Suggest Medical Tests To Rule Out Panic Attacks

Posted on Tue, 23 Feb 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 Answered on

Wed, 4 May 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : My question is how to identify if i am defiantly having panic attacks and not something else? I have had my heart checked (worn a holter monitor) and have had an endoscopy also - both are clear. I also had all of my bloods done and everything was normal. I just want to make sure i am doing the right thing calling them this?

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (35 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Some medical conditions should be ruled out.

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related doubts

If we consider differential diagnosis of Panic Attacks then the common possibilities which we should rule out are some heart conditions as Angina attack, Cardiac Arrhythmia, some congenital heart issues or some respiratory condition like Asthama or some endocrine issue like Hyperthyroidism etc.

You have underwent holter monitoring and it came normal so grossly we can rule out the heart condition. Bronchial asthma can be ruled out on basis of clinical history. Similarly for thyroid dysfunction you should get your thyroid function tests done. You have mentioned all blood tests normal so in my opinion no need to worry.

If we can rule out these conditions then we are left with Panic attack as provisional diagnosis. These occur in episodes and last for 10-15 minutes commonly. You can visit a psychiatrist to confirm the diagnosis.

Thanks, hope this helps you. Please don't hesitate to ask again for more doubts.

Take care

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar