US Medical Term · mental-health
Panic Attack
Ataque de pánico
What it means
A panic attack is a one-time or occasional episode of intense fear with physical and emotional symptoms. MedlinePlus describes panic attacks as sudden periods of intense fear, discomfort, or a sense of losing control that happen even though there is no real danger. Physical symptoms during a panic attack include a pounding or racing heart, sweating or chills, trembling or shaking, trouble breathing, weakness or dizziness, chest pain, and stomach pain or nausea, and a person may feel like they are having a heart attack. Panic attacks can happen anytime, without warning, and can last anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour. An isolated panic attack is not a mental disorder; some of the people who have panic attacks develop panic disorder, with repeated attacks. The NIMH publication also says that in life-threatening situations, call 911.
Panic Attack in Spanish
- Spanish term
- Ataque de pánico
- Gender and article
- masculine: el ataque de pánico
- Pronunciation
- ah-TAH-keh deh PAH-nee-koh
Ataque de pánico is the form used by both MedlinePlus en español and the Spanish publication of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which defines it this way: Un ataque de pánico es un episodio que ocurre una sola vez u ocasionalmente que provoca temor intenso y síntomas físicos y emocionales. The phrase is masculine: un ataque de pánico, plural los ataques de pánico. MedlinePlus en español lists the plural, Ataques de pánico, as another name on its page about trastorno de pánico (panic disorder), while the NIMH publication says that an isolated ataque de pánico is not a mental disorder.
The Real Academia Española dictionary enters pánico as an adjective said of fear or terror that is extreme or very intense. The same health pages use ataque for a heart attack too: ataque cardíaco in MedlinePlus en español and ataque al corazón in the NIMH publication. Words that appear with the term are miedo intenso (intense fear), temblores (trembling), mareos (dizziness) and dolor en el pecho (chest pain).
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Patient | Suddenly my heart starts pounding and I feel like I can't breathe. | De repente el corazón me late muy fuerte y siento que no puedo respirar. |
| Clinician | How long do these episodes last? | ¿Cuánto duran estos episodios? |
| Patient | About ten minutes, and afterward I feel weak and dizzy. | Unos diez minutos, y después siento debilidad y mareos. |
| Clinician | Do they happen without warning, or in certain places? | ¿Ocurren sin previo aviso o en ciertos lugares? |
| Patient | Without warning. I worry all the time about having another attack. | Sin previo aviso. Me preocupa todo el tiempo tener otro ataque. |
| Clinician | What you describe may be a panic attack. I would also like to do a physical exam and blood tests. | Lo que describe puede ser un ataque de pánico. También quisiera hacerle un examen físico y análisis de sangre. |
| Patient | Does having panic attacks mean I have panic disorder? | ¿Tener ataques de pánico significa que tengo trastorno de pánico? |
| Clinician | Not necessarily. Many people have only one or two panic attacks in their lifetime. | No necesariamente. Muchas personas solo tienen uno o dos ataques de pánico en su vida. |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Panic Attack |
| Spanish (Español) | Ataque de pánico |
| Chinese (中文) | 恐慌發作 |
| Korean (한국어) | 공황 발작 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Cơn hoảng loạn |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Atake ng panik |
| Portuguese (Português) | Ataque de pânico |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | อาการแพนิค |
| Japanese (日本語) | パニック発作 |
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
ICD-10-CM code: F41 → Other anxiety disordersRelated terms
Your right to an interpreter in the United States
If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.
You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»
More terms: Mental health
All terms in this area: Mental health — Salud mental
Sources
- Panic Disorder — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Trastorno de pánico — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Panic Disorder: What You Need to Know — National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- El trastorno de pánico: Lo que usted debe saber — National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- pánico, ca — Diccionario de la lengua española — Real Academia Española / ASALE
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Your Right to Language Assistance Services — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.
Last reviewed: October 8, 2026