Understanding Panic Attacks in Women: Causes, Symptoms & Relief

According to the American Psychological Association, one in every 75 people suffer from panic disorder, and women are twice as likely as men to experience panic attacks. Symptoms of a panic attack include sudden bouts of terror, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, hot flashes and fear of another attack.

Thyroid Disorder and Women

• Tachycardia, or rapid heart rate, can be a cause and a symptom of panic attack in women. Women are more inclined than men to suffer from hyperthyroidism, which can cause tachycardia.

PMS and PMDD

• The symptoms of PMDD include that of PMS, along with extreme anxiety that may manifest in a full blown panic attack. Women with PMDD are treated medically with hormone therapy.

Menopause and Panic Attacks

• Menopause causes a myriad of symptoms that can cause or mimic a panic attack: hot flashes, extreme anxiety, unfounded fears, and an overall sensation that something is going wrong inside of your body.

Pregnancy

• A woman who usually experiences panic attacks may find that they become more manageable and even disappear during pregnancy. If your panic is exacerbated by your pregnancy, consider taking a SSRI medication.

Environmental Causes

• Women are more likely than men to become a victim of violent crime during their lifetime, which can result in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The chief symptom of PTSD in women is panic attack.