Can You Die From A Panic Attack? Understanding Its Link To Anxiety And Panic Disorder

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.

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 a 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 a 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. 

• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Tingling fingers, arms, and hands
• Chest pain
• Heart rate changes or palpitations
• Difficulty breathing
• Sensing you might faint
• Headache

Panic episode causes

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. 

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 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 for panic attacks and anxiety management

Your therapist might also recommend exposure therapy. In this type of therapy for anxiety, 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. Exposure therapy can be a vital tool in improving mental health and managing panic disorder effectively.

Medications for panic disorder

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, as they can help determine the right options for your specific needs and ensure a safe treatment plan.

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 dissociation 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 for mental health and anxiety prevention

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 

Strategies that might prevent panic attacks and support mental health

Use deep breathing and mindfulness exercises

Acknowledge and work around your triggers 

Shift your mindset when wondering, "Can you die from a panic attack?"

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. Understanding that panic attacks are not life-threatening can help you focus on developing effective coping strategies and reducing anxiety.

CBT for anxiety and panic disorder

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.