Oct 06
Oh, Great!
Panic attacks could be a predictor for heart attacks, according to an Associated Press report. In a study of 3,000 women, those who reported at least one panic attack in a six-month period were three times more likely to suffer a heart attack within five years.
The hypochondriac in me ought to be in overdrive right now, but curiously, it isn’t. I think I know why. Maybe it’s because I had my first panic attack about 33 years ago, and in six and a half “five years laters,” I still have managed to not have a heart attack or stroke despite the additional risk factor of being overweight.
My anxiety is better now than it used to be. My weight problem is better now than it used to be. While there’s still work to be done on both, I’m making progress in the right direction.
I hope the hypochondria section of the old brain remembers that.
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October 6th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
This actually seems like kind of a no-brainer: worrying leads to heart attacks. On the other hand, having it spelled out is just more reason to worry. Talk about a Catch-22!
October 6th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
I also have panic attacks and it has been seven years since I had my first one. I remember my first one; I was at work when I started to feel funny. I tried to measure my pulse and I couldn’t feel it so I stood up and shouted, “I can’t feel my pulse!” Well after four or five seconds I realized I was still alive and then I wanted to die. I still get them now and again but now I know what they are and I can fight them.
Now, if I can only lose weight!
October 7th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
My guess is this is a correlational study & remember that is not cause & effect so it may be some other variable!!!
October 9th, 2007 at 3:12 am
Hi Patrick
As you know, I am a fellow anxiety sufferer. I had my first panic attack in 1995, and it was a whopper! I continued to have them until I took the MAP class in the summer of 95. Since then I have had maybe 3 mild ones at the most. I have to be honest here, I don’t think I trust those findings. Anxiety happens… to everyone. There are so many variables in what can cause a heart attack, that figuring anxiety in seems to be a given.
Stress is the number one cause of most of our ailments. It’s hard on the body and mind. As a matter of fact, I have been surprised at how much it affects us. My blood sugar raises higher when I am under stress, then when I have sugar in my diet. My trigger is stress. Do you do any kind of structured relaxation exercises, such as meditation or positive imagery? Drop me an email if you would like to know what’s been helpful for me. Some of the exercises I do are only about 5 minutes long, but they have helped me keep the anxiety pretty much under control for over a decade now.
Hang in there Patrick. 
Always, Carly