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In the early days, when humans were still living in caves, we needed to react quickly to danger to survive. A response called fight or flight developed. When faced with a threat, such as a hungry saber-toothed tiger, a release of chemicals in the body made us act quickly, without thinking, to defend ourselves or run away. This reaction, which is still with us today, may be the basis of panic attacks. During a panic attack, the fight-or-flight reaction is triggered at an inappropriate time–a false alarm. The causes of false alarms aren't clear. Research suggests that stress may play a role in some cases. Marijuana or large amounts of caffeine can sometimes set off an attack. Panic attacks tend to run in families and usually affect young adults, but no age, race, or gender is immune.
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