衛生類AB級：閱讀理解When fear takes control

　　A panic attack is a sudden feeling of terror. Usually it does not last long， but it may feel like forever. The cause can be something as normally uneventful as driving over a bridge or flying in an airplane. And it can happen even if the person has driven over many bridges or flown many times before. A fast heartbeat. Sweaty hands. Difficulty breathing.2 A lightheaded feeling. At first a person may have no idea3 what is wrong. But these can all be signs of what is known as panic disorder.4 The first appearance usually is between the ages of 18 and 25. In some cases it develops after a tragedy， like the death of a loved one， or some other difficult situation.

　　In the United States， the National Institute of Mental Health5 says more than two million people are affected in any one-year period. The American Psychological Association6 says panic disorder is two times more likely in women than men. And it can last anywhere from a few months to a lifetime.

　　Panic attacks can be dangerous -- for example， if a person is driving at the time. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge in the state of Maryland is so long and so high over the water， it is famous for scaring motorists. There is even a driver assistance program to help people get across. Some people who suffer a panic attack develop a phobia， a deep fear of ever repeating the activity that brought on the attack.7

　　But experts say panic disorder can be treated. Doctors might suggest anti-anxiety or antidepressant medicines. Talking to a counselor could help a person learn to deal with or avoid a panic attack. There are breathing methods， for example， that might help a person calm down.8 Panic disorder is included among what mental health professionals call anxiety disorders.9 A study published last week reported a link between anxiety disorders and several physical diseases. It says these include thyroid disease， lung and stomach problems， arthritis， migraine headaches and allergic conditions. Researchers at the University of Manitoba in Canada say that in most cases the physical condition followed the anxiety disorder. But， they say， exactly how the two are connected remains unknown.

　　The report in the Archives of Internal Medicine10 came from a German health study of more than 4，000 adults.

　　詞匯：

　　panic n. adj. 恐慌(的)

　　terror n. 恐懼

　　uneventful adj. 平靜無事的；平凡的

　　heartbeat n. 心跳

　　sweaty adj. 多汗的

　　lightheaded adj. 頭昏眼花的

　　tragedy n. 悲劇

　　bay n. 海灣

　　Maryland n. 馬里蘭(美國東部一州名)

　　scare vt. 使恐慌 vi. 受驚

　　motorist n. 駕駛汽車者(通常為自己的汽車)

　　phobia n. (病態的)恐懼

　　antidepressant adj. 抗抑郁的 n. 抗抑郁藥

　　counsel(l)or n. 顧問

　　professional adj. 專業的 n. 專業人員，內行，專家

　　thyroid adj. 甲狀的 n. 甲狀腺；甲狀腺制劑

　　arthritis n. 關節炎

　　migraine n. 偏頭痛

　　allergic adj. 變應性的，過敏性的

　　archive n. (常用復數)檔案；檔案室，檔案館

　　注釋：

　　1. takes control of：掌管，負責掌握

　　2. difficulty breathing ( = difficulty in breathing )：呼吸困難

　　3. have no idea of/as to：沒有…概念，不知道

　　4. panic disorder：驚恐性障礙，急性焦慮癥

　　5. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)：國立精神衛生研究所

　　6. American Psychological Association (APA)：美國心理學協會

　　7. Some people who suffer a panic attack develop a phobia， a deep fear of ever repeating the activity that brought on the attack. 有些患有恐慌癥發作的人會產生極度的恐懼感，也就是極度害怕在什么時候會重復那種引起他們出現恐慌癥發作的事情。panic attack：恐慌發作，焦慮發作。bring sth. on / bring on sth.：引起，導致，促成。本句中a deep fear是a phobia的同位語。

　　8. calm down：平靜下來

　　9. Panic disorder is included among what mental health professionals call anxiety disorders. 驚恐性障礙包括在精神衛生專業人員稱之為焦慮癥中。anxiety disorder：焦慮癥。