Panic attacks and asthma

[PaulRosedene]

Does anyone have panic attacks that bring on asthma attacks or asthma attacks that bring on panic attacks ?

[micajay89]

I went through a really bad phase thinking i was having asthma attacks almost daily, for a good few months, but it turned out to be panic attacks. The more i read up on panic attacks V asthma attacks, helped me to differentiate between the two, and the more i realised they were panic attacks, they seemed to calm down/practically stop. Are you suffering with either of these? It is hard to tell the difference as they are both so similar and connected, the worst thing i was told was "calm down as your panic attack could lead to an asthma attack" but whenever i would feel one coming on, i would take my peak flow, have 2 puffs on my Ventolin and take myself away from the situation. As soon as i saw my peak flow was normal, after about 10 minutes id realise it was all in my head. It did lead to carrying around my peak flow for a while, but it really helped. Obviously every one is different and everyone's body reacts differently, so sometimes it could be your asthma, but having the peak flow was the quickest method i could find to determining what it was.

[PaulRosedene in reply to micajay89]

Hi mica jay, your comments are most interesting. I am a carer who has asthma. One of the people I care for has attacks which I am taking to be panic attacks. She tends to get them when she is in a situation which she finds stressful.

Is there any medication for panic attacks ? Are they treated in the same way as asthma ?

Would you take Ventolin for either an asthma attack or a panic attack ? Are you saying that the peak flow would recover much more quickly with a panic attack ?

I really appreciate your thoughts.

[micajay89 in reply to PaulRosedene]

Hi Paul. I am not sure if you can get medication for panic attacks. I have never been to the doctors about them, so it may be worth looking into. I know there are herbal remedies that you can take to help keep you calm, like lavender balm etc. but if her panic attacks are severe, there may be something a doctor could prescribe.

I have always taken my Ventolin when i suffer from a panic attack, more for peace of mind that it is opening my airways, just incase it could turn into an asthma attack, but then you have the issue of it speeding up your heart rate, which can make the panic attack feel worse.

Maybe tell her to keep a diary, and write in it every day about how she is feeling etc (even on the days she doesn't have a panic attack) so she can pinpoint what is bringing them on. It can be frustrating, because sometimes panic attacks can come on for no reason at all, which is why people get them confused with asthma attacks.

I also use the peak flow for my own peace of mind more than anything. Panic attacks don't effect my PF reading, so when i sometimes think it is an asthma attack, i will take my peak flow, and if it stays the same as my usual reading, i know its not my asthma. If you are having a genuine asthma attack, your reading will be less than half of your normal reading. So if my peak flow is at my normal 450, i know its anxiety.

Next time she suffers a panic attack, tell her to take her peak flow to make sure its her normal reading, have one puff of her Ventolin inhaler and go to a quiet place and take some deep breaths. I usually inhale through my nose for 5 seconds, then exhale out of my mouth for 5 seconds a few times, as it helps to regulate my breathing/calm down my heart rate. Warm drinks are usually good too, as it soothing.

This is a good website to read, as it shows you all the symptoms you get while having a panic attack - nhs.uk/conditions/panic-dis...

Everyone's panic attacks are different, and things that work for some, may not work for others. The main part is recognising that it is anxiety, and doing what you can to help relax you and overcome it. Hope some of this helps

[Chabella in reply to micajay89]

Micajay I had the same issue as i suffer from asthma and panic attacks. I used the exact method with the peak flow and that calmed me down. But... Then i read posts here saying that you can have an asthma attack and still have normal peak flow readings!!! I wish i never read that. Since then i am worried again.

[ChrissieMons]

As mica jay says, it’s easy to confuse the two and stress can cause an asthma attack. You really need to find out why you are panicking to deal with the problem properly.

[Dawmouse62]

Hello I have just started with panic attacks brought on by anxiety and when I have difficulty breathing I start to panic too !so its getting to be a vicious cirle im trying to work on the anxiety bit ....