Why Panic Attacks Cause Shortness of Breath and Hyperventilation

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBreathing CharacteristicsCausesTreatmentCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Breathing Characteristics

Causes

Treatment

Coping

Close

During a panic attack or sudden anxiety episode, the fight-or-flight response is activated, which can lead to an intense cascade of uncomfortable symptoms, including shortness of breath and hyperventilation. Whether you have had a single panic attack or have been diagnosed with panic disorder, experiencing shortness of breath can feel incredibly unsettling and frightening.

A better understanding of shortness of breath and its link to panic attacks and anxiety may help you or a loved one find appropriate resources, support, andstrategiesthat aim to reduce and/or eliminate symptoms.

Breathing Characteristics of a Panic Attack

Shortness of breath and hyperventilation are intimately connected. When you feel shortness of breath, you may breathe faster, which can lead to hyperventilation—and, in turn, hyperventilation can trigger or worsen shortness of breath. You may also experience othersymptoms of a panic attackorpanic disorderduring this time.

Shortness of breath.When experiencing a change in your breathing pattern during a panic attack, you may experiencedyspneaor shortness of breath. You may feel as if:

Hyperventilation. In addition to experiencing shortness of breath, you might experience over-breathing orhyperventilation, which can have the following effects:

What Causes Shortness of Breath

Breathing can be a good marker for an individual’s internal state, so it makes sense that if an individual is experiencing panic, anxiety, and/or high levels of stress, their breathing will reflect that.

According to research, changes in breathing patterns can increase anxiety, trigger a panic attack, and intensify a panic attack that has already begun.Scientific study has also made the following connections:

Can Anxiety Cause Shortness of Breath?

Yes, anxiety can both cause and exacerbate shortness of breath. Symptoms of anxiety can include feeling short of breath, air hungry, and a smothering feeling. In turn, feeling short of breath can also increase your anxiety due to the uncomfortable and frightening symptoms. In terms of panic attacks, shortness of breath may occur before the onset of a panic attack or increase during one.

When to Talk to Your DoctorExperiencing shortness of breath or hyperventilating during a panic attack can be terrifying. Because panic attacks and panic disorder can be associated with other underlying diseases or disorders, it’s important to speak with your doctor so they can identify what is causing your shortness of breath.

When to Talk to Your Doctor

Experiencing shortness of breath or hyperventilating during a panic attack can be terrifying. Because panic attacks and panic disorder can be associated with other underlying diseases or disorders, it’s important to speak with your doctor so they can identify what is causing your shortness of breath.

Medication

Medicationmay be effective for some individuals in treating panic attacks and panic disorder. Medication may help reduce overall anxiety, decrease the frequency and intensity of panic attacks, and reduce the anxiety associated with panic attacks. Medication options that have proven efficacy in treating panic attacks and panic disorder in some individuals include:

Psychotherapy

Anxiety-focused psychotherapymay be used in conjunction with medication or on its own. Which route someone opts to try in terms of treatment may depend on the intensity and frequency of their symptoms as well as their personal preferences. Psychotherapy may addresstriggersfor anxiety as well as the impact panic attacks have had on your personal life.

Therapeutic styles used to treat panic attacks and panic disorder include:

Alternative Treatment OptionsTherapeutic techniques such aseye movement desensitization and reprocessing(EMDR), transcranial magnetic stimulation,art therapy, andequine-assisted psychotherapyare other treatment options to consider.

Alternative Treatment Options

Therapeutic techniques such aseye movement desensitization and reprocessing(EMDR), transcranial magnetic stimulation,art therapy, andequine-assisted psychotherapyare other treatment options to consider.

Coping with Shortness of Breath

Experiencing shortness of breath during a panic attack can feel stressful, isolating, and scary. Because panic attacks can begin without a known trigger, it’s important to have a tool kit oftechniques to stop or manage a panic attack. If you are having difficulty with daily activities or are having thoughts of harming yourself or others, it’s important toconnect with a professional immediately.

What Can You Do When You Feel Short of Breath?

These 9 Breathing Exercises Can Help Relieve Anxiety

Final Thoughts

Although panic attacks can feel terrifying at the moment, especially when your breathing is impacted, keep in mind that a panic attack is not life-threatening. However, chronic high levels of stress and anxiety can be very detrimental to your overall health and well-being, so you must prioritize seeking appropriate treatment for your panic attacks and connect with your doctor regarding any breathing-related issues.

