Latest news with #panicattack
CNET
11 hours ago
- Health
- CNET
What to Do During a Heart Attack: 5 Essential Tips to Survive
It can be tough to figure out if you or someone else is having a heart attack, especially since they're easily confused with panic attacks. Panic attacks generally aren't life-threatening, although they may feel like it. On the other hand, a heart attack can be fatal. A heart attack is when the blood flow to the heart is blocked. When the heart doesn't get enough oxygen supply, it can become life-threatening. Heart attacks are medical emergencies that can lead to serious issues and death if ignored, and they should be addressed as soon as possible. CNET There are several factors at play when it comes to surviving a heart attack or saving a life, but the most crucial bit is being able to identify correctly when one is taking place and remembering the five key steps. Now, as we're in summer with warmer weather, health issues that you may not be aware of may flare up. We've put together this guide to help you be better prepared, with life-saving tips for heart attacks. Learn more about heart health tips by reading how to check your heart metrics at home, six important blood tests to take and understanding the importance of your blood type. Common symptoms of a heartWhen you think "heart attack," classic symptoms such as chest discomfort might first come to mind. Heart attacks can present differently in men and women and in people with certain diseases, like diabetes. Heart attack symptoms could include: Chest discomfort, pain or pressure that radiates up to your jaw, your back and/or your left shoulder Bad indigestion or nausea Extreme fatigue Shortness of breath Feeling generally unwell "Essentially anything from the belly button up," says Dr. Khadijah Breathett, a heart failure transplant cardiologist and tenured associate professor of medicine at Indiana University. "Constant pressure should raise concern that you should see your doctor, and it's OK if it's something else. We'd rather have an individual come see a health care professional and get evaluated rather than toughing it out at home, because that is what contributes to the escalating risk of death." 1. Call 911, no matter what If you feel any of the above symptoms, even if you aren't sure it's a heart attack, you should call 911 immediately, doctors recommend. "If you feel unwell, or you're starting to have chest discomfort, seek medical attention quickly, because the sooner you get treated, the better," says Dr. Grant Reed, an interventional cardiologist and director of Cleveland Clinic's STEMI program. "A lot of patients ignore their symptoms, and by the time they come in, their heart muscle has already died." Richard T. Nowitz/Getty Images The No. 1 indicator of how well you're going to do after a heart attack is how fast you recognize your symptoms, Reed adds. There's a strong relationship between when you start to have your heart attack (which is generally when symptoms start) and how fast doctors can open up the blocked coronary artery that's causing it -- the shorter the time, the better the outcomes, not just regarding survival but also the likelihood of heart failure or needing to be readmitted to the hospital. When you get to the hospital, medical professionals will likely perform an electrocardiogram, which will determine the diagnosis of a heart attack. If it is a heart attack, you'll be taken to the cardiac catheterization laboratory, where a coronary angiography will be performed. If you have a blockage in your coronary artery, the doctors will offer treatment with a balloon and a stent to keep the artery open. Many people are hesitant to seek emergency medical care due to a lack of insurance or immigration status. In the US, hospitals are required to treat all people who come in with life-threatening emergencies. "It's a lot better to be treated and deal with the financial ramifications after the fact," Reed says. In most cases, costs can be sorted out with the hospital, he adds. jayk7/Getty Images 2. Have an ambulance take you to the hospital If you suspect you're having a heart attack, don't drive yourself to the hospital: Call an ambulance. You could lose consciousness and hurt yourself or others on the road, says Dr. Joel Beachey, a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The same goes for having a loved one drive you -- if your symptoms worsen, they won't be able to help you while they're driving, and may be distracted. Paramedics can provide the best and fastest care while you're on the way to the hospital, including giving you an assessment and providing some treatment, Beachey says. If you're with someone who is having heart attack symptoms and becomes unconscious, you should first call 911 and then engage in CPR, Breathett says. (You can find free CPR training at your local American Heart Association branch and many other places.) 3. Take aspirin, if you have it If you're having heart attack symptoms and have access to aspirin, take a full dose of 325 mg after calling the ambulance, Beachey says. (If you have baby aspirin, which comes in an 81 mg dose, take four of those.) He recommends chewing it instead of swallowing, so it gets into your system faster. The reason? When you're having a heart attack, a plaque inside your arteries becomes unstable and ruptures, which forms a blood clot that can close off supply to that artery. Taking aspirin can help break down some of that blood clot. ER4. Advocate for yourself In an ideal world, healthcare providers would take all patient concerns seriously when it comes to heart attack symptoms, but studies show women and people of color are less likely to receive adequate treatment for heart attacks and heart disease. For example, older Black women were 50% less likely to be treated when they arrived at a hospital with a