特别广播英语第 69 课：Panic and Its Effects 恐怖症及其对各方面的影响-3

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. 据报导至少有三种迹象可以表明某人得的是恐怖症而不是心脏病。

The first is age. People between the ages of 20 and 30 are more often victims of panic attacks. 第一是年龄，20到30之间的人更容易患恐怖症。

The second is sex. More women suffer from recurrent panic attacks than men. 第二是性别，女性比男性更容易患恐怖症。

The third is the multiplicity of symptoms. 第三是症状的多样性。

A panic attack victim usually suffers at least four of the previously mentioned symptoms, while a heart attack victim often experiences only pain and shortness of breath. 一位恐怖症患者通常至少会有本文先前提到的上述四种症状，而心脏病发作时患者通常只有疼痛和呼吸短促。

It is generally agreed that a panic attack does not directly endanger a person's life. 一般人都一致认为恐怖症发作时不会直接危及到一个人的生命。

All the same, it can unnecessarily disrupt a person's 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 isolated form the rest of society. 尽管如此，恐怖症会不必要地扰乱了一个人的生活秩序，会使一个为因为非常害怕恐怖症发作而不敢到公共场所去，结果这个患者就不敢离开家一步，终于导致与世隔绝。

Dr. Crocker's 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. 克拉克医生的嘱咐是，凡认为自己患有恐怖症的人都要请医生做体格检查以便首先排除有器质性病变的可能。

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. 一旦患者被确认为事实上得的是恐怖症，那么患者就应寻求心理治疗，配合药物治疗。