Even if you manage to keep your anxiety under control, you may not be able to avoid panic attacks forever. After all, according to the Cleveland Clinic, roughly 11% of Americans have panic attacks every single year. These attacks are often unpleasant and can even mimic serious health conditions, such as a heart attack or stroke.
While your panic attack is likely to be uncomfortable and distressing, you do not have to worry about it killing you. Nevertheless, if you experience a panic attack during or after a car accident, it is important to go to the emergency room for a prompt evaluation.
Other accident-associated injuries
Motor vehicle accidents remain a primary cause of both serious injury and death in the U.S. Luckily, if you suffer a catastrophic injury in a crash, your body’s response to it is likely to alert you to a problem. That is, you are apt to have pain, mobility issues or other injury-associated symptoms.
A panic attack messes with your brain’s ability to recognize the symptoms of physical injuries, though. Indeed, when you are in the throes of a panic attack, you may not realize you have other injuries. This is true even if your injuries are catastrophic or life-threatening.
Your medical interests
The immediate aftermath of any car accident is often a blur. If you are having a panic attack, though, you are virtually certain not to be thinking clearly. To improve your odds of making a complete recovery, you should not hope your distress is solely due to a panic attack.
Ultimately, your medical interests require you to seek care from an emergency physician who can give you a full examination to ensure you are physically O.K.
