Tuesday 03/February/2026 – 04:37 AM
Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences revealed a simple and effective method that can help calm panic attacks, which is to use a paper bag to maintain breathing balance and reduce the severe symptoms associated with anxiety.
What happens during a panic attack?
According to what was published by the Hindustan Times newspaper, Dr. Priyanka Sehrawat, a general physician and neurologist who holds a master’s degree in internal medicine and a doctorate in neurology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi, explained that a panic attack is a state of intense and sudden fear that occurs without real danger, and is often accompanied by strong physical symptoms that may make the sufferer believe that he is losing control of himself or having a heart attack, according to what the Mayo Clinic indicates.
Sehrawat explained that people who suffer from recurring panic attacks can benefit from a simple paper bag to help control symptoms, by regulating the breathing process and restoring the chemical balance in the body.
According to the doctor, during a panic attack, the victim begins to breathe rapidly and excessively, which leads to the elimination of excessive amounts of carbon dioxide through the lungs. This imbalance affects the pH balance in the blood, which is reflected in symptoms such as nervousness, rapid heartbeat, tightness or heaviness in the chest, in addition to pain that may extend to the shoulder, back, or one side of the chest.
How does a paper bag help?
Sehrawat noted that using a paper bag could be beneficial for those suffering from a known anxiety disorder. The method does not require a bag with special specifications. Rather, it is sufficient for it to be paper. This is done by covering the mouth and nose with the bag and closing it tightly, then breathing slowly in and out six to ten times.
The paper bag helps retain the carbon dioxide that the body expels during hyperventilation, which contributes to returning its levels to the normal range in the blood, thus restoring the pH balance, so that the symptoms disappear within a few minutes.
Despite the effectiveness of this method in immediately alleviating symptoms, the doctor stressed the importance of consulting a psychiatrist or psychologist in the event of significant recurrence of panic attacks, in order to evaluate the condition and develop an appropriate treatment plan, whether through lifestyle modification or through drug or non-drug treatment, to control the problem in the long term.