The Best Online Therapy for Anxiety, Tried and Tested

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Paulus MP.The breathing conundrum-interoceptive sensitivity and anxiety.Depress Anxiety. 2013;30(4):315-320. doi: 10.1002/da.22076Johnson PL, Federici LM, Shekhar A.Etiology, triggers and neurochemical circuits associated with unexpected, expected, and laboratory-induced panic attacks.Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2014;46:429-454. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.07.027Kim Y-K.Panic disorder: Current research and management approaches.Psychiatry Investig. 2019;16(1):1-3. doi:10.30773/pi.2019.01.08Rodrigues PA, Zaninotto AL, Neville IS, et al.Transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of anxiety disorder.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2019;15:2743-2761. doi:10.2147/NDT.S201407Additional ReadingBourne EJ.The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook.6th ed. New Harbinger Publications; 2015.Davis M, Eshelman ER, McKay M.The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook.6th ed. New Harbinger Publications; 2019.Seaward BL.Managing Stress: Principles and Strategies for Health and Wellbeing.7th ed. Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2011.

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Paulus MP.The breathing conundrum-interoceptive sensitivity and anxiety.Depress Anxiety. 2013;30(4):315-320. doi: 10.1002/da.22076Johnson PL, Federici LM, Shekhar A.Etiology, triggers and neurochemical circuits associated with unexpected, expected, and laboratory-induced panic attacks.Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2014;46:429-454. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.07.027Kim Y-K.Panic disorder: Current research and management approaches.Psychiatry Investig. 2019;16(1):1-3. doi:10.30773/pi.2019.01.08Rodrigues PA, Zaninotto AL, Neville IS, et al.Transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of anxiety disorder.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2019;15:2743-2761. doi:10.2147/NDT.S201407Additional ReadingBourne EJ.The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook.6th ed. New Harbinger Publications; 2015.Davis M, Eshelman ER, McKay M.The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook.6th ed. New Harbinger Publications; 2019.Seaward BL.Managing Stress: Principles and Strategies for Health and Wellbeing.7th ed. Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2011.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Paulus MP.The breathing conundrum-interoceptive sensitivity and anxiety.Depress Anxiety. 2013;30(4):315-320. doi: 10.1002/da.22076Johnson PL, Federici LM, Shekhar A.Etiology, triggers and neurochemical circuits associated with unexpected, expected, and laboratory-induced panic attacks.Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2014;46:429-454. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.07.027Kim Y-K.Panic disorder: Current research and management approaches.Psychiatry Investig. 2019;16(1):1-3. doi:10.30773/pi.2019.01.08Rodrigues PA, Zaninotto AL, Neville IS, et al.Transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of anxiety disorder.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2019;15:2743-2761. doi:10.2147/NDT.S201407

Paulus MP.The breathing conundrum-interoceptive sensitivity and anxiety.Depress Anxiety. 2013;30(4):315-320. doi: 10.1002/da.22076

Johnson PL, Federici LM, Shekhar A.Etiology, triggers and neurochemical circuits associated with unexpected, expected, and laboratory-induced panic attacks.Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2014;46:429-454. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.07.027

Kim Y-K.Panic disorder: Current research and management approaches.Psychiatry Investig. 2019;16(1):1-3. doi:10.30773/pi.2019.01.08

Rodrigues PA, Zaninotto AL, Neville IS, et al.Transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of anxiety disorder.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2019;15:2743-2761. doi:10.2147/NDT.S201407

Bourne EJ.The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook.6th ed. New Harbinger Publications; 2015.Davis M, Eshelman ER, McKay M.The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook.6th ed. New Harbinger Publications; 2019.Seaward BL.Managing Stress: Principles and Strategies for Health and Wellbeing.7th ed. Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2011.

Bourne EJ.The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook.6th ed. New Harbinger Publications; 2015.

Davis M, Eshelman ER, McKay M.The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook.6th ed. New Harbinger Publications; 2019.

Seaward BL.Managing Stress: Principles and Strategies for Health and Wellbeing.7th ed. Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2011.

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?