Are some people more prone to panic attacks than others? In short, yes. There are actual Physical differences have been observed among people who are prone to panic disorder compared to the average person. The following are descriptions of some of these physical differences.
1) Sensitivity to adrenalin and hormonal changes
In general, people with panic disorders (including agoraphobia) have overactive adrenal glands. Because of this, they are more likely to experience an adrenaline rush or “fight or flight” response when placed in a “threatening” environment. This makes them more susceptible to panic attacks.
In patients with common panic symptoms, during times of extended stress, adrenaline and a hormone called cortisol (a stress fighting hormone) are overproduced by the adrenal gland.
This overproduction interferes with the production of serotonin and dopamine. Serotonin and dopamine are neurotransmitters that stabilize a person’s mood and sense of well-being. When serotonin and dopamine levels are low, your mood becomes unstable and you are less able to cope with stress.
In this state of chemical imbalance, you tire more easily, are more susceptible to disease, and you are more at risk for experiencing anxiety and panic attacks. Even after the initial cause of the stress is gone, you are likely to stay in a higher state of anxiety.
2) Sensitivity to medications
A higher than normal sensitivity to medications, including side effects, is observed among people with common panic symptoms. The side effects and/or symptoms of withdrawl for some medications, including anti-anxiety medications, mimic the symptoms of actual panic and anxiety attacks. Because of this, medications prescribed to people who have had panic attacks should be prescribed in smaller doses initially and then increased gradually as little as possible.
3) Sensitivity to physical stimulus
People who exhibit symptoms of panic usually have a heightened sensitivity to temperature changes, sudden or loud sounds, bright lights, or other similar sources of physical stimuli. Physical stimulus will more easily overwhelm someone with panic disorder, create an aura of disorientation, and lead to a release of adrenaline (causing a “fight or flight” reaction).
4) Sensitivity to large amounts of sodium lactate
Large amounts of sodium lactate in the bloodstream have been linked with the cause panic attacks in people with panic disorder. When muscles convert sugar to energy, sodium lactate is produced. It is the basic solution in intravenous fluids given in the hospital.
In one study, when patients with panic disorders were given sodium lactate, the temporal lobes of the brain experienced a dramatic increase in blood flow. These are the same areas of the brain affected when subjects in other studies (who do not have panic symptoms) are given an electric shock!