Caffeine increases anxiety levels and interferes with sleep, making individuals more prone to panic attacks. Panic attacks are not caused by external threats, but rather an uncontrolled state of mind. Caffeine and panic attacks share similar symptoms and doctors recommend avoiding caffeine for those prone to panic attacks. Caffeine also increases insulin levels and decreases blood glucose levels, leading to depression. Caffeine interferes with adenosine, which helps keep the body calm, making those prone to panic attacks even more vulnerable.
The effects of caffeine and panic attacks are closely related. This is because, as a stimulant, caffeine increases individual anxiety levels, which can lead to panic attacks. Caffeine also impedes or seriously interferes with restful sleep. Individuals under excessive stress, feeling anxious and not getting adequate sleep are more prone to having panic attacks. For these reasons, many believe there is a causal relationship between caffeine and panic attacks.
Panic attacks tend to occur spontaneously in people who routinely experience periods of exaggerated anxiety and fear. These attacks are not due to an external threat, but rather an uncontrolled state of mind that produces extreme panic. The side effects of caffeine and panic attacks are very similar, and doctors who treat anxiety disorders recommend that people prone to panic attacks strictly avoid caffeine.
Symptoms of panic attacks can be wide ranging, from an increased pulse and heart rate and uncontrollable tremors to a fear of dying from a heart attack while in the midst of a panic attack. Other symptoms include loss of concentration, inability to calm down, chest pain, dizziness, loss of sleep, and rapid breathing. People experiencing a panic attack are not faced with real circumstances that justify this reaction, but a loss of concentration and control in combination with escalating symptoms that will not allow the person experiencing an attack to see their surroundings realistically.
While some people experience only a single panic attack in their lifetime, others experience them so often that they develop a fear of future panic attacks. This then triggers the onset of an attack and locks the person into an anxiety cycle that can only be eased by medication and therapy. Scientists studying caffeine and panic attacks have found that even mild stimulant use can increase these symptoms.
Most people can consume caffeine and feel very few adverse symptoms. While many use it intentionally to stay awake and increase brain alertness, the side effects of caffeine can have a devastating effect on someone with an existing panic disorder. Caffeine and panic attacks also sometimes share overlapping symptoms. Some of the side effects of caffeine include a fast heartbeat, anxiety, tremors and restlessness. Any of these can lead a person with an anxiety disorder towards panic.
Caffeine and panic attacks aren’t the only cause for concern. Caffeine and depression are also closely related. This is due to caffeine increasing insulin levels several hours after entering the bloodstream and decreasing blood glucose levels which therefore suppresses a person’s mood.
Caffeine and panic attacks are also related because caffeine creates a chemical imbalance in the brain. Specifically, it interferes with adenosine, which is a chemical that helps keep the body calm. When this imbalance is present, a person prone to panic attacks is even more vulnerable to having one.
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