Washington: Vigorous exercise might be an ideal way of quelling sudden panic attacks.
People who experienced nausea, racing heart, dizziness and stomach aches that follow panic attacks, handled it better if they were into high levels of physical activity, according to researchers.
"Anxiety sensitivity is an established risk factor for the development of panic and related disorders," said Japser Smits, psychologist at the Southern Methodist University, Dallas, who led the study.
"This study suggests that this risk factor may be less influential among persons who routinely engage in high levels of physical activity," added Smits, reports the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.
"Primary care physicians already prescribe exercise for general health, so exercise may have the advantage of helping reach more people in need of treatment for depression and anxiety," said Smits, according to a Methodist statement.
The results, based on a study of 145 adult volunteers with no history of panic attacks, showed that regular exercises dampened reactivity to panic disorders.
IANS
