The terms “anxiety attack” and “panic attack” are often used to describe a set of physical and mental symptoms such as overwhelming fear, a fast heartbeat, sweating, and dizziness. These symptoms come on quickly.

While many people use both terms interchangeably, the medical term to name these symptoms is “panic attack”—since “anxiety attack” is not a medical term. Panic attacks are a hallmark of panic disorder, a type of anxiety disorder involving frequent and recurring panic attacks—which may explain why the terms are often confused.

Symptom Differences and Similarities

Panic Attack

Anyone can experience a panic attack, but they are more common in people with panic disorder. An external event can trigger panic attacks, or they can occur without a clear cause.

Panic attacks can last between five and 20 minutes and occur multiple times a day or a few times a year. Symptoms of a panic attack come on suddenly and include:

• Chest pain
• Chills
• Difficulty breathing
• Pounding or racing heart
• Stomach pain or nausea
• Sweating
• Tingling or numb hands
• Trembling
• Weakness or dizziness

Panic attacks can be emotionally troubling or disturbing, but they are not life-threatening.

Anxiety Attack

“Anxiety attack” is not a medically recognized term, so there are no specific diagnostic criteria or associated symptoms for it.

With that said, anxiety is a very real stress reaction, often causing physical tension and intense fear and worry. When anxiety persists and occurs regularly, interfering with daily tasks, it can lead to an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety disorders are a recognized mental health condition. There are various types, including:

• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder
• Phobia-related disorders
• Social anxiety disorder

Potential Causes and Risk Factors of Panic Attacks

There is not one clear cause of panic attacks and panic disorder. Researchers suspect there are multiple factors at play, including:

• Biological: People with anxiety disorders are at a greater risk for panic attacks due to overstimulation of circuits in the brain associated with fear or danger.
• Environmental: People who experience significant stress or trauma are at a greater risk.
• Genetic: People with a family history of panic disorder have an increased risk of experiencing panic attacks. (Studies of twins found that there is a 32% chance of inheriting a panic disorder).
• Psychological: People with anxiety may perceive danger in circumstances where the risk for danger is low, increasing the risk of panic attacks.

Panic disorder often co-occurs with other mental health conditions, such as:

• Major depressive episodes
• Mood swings (often associated with bipolar disorder)
• Persistent depressive disorder (long-term type of depression)
• Substance use disorder

How to Get a Diagnosis

If you experience symptoms of a panic attack, make an appointment to talk to a healthcare provider. They may refer you to a mental health provider, such as a psychiatrist, for diagnosis and treatment.

Your healthcare provider will use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) to guide your diagnosis. This handbook contains diagnostic criteria for all mental health disorders.

A healthcare provider may diagnose you with panic disorder if you have recurrent and unexpected panic attacks that are followed by at least a month of fearing another panic attack.

They may do additional testing to rule out conditions that cause similar symptoms as panic attacks, like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease.

Treatment Options for Panic Disorder

The primary treatment options for panic disorder are medications or psychotherapy.

Home Remedies and Self-Care Methods to Try

There are some strategies to manage your panic disorder at home. Some of these include:

• Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
• Exercise regularly.
• Get plenty of sleep.

The 3-3-3 rule can help ground you in the present moment when you’re having a panic attack. This involves:

• Naming three things you can see
• Naming three things you can touch
• Naming three things you can hear

Summary

The terms “anxiety attack” and “panic attack” are often used interchangeably, but “anxiety attack” is not a medical term. An overwhelming sense of fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as chest pain, a pounding heart, or shaking are typical of panic attacks. While not life-threatening, they can be distressing and interfere with daily life. Contact a healthcare provider for diagnosis and support in finding the proper treatment for your needs.