A panic attack?

Question

So Tuesday, I found out that my professor canceled class this week due to a family emergency. That's two classes canceled and we didn't meet last week either (that's four consecutive classes canceled). This information worried me...

Maybe ten or fifteen minutes later while sitting in the computer lab, I experienced a sudden tightening pain in my chest cavity. It felt as if there was a bubble in there. This pain would come and go. The pain has not gone completely away. It still comes and goes from time to time. My heart rate is usually pretty high, like 90+, even prior to the sudden chest pains.

I am 20 years of age. I don't smoke, drink, do drugs. I eat fairly well and am not overweight. What are the odds that this is serious?

Answer 1

You may have had a mild panic attack. They sometimes come on without notice when you may already have been feeling stressed or anxious.
I saw a doctor for the same type of symptoms - chest pain, feeling of pressure that would come and go and came on all of a sudden. The pain/soreness in my chest lasted for a couple days after and my doctor explained that it was a panic attack due to anxiety. I took medicine to help when I had them frequently, but have not had them lately. I think the severity really just depends on the person. Maybe you can consult your physician or find out if your school offers any type of health services.
Best of luck with everything, hope it gets better!

Answer 2

Sounds too me like you are under a lot of stress!
Honestly I think that it is within normal perimeters for an academic to have to cancel class from time to time. They have conferences, academic partnerships, obligatory departmental duties, papers to present, other talks to give and they are also human beings who have illnesses and family emergencies on occasion.
Is missing two classes really bugging you this much, or is there something else which is underlying to cause your stress reaction?
In any case you should see a medical doctor since stress manifestations like this can be a sign of something more serious and a trip to the doctor may indeed help to make you feel a bit more relaxed.

Answer 3

I am so happy, it was only a 35 minute drive ( 70 minutes total) but absolutely no sign of anxiety or panic i shopped till I dropped - brilliant! I will now go for the next stage DUAL CARRIAGE way, probably at the weekend, with my husband accompanying me first then the solo drive, if successful the final stage of driving on motorway

Beat Anxiety And Panic Attacks Naturally?

Answer 4

Hello, Its HIGHLY unlikely this is serious. I have lived with high levels of anxiiety for most of my adult life- and I suggest your anxiety is situational. It is NORMAL to experience adrenaline in the body from time to time when there is no physical danger. It just shows you care about your studies. What is good about your situation is you now know stress impacts on your body-and can manage this. Learn slow breathing exercises (these can be done in class or anywhere. As we get anxious we breath faster and exhale too much carbon di oxide- this has a bad effect on the brain functioning capacity and leads to poor mental function AND increased anxiety. Get a massage, meditate for a small portion of the week and spend the rest of the time caring and committed to your syudies & success-remember to release at least weekly and the symptoms are likely to go away

Answer 5

From your description of your symptoms this isn't a panic attack. You can get tightening of the chest and shortness of breath with a panic attack but not pain that doesn't go away. Go see you doctor right away to rule out anything serious.

Answer 6

Panic attacks, can usually be controlled by, meditation, takingslow deep breaths, and go to your comfort zone, they are fairly common, and if they presist, your doctor may prescribe a light dose of a Benzodiazapine....... Maybe 5 mg of Atavin or valium, but these too are also addictive, so please do not excede dosage...However they can calm nerves that cause these attacks, at a low risk of addiction,in a low doseage that is.......... Try to breath deeply, but slowly before asking for the Benzo..I myself have expericenced these attacks, and now am on 40mg of Valium daily.. Good luck and practive your breathing to slow your heart rate as you feel one of these attacks commin on, God Bless,,

Answer 7

It could be serious, or it could just be gas- but talk to a doctor or even visit the college health services office and get an appointment. If you find that this happens mostly when stressed, see if there are any breathing exercises you can do. I knew someone who that used to do special breathing exercises when stressed and it helped them a great deal. GET TO A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ASAP, you do not want this to get worse.

Answer 8

Best see your doctor. You might be having anxiety attacks.

It is rare but young people can have heart problems. My 21 year old son died of a heart attack ...totally unexpected.

Make an appointment with your doctor.

Answer 9

doesnt sound too serious to me. it sounds like you have some kind of a nervous disorder. but nothing serious!!
or you might have an ulcer.
but i would go to the doctor anyway just to be on the safe side!!.

Answer 10

Hey, check out this site:

http://www.cureanxietydisorder.com

It has information that you help you understand panic attacks better - causes, symptoms, treatment, etc.

Also, you can check out this site:

http://www.cureanxietydisorder.com/cure.html

It has helped many people stop panic/anxiety attacks....

All the best...