I’ve had asthma for approximately 14 years but it’s gradually getting worse as I get older and my attacks are more frequent. I’ve been put on additional preventative medicine but have always wondered about the difference between asthma and anxiety/panic attacks. I’m not sure if I experience the latter because my asthma does scare me on occasion. Is it normal to get scared during an attack? How can you tell if it’s just a little fear or full blown anxiety?
Things I have been experiencing lately are: wheezy cough, chest soreness and aches, breathlessness, and feeling as if weights are sitting on my chest. Sometimes I feel achey and weak all over. At times, I get frustrated when my asthma is out of control because it’s hard to breathe but I do not hyperventilate or experience a racing heart. I just have difficulty getting a breath and I become really achey, especially after I take my rescue inhaler.
What am I experiencing and is it typical for an asthma attack or panic attack?
this is a question for your dr not yahoo
Don’t get medical advice on Yahoo Answers please.
I think you’re experiencing asthma attacks. I have asthma and anxiety and I don’t know.. I guess I just “know” the difference when it happens. An asthma attack is like.. no matter WHAT you do, you can breathe in or out without feeling like someone’s choking the life out of you until you puff your inhaler. An anxiety attack is more… well.. i can feel it coming on. My body starts shaking a little, my mouth goes dry, and I hyperventilate. When it comes to actual breathing, I can better control my breathing during an anxiety attack as opposed to an asthma attack.
This is probably one of the best questions I’ve read so far. You should ask a doctor about it though. These are just my experiences. Great question =)
in br.asthma, your airway is reduced, hence less supply of oxygen to vital organs especially the brain and heart, resulting in panic state. since relieved by inhaler, it a normal patho-physiology.
I would ask your doctor!!! But I think you are experiencing an asthma attack. During a Panic Attack you are thinking about thing that need to be done,or things you are worried about. When I have an asthma attack around my mouth it will get pure white, but when I have a panic attack it doesn’t. But I am not a doctor!!!
During an asthma attack mast cells degranulate causing broncho spasms, airway inflammation, and other breathing difficulties. These can be triggered by environmental things such as pollen or dander. You may experience shortness of breath and hyperventilation with an asthma attack. Coincidently you could experience those with a panic attack. Panic attacks stem more from an anxiety type distress and asthma attacks originate from a breathing disorder. I would also believe that a panic attack could set an asthma attack into motion and vice versa. Good question I am not so sure i helped though. Sorry.
It is very normal to become scared during an asthma attack . I’ve had copd , a combination of asthma and emphysema for years now . Asthma can cause panic attacks and panic attacks can cause an asthma attack.
I now take medication for the panic attacks and my asthma and shortness of breath difficulties have been greatly relieved . I take a combination of xanax and paxil and it’s worked wonders . I will say that doctors often bulk at handing out these medications though because some are addictive and can affect breathing somewhat in their own right . For me though it’s been a godsend really . I think it well worth mentioning to your doctor .
My panic attacks were becoming quite extreme and now I can stay relaxed enough to focus on my breathing techniques and maintain a grip on my difficulties. Good luck I know very well how you feel , I’m a long time sufferer of these problems . Oh as for telling the two apart , I’ve never been able to do this and I suspect I generally have a combination of both , when one triggers the other kicks in also .