Enquiring Minds Want to Know: What is an Anxiety Attack?

It is a frequent phrase in popular culture, especially among characters on television shows who are constantly stressed out. You have also been very stressed out lately, and it is obvious that the stress is taking is taking its toll. So, you want to know: what is an anxiety attack?

Know Your Family Medical History

Whether or not you are close to your family, it is important that you know what genetic tendencies are present within your family lineage. For example, just as heart problems can be genetically inherited, so can anxiety.

If you know of various members of your family, either past or present, having suffered from extreme anxiety, you are that much closer to figuring out what an anxiety attack is. This is because an anxiety attack can also be mistaken as a heart attack or an asthma attack.

So, what is an anxiety attack? Specifically, it can happen quite suddenly if you find yourself in a very stressful situation. For example, if you are at an amusement park, and are in line for a roller coaster that is known to be very steep, you might have an anxiety attack.

However, it is important to note that anxiety attacks can occur all of a sudden for no reason, and those are specifically referred to as panic attacks. When it comes to describing the specific symptoms of what an anxiety attack is, they can include: shaking, nausea, hot/cold flashes, sweating, and difficulty breathing.

If you want to know if what you have been experiencing lately is what an anxiety attack is, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor. At that time, you will be given a physical exam, as well as various blood tests. This is because sometimes anxiety can be caused by thyroid problems too.

Something else you should do in your attempt to figure out what an anxiety attack is in relation to what you have been experiencing is to think about what has been happening lately in your life. For example, anxiety attacks often occur among people who have suffered an emotional trauma, such as when a loved one dies. This could be the source of your anxiety attacks.

For more information on what an anxiety attack is, go to your local bookstore and look in the medical section. There are a number of books that have been written on the topic, and they can not only give more information on the symptoms, but also information on how to seek the proper treatment.