heart attack or coronary artery disease symptoms than white women, including after accounting for education, income, insurance status and other heart health complications like diabetes and high blood pressure, a 2019 study found. "It's been very clear over most of our history in the US that women and people of color are not heard," Breathett says. "Their symptoms get dismissed, and they have worse outcomes. As a health care system, we have a lot more work to do to change that system so that each person can get equitable care irrespective of their demographic." Until that time comes, patients need to be their own advocates and speak up for themselves, she adds. If they aren't being heard, they have the right to seek care elsewhere. One tip recommended by a resident on TikTok: If you feel a provider isn't taking your symptoms seriously, for heart health or otherwise, you can ask the provider, "What is your differential diagnosis?" A differential diagnosis is a term to describe what the different diseases are that could be contributing to your symptoms, basically asking the provider to explain why they've ruled out a heart attack and what else it could be. "That might help a person realize, oh, I haven't effectively tested to make sure this is not cardiac disease," Breathett says. You can also bring a family member or friend to help ask questions on your behalf. Write down questions in advance if you can, so you can have them addressed during your short visit. And call back with any questions that weren't answered. If you're not satisfied or feel that you're not being heard, seek out another care team. 5. Work on prevention You've heard it a million times, but that's because it's true: The best way to prevent a heart attack is by maintaining a healthy diet, doing moderate exercise for 120 to 150 minutes per week, keeping your cholesterol and blood pressure under control and not attacks can happen to people of any age, race or gender. You should get regular physical exams with your primary care provider to assess your risk and make lifestyle changes that can help with prevention. Some people might also benefit from taking a baby aspirin every day as a preventative measure, but you'll need to talk to your care provider about that. Exercise is important even if you have a history of heart trouble, Beachey says. Knowing what to do to prevent and respond to a heart attack is just one of the many important elements of your health you should know about. Read on to discover the best workouts to strengthen your heart, the difference between the types of cholesterol and how your diet affects your health. Plus, if you're looking for new ways to monitor your metrics, check out CNET's list of recommended fitness trackers and blood pressure monitors.
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Air India pilot suffers runway PANIC ATTACK day after jet crash killed 279 as airline in chaos with 7 flights disrupted
AN Air India pilot had a panic attack seconds before take-off just a day after the crash which killed 279 people. The pilot was at the controls of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner – the same as tragic flight AI 171 – when he was overcome by nerves. 6 6 6 He was in the line-up queuing to take off from Delhi airport for the 9 hours 20 minutes flight to Copenhagen. But as the planes edged forward he decided he could not continue. A message was received by the tower to say that a member of crew was ill and the plane was returning to the terminal. A new pilot was then found and the flight eventually took off, landing in Denmark at 10.31pm local time on Friday, two hours and 31 minutes late. A source told The Sun: 'It is likely that the panic attack was connected with post-traumatic stress disorder due to the crash. 'Pilots of wide bodied planes are very shaken after the incident last week. One said he kept replaying it in his head. 'Another said that he didn't know if he would be able to get back into the cockpit again.' Air India has contacted all of its pilots urging them to seek help if they have worries after flight AI 171 crashed shortly after take-off last Thursday in Ahmedabad with the loss of 279 lives It also suggested they make use of the company's buddy system where they can confide any concerns to colleagues. The panic attack pilot is now likely to face rigorous medical testing before he is allowed to fly again. What caused the Air India plane disaster? Six main theories emerge – from mystery over landing gear to 40C weather Under India's aviation rules, aviators have to pass a medical every 12 months to retain their Commercial Pilot's Licence. This incident brings the number of Air India flights disrupted since the crash to seven. Flight AI 143 from Delhi to Paris due to take off on Tuesday at 1.15pm was cancelled after "mandatory pre-flight checks identified an issue", the airline said. As a result, the return service from Paris to Delhi on Wednesday has also been cancelled. The Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London – the same route as the crashed plane - was also cancelled on Tuesday. 6 6 6 The airline denied initial reports it was due to technical issues and said it was "due to the unavailability of the aircraft, resulting from airspace restrictions and additional precautionary checks'. A San Francisco-Mumbai flight was delayed during a scheduled stop at Kolkata on Tuesday morning due to an engine issue. A total of six international Air India flights - all using the 787-8 Dreamliner - were cancelled on Tuesday. Another Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had to return to Hong Kong mid-flight after a suspected technical issue on Monday. And the day after the crash a Phuket-Delhi flight was forced to make an emergency landing back at Phuket after a bomb threat. Air India declined to comment about the panic attack.
