Fun facts about panic attacks:
Carbon dioxide might be the culprit!
And the reason is pH imbalance in the brain!
Increased levels of cortisol also contribute to panic attacks.
Guess what increases levels of cortisol? Coffee. And soda! Caffeine in general, and sugar too. And fasting. (This last part is fascinating, especially if you?re trying to lose weight or have blood sugar issues. Part of what makes it interesting is that it might have a lot to do with whether or not you?re getting good sleep. And how many of us actually get good sleep?) (Coffee & Cortisol | LIVESTRONG.COM and many, many other places with more scientific merit!)
And that?s just the start!
My take-away from most of what I?ve read is that if you?re trying to maintain a balance in your mood and anxiety, it starts with a good night?s sleep.
Getting that good sleep is a whole 'nother thing to tackle when you're tackling the boozy beast. But I know (now) that they really need to go hand in hand in order to take care of that beast long term.
Apparently "Guard your sleep" was some of the best advice I received back then. And I didn't even know it!
Hope it's a good day full of hope and strength for you all!
Carbon dioxide might be the culprit!
The researchers believe these otherwise healthy subjects experienced panic from carbon dioxide because the buildup of carbon dioxide led their bodies to feel that they were suffocating. (JYI.org :: New Insight into Panic Attacks: Carbon Dioxide is the Culprit)
And the reason is pH imbalance in the brain!
Carbon dioxide acts like an acid in the body and the brain.
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One of the most consistent findings in patients with panic disorder is that they are unusually sensitive to carbon dioxide inhalation and other laboratory procedures that increase brain acidity. Most patients with panic disorder will experience a panic attack when they inhale air containing 35% carbon dioxide, while most healthy volunteers will not. (Panic Attacks as a Problem of pH: Scientific American)
?
One of the most consistent findings in patients with panic disorder is that they are unusually sensitive to carbon dioxide inhalation and other laboratory procedures that increase brain acidity. Most patients with panic disorder will experience a panic attack when they inhale air containing 35% carbon dioxide, while most healthy volunteers will not. (Panic Attacks as a Problem of pH: Scientific American)
Increased levels of cortisol also contribute to panic attacks.
(A Hypothetical Explanation of Panic Disorder)
(PsychiatryOnline | American Journal of Psychiatry | Salivary Cortisol in Panic Attacks)
High cortisol is also associated with sleep disorders. Especially insomnia, and especially when dealing with anxiety or depression.(PsychiatryOnline | American Journal of Psychiatry | Salivary Cortisol in Panic Attacks)
Guess what increases levels of cortisol? Coffee. And soda! Caffeine in general, and sugar too. And fasting. (This last part is fascinating, especially if you?re trying to lose weight or have blood sugar issues. Part of what makes it interesting is that it might have a lot to do with whether or not you?re getting good sleep. And how many of us actually get good sleep?) (Coffee & Cortisol | LIVESTRONG.COM and many, many other places with more scientific merit!)
And that?s just the start!
My take-away from most of what I?ve read is that if you?re trying to maintain a balance in your mood and anxiety, it starts with a good night?s sleep.
Getting that good sleep is a whole 'nother thing to tackle when you're tackling the boozy beast. But I know (now) that they really need to go hand in hand in order to take care of that beast long term. Apparently "Guard your sleep" was some of the best advice I received back then. And I didn't even know it!
Hope it's a good day full of hope and strength for you all!
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