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Mar18

Can Panic Attacks Cause Migraines?

Categories // Stress Relief, Migraines

Can Panic Attacks Cause Migraines?

Panic attacks and migraines are often present simultaneously in patients. Anyone with regular instances of panic attacks is considered to have panic disorder, an anxiety disorder classified in the same category as social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The science on panic and migraines

Because stress and migraines are often connected – with stress serving as a trigger for migraine (as indicated by The Migraine Trust http://www.migrainetrust.org/factsheet-migraine-triggers-10505 and other sources) – it's reasonable to hypothesize that panic attacks and migraine might be linked. In fact, a number of studies have revealed a significant correlation between migraine and panic disorder. The migraine attack strikes in some migraineurs when a panic attack is at its high point. However, the research that is available seems to indicate that the migraine attack typically leads into the panic attack.

Studies have also shown that panic disorder tends to be more severe for those who suffer from chronic migraine. Additional studies substantiate the idea that migraines are more likely for panic disorder patients when depression is present as well.

The authors of one study, published in the journal Cephalalgia in 1999, observed the link between panic attacks and migraines. They studied migraine patients and determined that the onset of a panic attack often accompanied the height of a migraine attack.

The study referred to the particular condition as a panic migraine. It also suggested that the pain intensity for those who experienced panic migraine was higher than for pure migraine. Periods without pain also involved higher levels of stress.

The experience of a panic attack

Panic disorder can result in extreme cases of coinciding stress and migraines, as indicated by the above research. Many patients wonder what symptoms tend to accompany panic attacks. A few of the most common symptoms are as follows:

• Profound sense of fear
• Heart palpitations
• Difficulty with respiration
• Perspiration that seems to arise spontaneously
• Fatigue.

Panic disorder is also grounded in an irrational feeling of oncoming disaster. There is no obvious source of danger or distress in the environment. A panic attack seemingly strikes "out of nowhere," aggressively and without warning.

Seeking help for migraine and related pain

If you suffer from a migraine attack on a recurring basis, especially if your condition is exacerbated by panic disorder, finding a viable solution is imperative. The MiRx™ Protocol has become a popular method for treating the pain of migraine due to its innovative strategies and multifaceted approach. Find a provider today.

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