Medical Advices Blog

Diagnosis:

* Patients with this disorder are characterized by a constant state of hypervigilance and hyperactivity of the nervous system due to an unbalanced activity of neurotransmitters in the brain and is also a motor hyperactivity in the body.
* The disorder is more common in women than in men
* If there are no genetic or environmental reasons the disease is related to chronic stress.
* According to WHO, to consider that a patient has a “generalized anxiety disorder” should have the following symptoms most of the day for 2-3 consecutive weeks:

- Muscle tension manifested by headache, inability to relax, restlessness and sleeping difficulties

- Autonomic nervous system hyperactivity manifested by sweating, palpitations, upset stomach, difficulty in breathing and dry mouth

- Apprehension, concern and difficulty with attention and concentration* Shall be in addition one or more unexpected panic attacks, ie, panic attacks unrelated directly to a situation that causes anxiety to individuals who are not suffering from the disorder. Nor will consider the situations in which the individual is the focus of other
* Also would require the existence of at least four panic attacks in a period not exceeding four weeks or more in a row crisis for fear of further attacks continued over a period of 1 month minimum
* Also appear at least four of the following symptoms in any of the earlier crisis:

- Shortness of breath or choking sensations

- Dizziness, lightheadedness or loss of consciousness

- Palpitations or increased heart rate

- Tremors

- Sweating

- Flushing

- Nausea or abdominal discomfort

- Feeling of not recognizing our own body or “derealization”

- Numbness of the hands

- Chills

- Chest pain

- Fear of dying

- Fear of going crazy or losing control

* Also would require the presence in the crises in advance of at least 4 of the above symptoms appear quickly and increase in intensity over a period of at least 10 minutes to descend during the expression of the disorder
* It also requires that no other pathology is possible to use as a trigger for anxiety attack
* Anxiety attacks should last between 5 and 30 minutes, it is rare that last longer

The disorder usually begins in women between 20 and 30 years, having the disorder more prevalent in females.

As a result of the disease patients may develop secondary to substance dependence, as in alcoholism or dependence on other drugs or medication.

The disorder is often associated with agoraphobia, a situation in which the patient feels a great anxiety when in places where many people are concentrated in places with exits or poorly defined, were fearful of not being able to leave or evacuate .

Anxiety is currently one of the most frequent reasons for consultation in emergency departments.