Ask Dr. K: Panic disorder can be overcome with medication and therapy

DEAR READER: Panic attacks can be very unsettling. All of a sudden, you are filled with extreme fear or terror. You may be short of breath, have palpitations, chest pain, sweating or feel a smothering sensation. You probably fear that you are losing control. You might even think you are about to die.

A panic attack usually lasts five to 30 minutes. But it can continue for several hours. Sometimes the attacks occur in stressful situations, but often they begin for no apparent reason. They can even wake you from deep sleep.

For my patients who suffer from panic attacks, the worst part about them is their unpredictability. If certain things seem to trigger panic attacks — like dining in crowded restaurants — they avoid them.

Panic attacks are surprisingly common: About 5 percent of women and 2 percent of men suffer from them at some point in their lives. In my experience, panic attacks are not always accurately diagnosed. Some of my patients tell me they've had panic attacks, but describe something different and even more common: being nervous a lot of the time. In contrast, panic attacks come like a bolt out of the blue and can end just as quickly. A mental health professional is best qualified to make a diagnosis.

Most illnesses stem from a combination of genes and the external environment. Panic attacks are no exception. They run in families. Identical twins (who share the same genes) are more likely to both have panic attacks than non-identical twins (who share only some genes).