Who is More Likely to Suffer from a Panic Attack? 

 Nearly one-third of Americans, or more than one hundred million people living in the United States, has suffered from a panic attack sometime or other during their life.  There are many reasons why this may be so, researchers are still trying to sort out answers to this question, but among people who are chronic sufferers, there appears to be several commonalities. 

Most of those who are chronic sufferers have jobs that are either very physically or mentally challenging, leading to a great deal of stress.  When stress levels are high, and one does not have the ability to simply pull away from the situation and relax, the body often times goes into overdrive, a condition that, if occurring to often, can lead an individual to overheat, much like a car would do.  In an individual, however, this overheating takes its form in a panic attack.  The heart will being to race, palms will grow sweaty, and a general feeling of gloom will preside, forcing the individual to step back from whatever he or she was doing, take a breather, and relax.  For this reason, it is also important that a highly stressed individual occasionally take some time off.  Without any time off, there is never any down time and, just the opposite, a person is continually on the go, which can have adverse side effects and could potentially trigger a panic attack. 

  Aside from these jobs, there are also several personality traits that doctors believe can contribute to a person experiencing a panic attack.  People who are extremely analytical, are obsessive, emotionally sensitive, or need to be in control at all times are also more likely to experience a panic attack than their counterparts who are not like this.  The primary reason people with these personality traits are more likely to experience a panic attack is because these people are likely to focus all of their attention on a single issue; and when this issue is no longer under their control, they are likely to freak out, thereby resulting in a panic attack.  There is, in other words, either an obsessive or compulsive aspect to all of these personality traits and it is these qualities that are most prone to trigger a panic attack.  Although it may be hard to alter one's personality, there are a number of preventative ways to do so, whether they are natural or proscribed by a doctor.

 Those with irrational phobias, such as fear of heights, spiders, or other mundane aspects of life, moreover, are also more prone to panic attacks.  Someone who is overly afraid of spiders, for example, may tremble, sweat, and have trouble breathing whenever he or she sees a spider, which, as is well known, are all too common.  These phobias stem from some negative previous encounter with the object of fear and, as a result, are usually difficult to overcome unless one seeks some sort of medical treatment, like seeing a psychologist.  Without the help of some medical profession, the chances one will be able to overcome a phobia, and thereby curtail panic attacks, is very slim.    

Panic attack news on the Web

Tiffany Livingston JetBlue bust out: Panic attack or flotation device test? Playboy model Tiffany Livingston tries to open a JetBlue plane door in mid-flight. Did they run out of champagne?

Tiffany Livingston, Playboy Model, Has Panic Attack Mid-Air, Tries To Jump Out Of JetBlue Plane What's Your Reaction? A buxom Playboy centerfold tried to bust out -- midair -- from a jet yesterday amid a bad case of high anxiety.

Turbulence Leads to Turbulence On JetBlue Flight A woman having an apparent panic attack over turbulance on a JetBlue flight bound for Newark was tackled by several passengers as she rose from her seat and banged into an emergency exit door while complaining... JetBlue Airways - Emergency exit - Flight attendant - Aviation - Transportation

Playboy Model Freaks Out at 10,000 Feet and Tries to Exit Plane, Say Passengers Playboy model Tiffany Livingston freaked out mid-flight and tried to get out of a Jet Blue aircraft while it was at 10,000 feet, report passengers. She was suffering from an horrendous panic attack, say authorities. Contributor: Roz Zurko Published: Sep 10, 2010

Playboy Playmate Tiffany Livingston freaks out on plane, tries to open door in-flight According to the New York Post, Playboy model Tiffany Livingston had a mid-air panic attack on a JetBlue flight from Orlando to Newark yesterday, and is said to have attempted to open a door mid-flight during the episode. The Post says: Sexy 21-year-old model Tiffany Livingston was aboard JetBlue Flight 522 from Orlando, Fla., to [...]

Officials: Rabid coyote cause for concern, but not panic GREENWICH -- News that a coyote killed in Rye Brook, N.Y., tested positive for rabies Wednesday has caused concern among residents and public safety officials, but health officials said since the disease has been a constant presence in Connecticut since the 1990s, there is no reason to panic.

City event to support bomb victim People in Londonderry are to hold a fundraising event in aid of a man who lost his fast food business in a dissident republican car bomb attack.

Playboy model detained 'after trying to open plane door mid-flight' A Playboy model was detained after claims she tried to open a plane door mid flight after she suffered an anxiety attack.

Jayhawks Remember 9/11 Nine years ago our nation suffered the most devastating terrorist attack on its soil. These are just a few stories from current Jayhawks about their experiences of the event.

Playboy Model -- Popped After In-Flight Freak Out Filed under: Celebrity Justice , Tiffany Livingston , Playboy Name: Tiffany Livingston Age: 21 Likes: Trying to exit commercial airplanes mid-flight ... allegedly! Livingston (32C-22-33) was placed in federal custody last night, after, according to the NY Post , she allegedly suffered an anxiety attack aboard a… Read more