What are panic attacks?

By Dr Vasilios Silivistris

Although panic attacks (often also called anxiety attacks) can produce some very disturbing symptoms, they are completely harmless. Panic attacks are a severe attack of anxiety and fear that occurs suddenly, often without warning, and for no apparent reason. In addition to anxiety, various other symptoms may also occur during a panic attack.

These include one or more of the following:

• Palpitations and thumping heart.
• Sweating and trembling.