If you suffer from panic attacks and are trying to find the cause you have probably found out that medical research is trying to find the same thing. Piecing together the different processes and mechanism(s) is a continual process. Knowledge has been accumulated on symptoms of panic attack as well as causes documented.

The whole story, though, can not be contained in a single word like “causes” and can actually be misleading. Panic attacks can in fact be caused by many other conditions. During conditions that do not warrant it, some believe the personal alarm or threats becomes activated. Why that happens, or what the precise biological processes are, is not fully known. The information contained in this knowledge will hopefully aid you in requiring additional knowledge about the causes of panic attacks.

It is widely recognized by researches that there is a tendency of panic attacks to run in families. But that doesn’t mean they only run in families. There is no genetic evidence at the moment to support this supposition. There are also some studies that implicate deficiencies involving nutritional factors such as magnesium and zinc. These results have been rendered inconclusive by studies that have shown differing results. We are certain there will be more studies on this particular topic in the future. The nutritional component of panic attacks will not be properly addressed until this happens. Until that day comes, it’s wise to focus on other possible risks.

There is also a related concept to consider if you are an anxiety sensitive person with a disposition to panic attacks. The tendency to take on a skewed perspective of an external event can be common in some people. Feelings or events internally often will bring about the same reaction for this type of person.

This reaction’s medical term is “catastrophic misinterpretation”. For them, it is commonplace to feel that something will cause extreme problems. It is common then for a panic attack to occur, since their thoughts and imaginations run wild. Panic attacks and their symptoms then are underscored by the heavy psychological elements and components.

Panic attacks can also be the result of prescription medications. Do keep in mind that symptoms are very wide in scope. Discuss a history of panic attacks with your doctor before he or she prescribes medicine. Common drugs that may trigger panic attacks include: Sanorex, Catovit, Prolintane, and Mazindol. There are quite a few popular prescription medications that list potential side effects that share symptoms with panic attacks. Make sure you tell your doctor anything you feel might help identify the things that trigger your panic attacks. You might discover that it’s something as simple as a phobia or buried psychological reaction that causes the attack.