panic
Meaning of panic: Panic is a sudden surge of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as a racing heart, sweating, and shortness of breath.
Definition of panic
Panic is a sudden episode of intense fear or discomfort that develops rapidly and is often accompanied by prominent physical symptoms, including a rapid heart rate, sweating, trembling, chest discomfort, and a sense of shortness of breath. The physical symptoms can be severe enough that they are sometimes mistaken for a medical emergency such as a heart problem.
An episode of panic can occur in response to a specific trigger or can arise without any clear cause, and it may happen as an isolated event or as part of a recurring pattern. Panic that recurs frequently and unpredictably, along with ongoing worry about future episodes, is a feature of panic disorder, one of several recognized anxiety conditions.
Because the physical symptoms of panic overlap with those of certain medical conditions, evaluation of a first or unusual episode often includes ruling out other causes before attributing the symptoms to panic alone.
Used in a sentence
The patient described a sudden episode of panic accompanied by chest tightness and rapid breathing.
Good to know
The physical symptoms of a panic episode, including chest discomfort and a racing heart, overlap closely with those of certain cardiac and other medical conditions, which is why a first or atypical episode is often evaluated for other causes.