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE My entire body went numb and I couldn't walk after taking common ADHD drug prescribed to millions
Hannah Schweickert never thought a common medication for ADHD would leave her numb from her face to her toes, at times unable to walk. Schweickert, from Indiana, has had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder since she was young. Doctors had prescribed her the popular drug Adderall, a stimulant taken by 16million Americans known to improve focus, attention, and impulse control. She started on a low dose, standard practice doctors follow to minimize side effects, which can include insomnia, increased heart rate, anxiety, mood swings, and jitteriness. When she showed no improvement, doctors increased the dosage, first to 15mg, then to 20mg, 30mg, and, finally, 40mg, her highest dose. Schweickert, 25, took a 40mg tablet every day for about two months with little incident. But when she went on a family vacation, she began experiencing troubling symptoms she didn't immediately connect to the prescription stimulant. 'I was scratching my neck and I couldn't feel anything. My neck had no feeling,' she said. That numbness spread from her neck to her fingertips, and a week later, to her cheeks, eventually taking over her whole body. Back at college one night, alone in her room and unable to feel her bed underneath her, she panicked. 'I thought I was dying,' she said, describing a destabilizing panic attack. 'I immediately shot up, couldn't breathe, my heart was beating out of my chest. 'I didn't know what a panic attack was, but that's definitely what was happening.' Schweickert laid in a state of panic for an hour before a friend was able to get to her. She calmed herself, but it was far from the last panic attack that would strike. She said in a TikTok: 'Then that started happening every day. The worst one probably lasted about two hours. 'I couldn't walk. My friends had to carry me to pee.' She went on to say she had gone to the emergency room for her panic attacks, a common response people have to the sense of chest-tightening panic that mimics a heart attack, four times over the next few months, but doctors were stumped. Her mom then suggested something that had not occurred to Schweikert previously: stop taking Adderall. 'At this point, I had no feeling in my entire body,' Schweickert said. 'It had been 22 days with no feeling. So all my nerves, something was wrong with them.' Doctors would test her ability to feel touch on her arms, head, and legs, and according to them, everything seemed normal. She said they were not concerned and let her leave without any answers. So she took it upon herself to figure out what was going on. Schweickert stopped taking her Adderall for a week, something doctors do not generally recommend because the withdrawal symptoms can be intense, causing depression, anxiety, headaches, muscle aches, and sleep disruptions. But some of her numbness subsided in that time. She continued her research, having seen a study that found rats given Adderall at high doses experienced considerable changes in their brains. The 2017 study, published in the journal Neuroscience Letters, studied rats given 10mg of amphetamine (a key component of Adderall) and an antidepressant called desipramine, which extends the stimulant's effects. The rats' dopamine levels plummeted and stayed low for seven days after a single dose. In addition to producing feelings of motivation and reward, dopamine can regulate pain and sensory signals. But the researchers also found evidence of other neurotoxic effects in rats that could potentially explain Schweickert's reaction. The medicine starved the rats' brain cells of their energy source within an hour, making it impossible for nerve cells to send signals. This could lead to Schweiker's initial feelings of having a dead limb or tingling. The medicine then overstimulated their brain cells by flooding the brain with glutamate, a chemical that can be toxic in high amounts. In humans, this could lead to hyperexcited nerves burning out, causing paralysis or numbness. The drug also caused a chemical 'explosion' in the brain that wiped out the brain's natural defenses against antioxidants. In humans, the destruction of the chemical in the brain that acts as a fire extinguisher against harmful substances called free radicals can cause nerve pain and numbness, particularly in the arms and legs. 'That's the only thing that I found on the internet in a study that I was like, actually this could be what's happening to me,' she said. She said she had never heard of someone having 'allergic or neurotoxic effects' from Adderall, but added, 'there must be someone in the world who's also experienced this.' The feeling in Schweickert's body did not return completely, even after six months without taking the medication. '[I got] really nervous that my feeling would never return,' she said. 'Now I can say that it has.' There are few studies that delve into the potential brain-poisoning effects of stimulants, including Adderall and Ritalin. Maria Ingalla, an Arizona-based nurse practitioner of psychiatry, told if Schweikert had taken other drugs recreationally, their effects could have compounded Adderall's tendency to constrict blood vessels, thereby reducing blood flow and causing numbness. Ingalla said: 'If she tried this med recently after a psychedelic or other drugs, it wouldn't be an unusual reaction because of additive effects those drugs can have on vasoconstriction and the sensory systems of the brain.' Schweickert did not say in the video whether she had been taking any other medication or drug at that time. Figures for the number of children taking Adderall or other ADHD medications are hard to pin down due to differences in prescription databases, changing trends over time (due to the Adderall shortage in 2022, for instance), state-by-state variations in reporting, and the rise of telehealth prescriptions. But current estimates say that around 10 percent of American children, aged two to 17, have been diagnosed with ADHD, and 62 percent of them are being treated with medications, translating to about 4.5 million children.
