What is a panic attack
A panic attack is an attack of sudden fear and severe anxiety for no apparent reason.
The origins of panic disorder are not completely clear. However, it is believed that the disease has a genetic predisposition and more often affects the fair sex. Women are more prone to panic attacks and suffer from this disorder 2-3 times more often than men. Panic attacks cannot lead to death, despite the fact that this is the feeling that most often accompanies them. The more often attacks occur, the worse the quality of life becomes. People who have repeatedly experienced panic attacks become increasingly anxious and subconsciously try to avoid places or situations where and when they succumbed to fear. Those who have at least once experienced an attack at night subsequently experience sleep disorders.
Causes of facial flushing with headache
Symptoms in which the head hurts and the face burns is expressed in the form of redness of individual areas of the skin or the entire facial area.
Various color pigments may appear, ranging from pale pink to bright red.
In addition, the patient feels hot flashes of varying intensity and duration.
The headache appears suddenly or progressively. It is located in different parts of the head, depending on the etiology of the existing disease.
- Physical activity. Athletes involved in regular sports are constantly exposed to physical activity. This factor causes the face to burn at the peak of training. If you seriously exceed physical activity, your head may begin to hurt. If a person rarely plays sports or does not exercise at all, then any sport can cause complaints that the head hurts and the face turns red.
- Pathologies of the cardiovascular system. One of the common reasons for headaches and burning face. This is due to the fact that due to the failure of the heart, the functioning of blood vessels occurs. You cannot ignore such symptoms. A hot flash and headache may be signs of a developing stroke or heart attack. If the patient is aware in advance of existing problems with the cardiovascular system, it is necessary to immediately seek medical help to eliminate symptoms.
- Hormonal disorders. Headaches and burning faces most often occur in women with the onset of menopause. In addition, during menopause there is increased sweating and dizziness. The discomfort lasts for some time until the functions of the reproductive system cease. There is an opinion that the male sex suffers no less from age-related hormonal changes in the body.
- Pregnancy and lactation period. A crucial period in a woman’s life can also be accompanied by some unpleasant symptoms. My head hurts and my face burns due to the active action of hormones. A solution to the problem is possible only after the end of pregnancy and breastfeeding. Over time, the female body will recover, the hormonal levels will return to normal. We cannot exclude attacks of hypertension, which can also cause discomfort and are very dangerous in their manifestations.
- Hypertension. The disease is characterized by jumps in blood pressure to high levels. In this case, the head hurts and the face burns against the background of high blood pressure and a rush of blood to the brain. In the chronic course of the disease, the patient constantly experiences a reddened face. Regular monitoring of the disease with your doctor is necessary. The disease can cause a stroke or heart attack. Treatment is a must for hypertensive patients. The causes of hypertension have a wide list; each age category may have its own signs and intensity of manifestation of the pathology.
- Allergic reactions. This disorder is familiar to many people. The disease occurs against the background of disorders of the immune system, which reacts aggressively to certain substances. Women often experience allergies to decorative cosmetics. The skin always signals about any diseases. So, when an allergy develops, the face burns and the head may hurt. The solution to the problem is to stop contact with the irritant and take antihistamines.
- Psychological problems. The modern world is full of various irritants to the nervous system. Prolonged exposure to stressful situations often leads to neuroses, in which a red face is a common symptom. The causes of discomfort lie in the excitement of the nervous system. This triggers the mechanism of vasospasm and increased blood pressure.
- Cold. Any colds that are accompanied by fever and sinus congestion lead to facial flushing and headaches. The reasons for this condition are high temperature. The skin heats up due to a decrease in normal thermoregulation in the body, headaches develop from the penetration of pathogenic bacteria and viruses.
- Smoking and alcohol. Abuse of tobacco and alcohol also causes redness of the skin of the face. This effect can last for a very long time until a person gives up bad habits. This is due to prolonged exposure to harmful substances on the blood vessels of the body. Patients with tobacco and alcohol addiction have cardiovascular disorders in 90% of cases.
- NCD (neuro-circulatory dystonia). Disorders of the body's autonomic functioning are accompanied by a wide range of symptoms, among which headaches and facial flushing are common. The causes of the disease are presumably due to poor lifestyle, diseases of the spine, and chronic pathologies of the body.
What to do in case of a panic attack
The most important thing to do during a panic attack is to switch your attention. Any method is suitable for distraction. If an attack occurs in a public place, you can clench and unclench your fists, rub your earlobes, or shift from foot to foot. If panic takes you by surprise at home, try turning on music and starting to do household chores: washing dishes, dusting. Any activity that involves muscle work and requires attention is suitable.
Since a panic attack is accompanied by a rapid heartbeat and a feeling of stuffiness, it would be a good idea to take a couple of sips of water and concentrate on breathing. It is best to master several techniques that will quickly relieve tension. In case of an attack, start by exhaling - slow it down, and the pulse will also slow down. The ratio of the length of inhalation and exhalation should be 1:2. You can experiment and choose the technique that will help you. A smartphone can also help you take your mind off panic. Games, social networks - all this will shift attention and distract from a panic attack.
What to do at the first manifestations
The first step is to determine the causes of these symptoms. If they appear quite often, and you cannot determine their nature on your own, then you should definitely consult a doctor and conduct a comprehensive examination.
If this does not happen often, then first measure your body temperature and pressure. If the cause of unpleasant symptoms is a cold or flu, start treatment. Remember that in the first days of the disease it is necessary to observe bed rest.
