Do you suffer from panic attacks? If you do, you may think that you are on your own facing this awful condition, but believe it or not, you aren't! Here is some attack information that may just surprise you!

Approximately two to four percent of the entire worlds population will experience the symptoms of an attack at some stage during their lifetime! Anxiety or Panic disorders will affect one in four people in any twelve month period, whether they feature panic attacks or not!

Twice as many women suffer from panic attacks than men. It generally also occurs between the ages of 26 and 45 years of age.

Some of the main underlying causes behind panic attacks and panic disorders, are stress induced, for example divorces or bereavements, money troubles and work related issues.

If attacks or panic disorders run in the family, children may develop them and they are at a higher risk if a parent or sibling is currently suffering. It is generally the case that it runs genetically in families, but it can occur with no family history whatsoever!

There are two main types of panic attacks, spontaneous and situational. Spontaneous panic attacks can happen for what appears to be no apparent underlying reason. They generally occur like this when there is an underlying issue of panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder, where they can be tipped over the edge at any moment for the slightest thing.

Situational attacks occur when the sufferer is placed in a position where they have to face situations that would put any person at a higher anxiety level, for example, when faced by their phobias, like spiders or snakes. They may be shy when speaking in public, and could find themselves having a panic attack when giving a speech. Perhaps it is enclosed spaces that are the problem? This is probably the easiest type to be treated for as the causes are definite and the mind can be trained to overcome them.

Now for the important panic attack information - what happens to the body when an attack occurs? Well, they happen when adrenaline, the hormone that prepares us for situations where we could be in danger, e.g. fighting, etc, is inadvertently pumped around the body when we are faced with something that we feel anxious towards. Because this adrenaline is being released and it is not being used, for example fighting back or running away, it has to get out some other way and it is generally in the form of panic attacks.