Die—died---died---dying

Die—died---died---dying   Dead---death         More and more Americans nowadays are having panic attacks like the one experienced by Anne peters. Benjamin Crocker, a psychologist at the University of Southern California, reveal that as many as ten million adult Americans have already or will experience at least one panic attack in their lifetime. Moreover, studies conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health in the United States disclose that approximately 1.2 million adult individuals are currently suffering from severe and recurrent panic attacks.       These attacks may last for only a few minutes; some, however, continue for several hours. The symptoms of panic attacks bear such remarkable1 similarity to those of heart attacks that many victims believe that they are indeed having a heart attack.       panic attack victims show the following symptoms: they often become easily frightened or feel uneasy in situations where people normally would not be afraid; they suffer shortness of breath, experience chest pains, a quick heartbeat, sudden fits of trembling, a feeling that persons and things around them are not real; and most of all, a fear of dying or going crazy. A person (seized by a panic attack) may show all or as few as four of these symptoms.       There has been a lot of explanations as to the causes of panic attacks. Many claim that psychological stress could be a logical cause, but as yet, no evidence has been found to support this theory. However, studies show that more women than men experience panic attacks and people (who drink a lot) as well as those (who use drugs) are more likely to suffer attacks.       It is reported that there are at least three signs that indicate a person is suffering from a panic attack rather than a heart attack. The first is age. people between the ages of 20 and 30 are more often victims of panic attacks. The second is sex. More women suffer from recurrent panic attacks than men. The third is the multiplicity of symptoms. A panic attack victim usually suffers at least four of the previously2 mentioned symptoms, while a heart attack victim often experiences only pain and shortness of breath.       It is generally agreed that a panic attack does not directly endanger a persons life. All the same, it can unnecessarily disrupt a persons life by making him or her so afraid of having a panic attack in a public place that he or she may refuse to leave home and may eventually become isolated3 from the rest of society. Dr. Crockers advice to any person who thinks he is suffering from a panic attack is to consult a doctor for a medical examination to rule out the possibilities of physical illness first. once it has been confirmed that he or she is, in fact, suffering from a panic attack, the victim should seek psychological and medical help.

1 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

2 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

3 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。