If such manifestations occur from time to time, then monitor your diet. You may be allergic to certain foods. Eliminate chocolate, coffee, citrus fruits, strong tea, hot spices and alcohol from your diet for a while. Walk outdoors more often. When playing sports, dose your physical activity. Ventilate the room more often.
If headaches and facial flushing are associated with psychological stress, try to allocate 1-2 hours of your time every day for rest and relaxation. Spend this time in places where you are not thinking about your work and unresolved problems.
If redness occurs due to intense physical activity and negative emotions, you need to quickly hide this symptom by washing your face with warm water. Remember that you should never apply ice to your face or use ice water! Take a few deep breaths, close your eyes for a minute and try to completely relax. Remember that your health is much more important than any circumstances in life. Therefore, take care of yourself!
How is normal anxiety different from a panic attack?
The mechanism that triggers a panic attack is no different from what causes ordinary anxiety - both are psychophysical reactions to danger. The difference is that a panic attack is a reaction to danger in the absence of danger. However, a false alarm triggers the same cascade of reactions as a normal alarm - the sympathetic system is activated, and adrenaline is released.
A panic attack can occur due to excessive physical activity, fatigue and exhaustion, as well as due to the abuse of stimulants and alcohol. In addition, stress and unresolved conflict situations can trigger an attack. A lack of understanding of one's own experiences and feelings, a tendency to avoid and ignore negative emotions also increase vulnerability to panic disorder.
Symptoms
The face may burn due to temperature changes.
Most often this happens when a person enters a warm room after being in the cold. For many, this symptom often manifests itself in the off-season, especially in the autumn. The face begins to burn in people with a high threshold of sensitivity to temperature changes. Not only temperature changes, but also climatic factors can affect the face. If you decide to spend a few days of vacation on the other hemisphere of the planet, do not be surprised that your body will present you with such surprises.
The face may burn from severe physical exertion. If you haven't exercised for a long time and you have to go for a run or climb a steep mountain, then don't be surprised if your head hurts and your cheeks turn red. This is due to a sharp increase in pressure.
People who suffer from hypertension often face similar problems. As pressure increases, blood vessels begin to expand, and blood actively circulates throughout the body. If you do not suffer from high blood pressure, but you encounter similar symptoms quite often, then you definitely need to be examined. First of all, you need to do a general blood test and a heart cardiogram. The fact is that the face often burns in those who have problems with the heart and blood vessels. Headache and fever in the face may be warning signs of a heart attack or stroke.
The reason for this may be alcohol abuse and smoking. Probably everyone has noticed that a well-tired person’s face begins to burn. This is due to the fact that after drinking alcohol, the blood vessels begin to dilate, causing blood to rush to the face. A very alarming sign is that the face begins to become covered with burgundy-red spots after drinking alcohol. This means that the pressure has jumped significantly and the risk of a hypertensive crisis is very high.
Cheeks may burn due to metabolic disorders. When your metabolism slows down, burning cheeks and headaches are among the first symptoms. The face also burns due to a lack of B vitamins. This happens especially often in spring and autumn.
The face often burns in women during pregnancy. This is due to changes in hormone levels in the body. Most often this happens in the first trimester, a little later, when the body gets used to its changed state, the fever in the face and headaches stop. Also, due to changes in hormonal levels, women’s faces burn when menopause occurs.
The face may burn due to sunburn and frostbite. Due to the scorching sun and low temperature, the skin of the face begins to lose natural moisture and becomes thinner. For this reason, the vessels become fragile and blood begins to rush to the face. You should always be very attentive to all negative manifestations on the skin, because it can be used to determine the general state of a person’s health.
This symptom can manifest itself in stressful situations, neuroses, and experiences. We can often see burning cheeks in people who are overloaded with work. This occurs due to overexcitation of the nervous system, which leads to a rush of blood to the head. Other psychological reasons for blushing and headaches are embarrassment, shame, anger, joy, etc.
Burning cheeks and headaches are common symptoms of a cold or flu. It is by these signs that parents of young children who cannot yet speak recognize the disease. Due to a headache, the child begins to be capricious and nervous, and burning cheeks indicate a change in his body temperature.
How to treat panic attacks and when to see a specialist
It is necessary to contact a specialist if you have recurring panic attacks. Therapy is selected individually and, as a rule, includes psychotherapeutic work and drug therapy. Psychotherapy involves various techniques aimed at recognizing and understanding the causes of problems, teaching ways to deal with the symptoms of the disease, and relaxation methods. Psychotherapy can take place in the form of individual meetings with a psychotherapist or in the form of group sessions with other patients. Drug therapy for panic disorder is carried out with various drugs that help reduce the level of anxiety and fear. Prescription, dosage adjustment and discontinuation of treatment must be carried out under the supervision of a physician.
Modern neurotechnologies can also help in the treatment of panic attacks. Methods of neurofeedback training have been developed for patients with panic disorder. During the trainings, patients learn to manage their emotional state, they form new neural connections, and their anxiety level decreases. In addition to professional help, lifestyle plays a significant role in the treatment and prevention of panic attacks. Try not to abuse alcohol and caffeine, get more rest, go in for sports, preferably yoga.
Source: https://www.wmj.ru/krasota/telo/golovokruzhenie-zhar-i-dazhe-udushe-simptomy-panicheskikh-atak-i-kak-s-nimi-borotsya-razbiraem-s-vrachom.htm
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