Researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center looked at how men and women with panic attacks use the health care system.

The patients were interviewed in their homes over a two-year period.

They found that people with frequent panic attacks visited their doctor or the emergency room about three times as often as people who do not have attacks. They reported more hospital stays and more use of prescription medication.

These findings were true even though the participants with panic disorder actually had less comprehensive health insurance as a group than those without panic disorder.

These findings tell us several things. First, untreated panic disorder is serious and cannot be ignored. It will land you in your doctors office, the emergency room, or even in the hospital. It is costly to you in terms of your time, energy, and your pocketbook.

Just like depression, anxiety disorders are very treatable. Medication alone is seldom a good idea. Tools are available to help overcome the problem for good, rather than just temporarily masking it.