How can panic attacks affect you in the long run??

[Sharon123]

Hi! I am new here and I have had panic attacks for more than 5 years now, and I suddenly got a fear that these attacks could harm my health in the future....can panic attacks ruin one's health and cause other health problems in the future? I am really worried!

[ana]

Hi Sharon,

as far as I was told, panic attacks cannot harm you in the long run, or cause other health problems. It is, however, possible that the high levels of stress your body is under affect you, but I wouldn't think that these effects would be any different from the ones 'normal stress' can cause.
I've been suffering with panic attacks and anxiety for 15 years now, and I'm in perfect health. :)

[GingerFish]

Panic attacks can't hurt your physical health, except for maybe giving you sore aching muscles or a dodgy feeling gut but it can't cause heart attacks or any other serious illness. Mentally though, continued panic attacks can cause agoraphobia, depression and burnout.

[Sharon123]

Thank you all so much! This really helped!