How to Combat Nocturnal Panic Attacks

Panic attacks that occur while a person is sleeping are called nocturnal panic attacks.  These attacks cause the sufferer to wake up in a panic state.  This experience is frightening and confusing because the sufferer is unprepared.

The first time this happens to most people is the worst but this is common to people going through this stage.  People who have had these experiences with nocturnal panic attacks have to be better prepared than those that have a normal panic attack.  Some people are afraid of sleeping and are fearful of losing control and in extreme cases fear of stroke or heart attack.

Nocturnal panic attacks are usually influenced by things that happened that day, drinking, or taking of drugs.  Sleep apnea can have a direct effect on panic attacks because it affects the heart frequency and blood pressure.  These panic attacks have these symptoms:

1.  Shortness of breath

2.  Chest discomfort or pain

3.  Heart palpitations

4.  The feeling of choking

5.  Sweating

6.  tingling sensations

7.  Hot flashes

How to diagnose panic attacks:

Anyone who experiences any of these symptoms needs to be evaluated.  The kind of a valuation depends on past medical history, any mental illness and surgery that the person has had performed.  The doctor must also know what medications you are taking also the amount of caffeine intake and any over the counter medication that you are taking.  He may also perform a neurological exam to test brain function.

Treatment for panic attack:

If a person has an attack at night, the person should start a calming method, by doing a breathing exercise.  The person needs to have any medication readily available.  Sometimes medications will help calm the person down.  Try to reduce your stress by talking about family problems the next morning or the next day.  Talking about these problems at night is not good for some panic attack sufferers.  Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with diet and exercise can have a big impact on controlling these attacks.

Medications that are normally prescribed for panic attacks are sedatives and anti depressants.  These medications do not cure the attacks simply soften the intensity.  Beta blockers can slow down the fast heart rate that accompanies these attacks and in some cases prevent an attack from developing.  Psychotherapy is also used to treat panic attacks but once the session ends the sufferer is on his own.

Nocturnal panic attacks can be minimized by keeping a consistent sleep schedule, regular exercise and stress reduction.