A groundbreaking study conducted in 2013 by Okayama University Medical School may have made a invaluable discovery that could help anticipate, or even prevent, the onset of panic and hyperventilation attacks in at risk individuals.
Potential Cause For Anxiety And Panic Attacks
A known common cause for attacks is low levels of serotonin in the body. This neurotransmitter plays a major role in regulating feelings of happiness and well-being, so a deficiency can easily result in increased anxiety and depression. Serotonin itself is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan, a process that is known to rely heavily on the added components of vitamin B6 and iron. Researchers at Okayama University decided to delve deeper into the relationship between those key elements and occurrences of emergency level panic attacks.
In their study, researchers observed the levels of B6 and iron in patients who visited the emergency room due to severe panic attack or panic induced hyperventilation. They compared their measurements with a control group of individuals with healthy levels of both, and found that both vitamin B6 and iron levels were significantly lower in the group who suffered from the attacks than in the control group.
These findings present a groundbreaking step in understanding potential triggers of panic attacks.
LAGNIAPPE INFO:
What are Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Panic Attacks?
GAD - Individuals with this disorder experience “persistent and excessive” feelings of anxiety towards everyday situations and concerns. These feelings are difficult or impossible to control and can escalate in severity. With escalating levels of severity, GAD can manifest into feelings of overwhelming dread and terror. This is categorized as panic disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder are conditions that affect close to 13 million adults in the US. *1
Panic Attack - a sudden period of intense fear which causes incredible physical and mental distress. Attacks most often consist of racing or pounding heart rate, trembling, shaking, and difficulty breathing. This can result in fast or deep gasping to intake air, and cause hyperventilation. At times, these attacks can be serious enough to require emergency attention. *2
Both of these kinds of attacks can sometimes be linked to specific triggers like a person, place, or object, but most commonly occur unpredictably and without warning. The National Institute of Mental Health describes how “worry about panic attacks, and the effort spent trying to avoid attacks, cause significant problems in various areas of the person’s life.” For those who suffer from these kinds of attacks, it can be difficult to see a way out.
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