most people experience. One out of every seventy-five people worldwide will experience real panic attacks. People who suffer repeated panic attacks can become disabled by their condition and should seek treatment before they start avoiding places or situations where panic attacks have occurred. For example, if a panic attack happened in an elevator, someone with a panic disorder may develop a fear of elevators. Panic disorders can often lead to other complications such as phobias, depression, substance abuse, medical complications and even suicide.
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, helping one cope with intense situations. However, when anxiety becomes an excessive and irrational dread of everyday occurrences, it can evolve into a disabling disorder. Anxiety and panic attacks can be accompanied by physical effects such as heart palpitations, nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath, stomach aches, or headaches. Blood pressure and heart rate may increase, along with profuse sweating, and incremental blood flow to muscle groups. The immune and digestive system may also become inhibited. External signs of anxiety may include pale skin, sweating and trembling. Someone suffering from anxiety might also experience it as a sense of dread or panic.
More people than you would think suffer from anxiety and panic attacks
Approximately forty million American adults ages eighteen and older are affected by anxiety and panic attacks disorders. It is estimated that panic and anxiety disorders cost the United States over $42 billion dollars a year. According to The Economic Burden of Anxiety Disorders, this is close to one-third of the U.S. $148 billion total health bill. Those dealing with panic and anxiety disorders are five times more likely to seek medical treatment and six times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders versus people who do not suffer from anxiety.
About 6.8 million people are affected by Generalized Anxiety Disorder, 6 million by anxiety and panic attacks, 7.7 million by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, 15 million by social anxiety disorder, 2.2 million by Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder, and 19 million by specific phobias. Panic and anxiety attacks are the most common emotional disorders, and both are more common than schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, alcohol abuse or depression. People with anxiety and panic attacks seek relief for symptoms that mimic physical illnesses which cost more than $22.84 billion, and are associated with repeated use of health care services.
Most people with anxiety disorders can be helped with treatment. Therapy for anxiety and panic attacks disorders often involves medication or specific forms of psychotherapy. It is recommended that you seek medical attention right away before the problem worsens.