My Heart is Pounding and My Hands are Shaking, Could It Be Panic Disorder?

Have you ever experienced your heart pounding as if it's about to burst, shaking hands, and sweating? If you visited the emergency room with extreme fear of dying as breathing became difficult, only to be told test results were "normal," you are not alone. Many people complaining of these symptoms experience reduced quality of life due to fear of the next attack. These symptoms may be an important signal that your autonomic nervous system is malfunctioning.

Severe stress or overwork overactivates the sympathetic nervous system, similar to the "Fight-or-Flight Response." When this becomes chronic, the body stays in a constant "emergency mode," leading to sudden panic attacks.

Anxiety disorder features persistent anxiety and worry over a long period. In contrast, panic disorder involves unexpected, sudden panic attacks accompanied by physical symptoms like heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and dizziness.

The autonomic nervous system regulates unconscious functions. When imbalanced, the brain constantly sends false danger signals, leading to rapid heart rate, cold extremities, and amygdala hypersensitivity.

Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic diagnoses this as autonomic imbalance ("Simgye" or "Jeongchung"). We provide customized herbal medicine, acupuncture, and autonomic stabilization treatments to cool the brain and restore nervous system harmony.

• Sudden intense fear with rapid heartbeat and breathing difficulty
• Chest pain, tightness, choking sensation, dizziness, numbness in hands/feet
• Frequent extreme anxiety without special reason
• Avoiding certain places out of fear of the next attack
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• Chronic fatigue, headaches, or indigestion
• High vulnerability to stress and sensitivity

Evaluation:

• 3+ items: Suspected autonomic imbalance.
• 5+ items: High possibility of panic or severe anxiety disorder.

Medical Review | Dr. Min Jihong, Incheon Branch