Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Cassie on May 09, 2018, 02:59:04 PM
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Did anyone else suffer panic attacks in their younger days, I was really bad in my late 30's my heart would pound for hours on end and really high rates, fortunately seem to have outgrown it and haven't had an attack for many years but am concerned that I may have done myself a damage. My Dr did say to me once that a panic attack is pretty similiar to an athlete running a long distance race, their hearts also get to high rates for hours but I keep thinking what if this has caused damage to my heart or arteries over the years and I am unaware of it, having said that I am healthy and relatively fit but I do think about what our bodies went through in our younger days and if its all going to come bk to haunt us later.... :-\
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Hi Cassie,
If there's no problem with your heart at the moment and you
take no medicine for anything heart or veins related, then if it was
me, I wouldn't worry about.
If it turns out later, thà t I've got something wrong, then I'll deal with it then
To me, aren't we supposed to get our hearts racing, ie, aerobic exercise ,
it's supposed to do us good, I think things like jumping, running, ect
can have a result on knees and hips, as I have found out from always playing
Some kind of sport when I was younger. If you haven't had any diagnosis for
any kind of heart problem, or whatever, then don't worry. You'll bring on
a panic attack just thinking about it, I know I would. ;D
Jd x
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I had my first panic attack at age 3 :'( and these continued. Intermittently. Until they took over. I'm now mid-60s. Heart OK!
An 'expert' once told me that panic attacks cannot sustain themselves 4 more than 20 mins.. I walked out. The longest attack I had was 3 nights and the bed shook.
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Wow CLKD thats scary glad that you came through smiling, my daughter gets them now and I am so hoping that she will outgrow them as well, they are so debilitating.
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I'd say the opposite, that it would have strengthened your heart like a runner!
The heart is pretty sturdy and it's good to push it to its max now and again.
If the panic is psychological then it's likely to come down quickly but if it's physiological (hormonal etc.) then it can turn into a tachycardia which is just a higher rate than normal. Some people get a super tachycardia where it's around 180bpm and they are normally put on beta blockers.
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The increase in heart rate through exercise is via a different physiological mechanism to that caused by panic attacks. Exercise is definitely good for your heart and while panic attacks aren't necessarily “bad†for your heart, an increased heart rate caused by anxiety leads to changes in metabolism such as increased levels of cortisol. Although we need cortisol, if levels are too high for prolonged periods, it can lead to weight gain.
I'm not a medic (I'm a scientist), but in a nutshell, if it's a long time since you had panic attacks and you're fit and well, try not to stress yourself worrying about it. If you have any worrying symptoms, of course ask your doctor.
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Thanks ladies, very interesting, I am def not overweight but it does worry me how bad I used to be, so glad that I dont get those anymore, nothing worse than that feeling. :'(
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Hi ladies, can any of you give some tips on how you cope with your panic attacks? Xx
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I used to wake up with mine in the middle of the night, legs shaking first then all over shaking and teeth chattering uncontrollably. I'd read somewhere about lactose helping to calm panic attacks so I started getting up and making some warm milk, it worked.
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I agree that the effects on the heart caused by panic and stress are very different to the beneficial effects through exercise. This is a really helpful article from Nuffield Health on the reason that stress is bad for the body. I found it interesting as I wasn't sure before reading this as to the reason that raised Cortisol is bad for the body https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/article/resilience-how-stress-affects-your-body-and-brain
Taz x
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Dierdre ......... same here :-\
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Hi ladies, can any of you give some tips on how you cope with your panic attacks? Xx
I use Mindfulness Apps. I find listening to guided meditations really helpful. My fave is Insight Timer.
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I've had to take an emergency tablet today :'(, waiting for it to kick in . Otherwise the spiral would have taken over. Sitting in the garden. Watching the birds. Wondering where I went wrong in my diet during the week :-\.
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I find a glass of dry white wine helps very well when I am feeling overwhelmed :D
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What effect does that have? I avoid alcohol.
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It relaxes you and you may get a little rush of euphoria as the ‘poison' alert mechanisms kick in to get it through your liver as quickly as possible!
I think it's good to test the system now and again ;)
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CLKD what emergency pills do you take when suffering from a panic attack?
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Morning - I expect to be shouted down but here goes ::). My GP prescribed 'valium' - initially 10mg 3 times a day for 3 weeks then 5mg as necessary. After 2 years I dropped that to 1mg which is hardly anything. Taken the night B4 events I was unable to get out of, knowing that I could add another tablet during the day - it was never necessary. Then I had a couple of funny reactions which made me feel worse so I managed until 2002.
The GP prescribed Propranolol nightly: at first 80mg then 40mg - after several years I was waking with background dull headache so cut it to 20mg - in March I stopped completely, as I needed to know if the headaches were due to the Betablocka or what ever was doing the rounds at the time!
My as-necssary tablet is Lorazepam 1mg. I used to wait to see whether the panic would go, now I take it immediately. A small dose of medication which either enables me to cope or knocks me out so that I get relief from the panic attacks. Both 'valium' and Lorazepam can be addictive but as I know 1 tablet works 4 me, I have never needed any more. The effects get me out of the situation. It was almost 2 years between needing one [and I can't remember why that might have been ::)].
There, you did ask ;D
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My mom takes a low dose of lorazepam 1mg a day and has for years without needing more. She says that 1mg has saved her life so it shows you don't have to take it and automatically keep needing more.
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My mom took half a valium tablet twice a day for over 50 yrs. Right up into her 90s.
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Tnx.
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What ever it takes 8). It's about managing the anxiety in order 4 me to cope.
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I take 1mg diazepam a day, if anxiety as dipped so I can cope and get myself out, I’ll have the other half 1mg
I’ve taken it like this for 3/4 years and have no problem wanting more
Even just taken a 1/4 of 1/2mg
Which is mini mini hardly worth taking.
But
It gets me to be here 😀
Clio, how do you manage to get diazepam prescribed??
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My GP never queries what I require because he knows that I am sensible and there are several different doses of 'valium' to help anxiety. Have you had problems Justjules? He and I have had long discussions over the years and close monitoring.
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The only time our drs let you have diazepam is for flying....even then I have to beg. I have a secret stash at the moment as my Mum is on them in the Nursing Home and every now and again she feels she doesn’t need it so gives the spares to me for emergencies! They’re only 2mg and don’t seem to do anything to be honest, doesn’t even feel like I’ve taken it for some reason.
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2mg should ease symptoms. At what stage of anxiety to you swallow one Justjules?
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Usually if I’m feeling a bit anxious but not anxiety in the sense of panic, more that I’m worked up about something.
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If the anxiety doesn't get worse after you have taken the med., I would say it's working enough to keep you from full blown panic?
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I really don’t know to be honest. I don’t tend to get full blown panic these days. I’m feeling that rubbish and worn out at the moment. Almost 12 months since my Mum started being poorly, months of staying part time with her and keeping my own house in order, plus she had several hospital stays which culminated with her having a breakdown and enter ring the Nursing Home for two weeks respite in January....she’s still there thanks to Covid mainly but has made the decision to stay there bless her. It’s been so stressful and emotionally draining. My tank is empty, no energy or stamina, even a walk wears me out so the odd diazepam comes in handy now and again!
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Especially if you use something to help good quality sleep? No wonder you are running on empty! Give yourself a treat :foryou: :medal: