Medically reviewed by Oscar Ortega, MD· Medical Director
A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear that peaks within minutes, bringing a pounding heart, shortness of breath, chest pressure, dizziness, trembling, and a powerful sense that something is terribly wrong; panic disorder is when these attacks keep returning and fear of the next one begins to run your life. Panic disorder affects roughly 2 to 3 percent of U.S. adults in a given year, per the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) — and many people's first attack sends them to an emergency room convinced they're having a heart attack. The good news: panic attacks are not dangerous, and panic disorder is one of the most treatable conditions in behavioral health. At Viva Centers in Doral, our bilingual (English/Spanish) care team helps adults across Miami-Dade understand panic and take their lives back.
What Happens During a Panic Attack
A panic attack is your body's alarm system firing at full strength with no real danger present. Adrenaline floods the bloodstream: the heart races, breathing quickens, muscles tense, and blood shifts away from digestion — which is why attacks bring chest pounding, air hunger, tingling, nausea, and dizziness all at once. Attacks usually peak within 10 minutes and pass within 20 to 30, though they can leave you shaky for hours. Frightening as they feel, panic attacks are not heart attacks and do not damage the body.
- Racing or pounding heart — the most common and most frightening symptom
- Shortness of breath or a choking feeling — caused by rapid, shallow breathing
- Dizziness, tingling, or numbness — from changes in carbon dioxide levels
- Fear of dying or losing control — the alarm's false message, not reality
- Urge to escape — a strong need to leave the situation immediately
Panic Attacks vs. Panic Disorder — When to Seek Care
An occasional panic attack is common and doesn't mean you have panic disorder. Panic disorder means the attacks recur, you spend weeks worrying about the next one, or you've started avoiding driving, crowds, or being alone because of them. About the ER: chest pain, fainting, or symptoms unlike your usual attacks deserve emergency evaluation — let a doctor rule out your heart. But once serious causes have been checked and attacks keep returning, the right place is a behavioral health clinic, not repeated ER visits. If you or someone you love is in crisis, call or text 988 — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available any time.
Our Evaluation Process in Doral
Because panic symptoms overlap with heart, thyroid, and breathing problems, a good evaluation rules those out first. At our Doral clinic, new-patient visits last 60 minutes: your clinician maps out when attacks happen, what they feel like, what you've started avoiding, and your medical history. When labs are needed — thyroid function, blood counts — our on-site CLIA-certified lab can run them the same day. Everything can happen in English or Spanish. The psychiatric care team is led by Medical Director Oscar Ortega, MD, with behavioral health provider Larisa Perez-Isasi, ARNP, serving adults from Doral and greater Miami-Dade.
Treatment That Works for Panic Disorder
Panic disorder responds remarkably well to treatment. Panic-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches you what the sensations really are, then uses gradual practice to retrain your brain so the sensations stop triggering alarm — many people improve in 8 to 12 sessions. When attacks are frequent or severe, medication classes such as SSRIs or SNRIs reduce how often and how hard attacks hit, making the therapy work easier. Slow-breathing skills help you ride out an attack rather than fight it. Cutting back caffeine and getting steady sleep lower the baseline, too.
- Panic-focused CBT — retrains the alarm; many people improve in 8 to 12 sessions
- SSRIs and SNRIs — first-line medication classes that reduce attack frequency and intensity
- Slow-breathing skills — practical tools to ride out an attack instead of fighting it
Getting Your Life Back: What to Expect
Most people with panic disorder get significantly better with treatment — attacks become less frequent, then less frightening, then rare. Expect regular follow-ups at first while the plan takes hold; many can be done by telehealth once you're stable. We accept most major insurance plans, including Oscar, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Medicare Advantage, and Ambetter. Same-day appointments are often available — helpful when panic can't wait — and Saturday visits can be arranged by appointment. Panic once shrank your world; treatment is how it opens back up.
Sources
- Anxiety Disorders— National Institute of Mental Health
- Panic Disorder— MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Mental Health Conditions— SAMHSA