The Sun
02-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Horror as influencer, 19, plunges 150ft to her death from parasail after ‘unfastening harness during panic attack'
A TEEN influencer tragically plunged to her death after she allegedly unlocked her safety belt while parasailing. Tijana Radonjic, 19, is thought to have had a panic attack and before into the sea from a great height in Montenegro. 5 5 Her body was retrieved from the water and taken to the marina before the emergency services confirmed her death. The student was holidaying in Budva, southwest of Podgorica, when she fell to her death last week. Authorities are investigating what caused her to frantically unbuckle her belt, remove her legs from the straps, and fall from the seat. It is believed she suffered a panic attack while in the air. An attempt to take her own life has not been ruled out, but loved ones say they do not believe she would do that. The victim had been posting cheerful photos of her holiday in the days leading up to the fall. Even the owner of the operating tour company Budva MK said she appeared happy before the activity. He said: 'She was cheerful and in a good mood before the flight. 'She showed no fear of heights or flying. 'Before we set off, she waved to her friends on the beach and they waved back. Watch shock moment couple cheat death as they fall off 5,000ft mountain while taking risky shortcut to avoid queue 'Everything seemed fine. 'We don't know why she unbuckled her seat belt and harness and jumped out. 'I guess she didn't do it consciously, but in a moment of uncontrollable fear.' The tour company suspects she got scared because she thought something was wrong with the equipment, adding: 'Maybe she wasn't aware of the height she was flying at.' The victim was reportedly seen pulling the cables and shouting 'help me' in the moments leading up to the fall. Her friends in her hometown of Novi Sad, near Belgrade, Serbia, paid tribute to the teen victim. One lifelong pal said: 'If I could choose who to spend my childhood with, I would choose you again.' Another friend posted: 'She was full of life, always smiling. 'She never cared about what others thought of her.' The police investigation is ongoing. 5
The Guardian
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Demi Adejuyigbe: ‘Everything I do is because of my love for Ocean's Eleven'
On 21 September each year between 2016 and 2021, you made a series of increasingly elaborate tributes to the Earth, Wind and Fire song September that were viewed millions of times. Do you hate that song now? I do feel stressed whenever I hear September, but I try to ignore it. A few years ago, before the last video came out, I had a panic attack at a Home Depot simply by imagining that it came on. That's when I was like, I gotta stop doing this – I don't think I enjoy it any more. I made people think I really love that song. It was just a fun idea. I don't want people to feel bad for me. I was hoist by my own petard. I'm the one who made it a thing! What's been your most cringeworthy run-in with a celebrity? One year I was at a festival when Charli xcx was performing. I have mutual friends with her and I knew that we share a birthday, we're the exact same age and we were both born in the UK. So I was a little drunk and I didn't see her set but I was side of stage and saw her standing there, typing on her phone. So I went up to her and said 'Hey, great performance up there. It's funny, you and I have the same birthday.' And she said, 'Oh thanks. Cool.' I later learned that something went wrong during her set and it hadn't happened yet. Clearly she knew I hadn't been watching her at all. I'm sure weird stuff happens to her all the time, but this was a decade ago and I think about it every time she pops up. It is not interesting to have the same birthday as someone. I sing your fake Lana Del Rey song at least once a week. What is your favourite of all your musical parodies? I think my Childish Gambino rap L-A-N-D-O, which was a fake tie-in track about Star Wars filled with Star Wars puns. The timing was just right, because everyone went 'wait, is this real?' The Lana Del Rey one is also a favourite – the reveal of who she is singing about builds so slowly, it is very satisfying. I love all the artists I choose, which means I can recognise the patterns in their songs and write a pretty convincing parody. It's fun to inhabit someone else's skin like that. It's not about making fun of them – so much of the joke is trying to pass my songs off as the real thing. What is the most effort you've put into a joke that you wished more people appreciated? A couple of years ago, I wrote a fake children's book that retold the story of the Fast and the Furious films. I had a friend illustrate it for me, and I just put it on Medium. It was a very accurate recap of the franchise. But it just came and went! It's like I let my child out in the world and now I have no idea where it is. