Panic Attack: Symptoms and When E Serious

Panic attack na sudden wave of intense fear wey fit happen without warning.

Even though e fit feel like heart attack or like say person wan die, panic attack usually no be life-threatening.

👉🏽 But if you no sure whether na panic attack or heart problem, make doctor check you immediately.

---

🟧 Wetin be panic attack?

Panic attack na when fear suddenly become very strong within few minutes.

E fit happen:

• for house
• for work
• while driving
• inside market
• during sleep

👉🏽 Sometimes e happen without any clear reason.

---

🟧 Wetin dey happen for body?

During panic attack, your brain mistakenly think say serious danger dey.

Your body quickly enter "fight or flight" mode.

As a result, d brain go:

• release more adrenaline wey be d body stress hormone 
• d heart go beat faster
• breathing go become fast
• muscles go tighten up
• body go become fully alert

👉🏽 D problem be say, with anxiety, your body go dey react as if your life dey at risk even though danger no dey.

---

🟧 Symptoms of panic attack

Symptoms usually start suddenly and reach their strongest point within about 10 minutes.

Person fit get:

• fast heartbeat
• chest pain or tightness
• shortness of breath
• sweating
• shaking
• dizziness
• numbness or tingling
• nausea
• feeling say throat dey close
• feeling say person wan faint

Some people also fit feel:

• fear of dying
• fear of losing control
• fear say dem go run mad
• feeling like everywhere no real

👉🏽 These symptoms fit make person fear well well, but panic attack usually no damage d heart.

---

🟧 Wetin fit trigger panic attack?

Sometimes no clear trigger dey.

Other times, e fit happen because of:

• severe stress
• anxiety disorder
• emotional trauma
• lack of sleep
• too much caffeine
• alcohol or drug use
• certain medical conditions

---

🟧 Wetin you fit do during panic attack?

If you think say na panic attack:

• try breathe in slowly through your nose
• breathe out gently through your mouth
• remind yourself say d feeling go pass
• sit down if you dey feel dizzy
• focus on one object around you
• call somebody wey you trust if necessary

👉🏽If you panic because of d symptoms, e fit make d panic attack feel even stronger. Calm breathing fit help your body gradually settle.

---

🟧 Wetin fit help prevent future attacks?

• sleep well
• exercise regularly
• reduce caffeine
• avoid alcohol and drugs
• manage stress
• practice relaxation exercises
• attend counseling if doctor recommend am

👉🏽 Treating anxiety fit also reduce panic attacks.

---

🟧 When you suppose go hospital immediately? 🚨

Because panic attack and heart attack fit resemble each other, always seek urgent medical help if:

• na your first attack
• chest pain severe or no improve
• pain spread go arm, jaw or back
• person collapse
• person lose consciousness
• difficulty breathing continue
• symptoms happen after exercise

👉🏽 No assume say na panic attack if you never see doctor before.

---

🟧 Wetin doctor fit do?

Doctor fit:

• ask about your symptoms
• examine you
• check your heart
• do ECG if necessary
• check whether another illness dey cause the symptoms

If na panic attack, treatment fit include:

• counseling or CBT
• stress management
• medicine if necessary

👉🏽 Plenty people recover well with the right treatment.

Many people no dey find help or go doctor because:

• dem think say na spiritual attack
• dem fear say people go laugh dem
• dem think say dem dey run mad
• dem hope say e go stop by itself

But panic attack na real medical condition.

👉🏽 Early treatment fit stop future attacks and improve quality of life.

---

🟧 Real life example

Sule dey shop for supermarket when suddenly:

• him heart begin race
• chest come tight
• e no fit catch breath well
• e feel say e wan die

People around am think say na heart attack because Sule dey shout say:

"E be like say na my turn. My pappa die of heart problem around this same age oo!"

Dem rush am go hospital immediately.

After doctor examine am and rule out heart problem, dem discover say na panic attack caused by severe stress and anxiety.

Doctor teach am breathing exercises, advise am on how to manage stress, and later refer am for counselling.

After treatment, d attacks begin happen less often.

👉🏽 Panic attack fit feel like emergency, but proper medical assessment fit to identify d cause and help prevent future attacks.

---

🟢 Important Message

Panic attack fit feel very frightening, but e usually no dey life-threatening.

Still, because e fit look like heart attack, no ignore sudden chest pain or severe symptoms.

👉🏽 If you no sure wetin dey happen, make healthcare professional check you immediately.

---

📚 References

For full medical references, see the English version of this article.

---

⚠️ Disclaimer

This article na for education purpose only. E no replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment from qualified healthcare professional.

If you get sudden chest pain, difficulty breathing, or you think say person dey get heart attack or stroke, call emergency medical services immediately.

---

🔗 Related Health Topics

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress Management 
• Heart Palpitations
• Heart Attack vs Heartburn vs Anxiety?
• Sleep Problems
• Burnout

👉🏽 If you still get questions or prefer full medical detail? Read English version.