Panic Attacks Are Made Worse By Smoking

May 31, 2010 - PRLog -- Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom -- A recent study showed that smoking is more common among individuals with mental health disorders. In fact, more than half of the cigarettes consumed in the United States are being smoked by those with mental illness.(http://www.panicdisorderattacks.com)

People with mental illness have always had a shorter average life span than those who are mentally healthy. This shorter life span was often blamed on their mental state, and how it affects their physical health. However, recent studies have shown that it is probably more greatly connected to tobacco use, affecting the mentally ill the same way it affects the mentally healthy.

There is also evidence that reveals smoking worsens mental illness. In the case of panic disorder, those who smoke report more severe panic attacks compared to nonsmokers with the disorder. “Smoking is often known for its calming effect, so people with panic disorder may be trying to calm themselves down or lessen their anxiety. They don't realize that the tobacco actually has the opposite effect in the long run.” says Mike Karowski, author of Perfectly Panic Free.

Panic disorder is quite common in the United States. Another of the most commonly diagnosed health problems, which happens to be the mental health problem with the highest co-morbidity to panic disorder, is depression. There is a very strong relationship with depression and smoking, with a majority of both men and women with depression being tobacco dependent. This could mean that patients with panic disorder that also have depression are even more likely to smoke, again worsening both health problems.

There is hope, however. A study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence showed that almost 80% of depressed smokers want to quit tobacco. While no study was done with patients who were diagnosed with panic disorder, the high co-morbidity between the disorders makes it a possibility that those with panic disorder do want to quit tobacco use too. Perhaps more than ever, after they find out it is only making their symptoms worse.

Smoking among the mentally ill is something that needs to be attended to. Those with mental illnesses, such as panic disorder, need not have a shorter life span. They simply need help, both for their disorder and for quitting smoking. Giving up tobacco will not only prolong their life expectancy, but it will also lessen the severity of their symptoms, making treatment methods more effective and longer lasting.