Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site unc.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!genrad!decvax!mcnc!unc!wfi
From: wfi@unc.UUCP (William F. Ingogly)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: Need help with dizziness and heart pounding symptoms.
Message-ID: <115@unc.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 29-Apr-85 14:41:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: unc.115
Posted: Mon Apr 29 14:41:56 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 1-May-85 02:44:03 EDT
References: <134@heurikon.UUCP> <mb2c.125>
Reply-To: wfi@unc.UUCP (William F. Ingogly)
Organization: CS Dept., U. of N. Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lines: 28
Summary: 


>> Four weeks ago, my head and heart began pounding; sometimes
>> hours at a time.  My pulse goes to 92.  My head feels as if it
>
> Might be an anxiety reaction.
>
> You should check out a 'good' psychoanalyst. No kidding.

I had panic attacks two or three times a year between 1979 and 1983.
As a result, I had three EKGs over a two year period, since the
symptoms are frighteningly similar to a heart attack. Mine included
pressure in the chest and pain and numbness in the left arm and hands
(due to hyperventilation). Analysis helped me deal with the symptoms 
when they occurred, but didn't entirely eliminate the attacks. What 
DID seem to halt the attacks is the reduction of caffeine in my diet. 
I've found that I can have the equivalent of two cups of coffee a day 
without symptoms; if I increase the dosage to three cups, I start 
developing the most unpleasant physical symptoms. Recent research 
has been done on panic attacks which suggests that some chemical 
imbalance is involved, but I can't provide you with a pointer to it.

In short, analysis is a good thing, but make sure you eliminate the
physical factors as well. Anything that acts as a stimulant (including
coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks, tobacco) aggravates my symptoms,
so I'd suggest cutting them out to anyone who has gone through one of
these terrifying experiences. These are all MUCH more powerful drugs
than most of us realize!
                               --Cheers, Bill Ingogly