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning If you could change the size of any animal to keep as a pet, what would it be? A pig. I would love to have a pet pig, but they grow really big. If I could have a pig that just stayed small, I would let it roam around the house and play with my cat. Pigs are so cute. They are so cuddly and slovenly. I even like that they're big, but a small one would be easier to deal with. Do you remember how George Clooney had a massive pet pig for like 20 years and it slept in his bed with him? And all through the 1990s, everyone was like, 'So why is this guy a bachelor?' I can't imagine too many women were staying over. 'You have to leave, the pig sleeps here.' What book, film or album do you always return to, and why? Speaking of Clooney, the movie I always return to is Ocean's Eleven. It is the platonic ideal of a watchable film. It's so well written, well scripted and well directed. It stands out as an example of the last movie star era, where you just can't believe all these people are in a movie together. These days that's how every big movie is made. But Ocean's Eleven defined my idea of what movies can and should be. I love heists and cons. Actually, everything I do, trying to deceive an audience and capture their attention, is because of my love for Ocean's Eleven. But what about Don Cheadle's cockney accent? No, I love it. Yes it's bad, but it exists in a world where you don't care it's bad. I think they should all be doing bad accents. They'd get away with it, because it's all charm. If you look very closely, Brad Pitt and George Clooney are actually very stupid in it and they fuck up a lot. But when you watch it, you go 'damn, those guys are brilliant'. They needed 11 people to get the job done! What's the best lesson you've learned from someone you've worked with? I was 23 or 24 and working in my first writers room, on The Good Place. I would point out problems in the scripts a lot – 'Oh, this doesn't work' or 'This sort of breaks the world, we can't use that' – and I could feel the tension building. Someone eventually gave me the advice that if you're going to point out a problem, try and point out a solution too. You don't want to be the person who's just saying 'that doesn't work'. Either propose a fix or accept that it is a temporary solution. Some things won't work perfectly to you, but let it go. Would you rather die at the bottom of the ocean or out in space? Space. I don't fear the ocean like a lot of people do but I feel like I wouldn't be impressed by the bottom of the ocean. Imagine being in space! I look down. I see Earth. I see starlight. Space is more magnificent, more fancy. Who cares about the ocean. I've been in water before. What's your most controversial pop culture opinion? Superhero films are necessary. I'm not saying they're great or they're bad. But a lot of people think Marvel films are the death of cinema and I think that we need to remember that we need big blockbusters that everyone wants to see in order for theaters to thrive – and unfortunately, Marvel movies are the thing of the moment. We need them so we can also have Phantom Thread playing in theaters, because some people won't go see anything else. Yes, we do need more films like Sinners but we also need Avengers 25 so a family of six can take all their kids to see that three times. I think a lot of people believe that if Marvel weren't taking up all the screens, then a family would go see a Steven Soderbergh instead. No, they just won't go to the theatre at all, unfortunately. What is the weirdest thing you have done for love? I have repeatedly put a lot of effort into unrequited crushes that wasn't necessary. I've made art for people that took so much work and time, even when it has been clear they aren't into me. You are not going to convince someone that you love them by Photoshopping fake Criterion DVDs for them. That is a lesson that everyone has to learn – I just had to relearn it a couple times. Demi Adejuyigbe is performing Demi Adejuyigbe Is Going to Do One (1) Backflip on 6-7 June in Sydney, 12-13 June in Adelaide at Adelaide Cabaret festival, 17 June in Auckland and 20-21 June in Melbourne.
