Health

Man's panic attack during live news broadcast spotlights anxiety disorder

Published

1 year ago

August 22, 2024

Man's panic attack during live news broadcast spotlights anxiety disorder

An Australian meteorologist suffered a panic attack while on-air last week — and quickly tossed his live segment back to his anchor colleague.

“Some of you may know that I occasionally get affected by some panic attacks, and actually, that’s happening right now,” Nate Byrne said during the live ABC News Australia segment.

His colleagues stepped in while Byrne, who had been open about his struggles with panic attacks in the past, recovered from the incident.

Fox News Digital reached out to ABC News Australia requesting comment.

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“Nate’s colleagues at ABC News Breakfast did a great job of supporting him,” Dr. Reid Wilson, PhD, a psychologist and the director of the Anxiety Disorders Treatment Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, told Fox News Digital.

Byrne’s openness about his condition likely helped the news team react in such a supportive way, Wilson told Fox News Digital.

An Australian meteorologist, not pictured, suffered a panic attack while on-air last week, and quickly tossed his live segment back to his anchor colleague. (iStock)

“That’s one thing to consider if you are having panic attacks — to share your problem with people who are safe (who won’t ridicule you or use it against you) and supportive,” he said in an email.

What is a panic attack?

Panic attacks are part of the body’s sympathetic nervous system’s “flight or fight” response, which motivates a person to remove himself or herself from danger, even if the situation does not appear to be an obvious threat, health care practitioners told Fox News Digital.

“During a panic attack, our heart rate increases, and our body gets ready to either fight or flee,” Dr. Nancy Frye, PhD, a professor and the graduate director of psychology at Long Island University in Brookville, New York, told Fox News Digital.

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While a panic attack is scary, it typically is not dangerous, according to the APA.

It can, however, cause anxiety about future attacks.

“They may start giving up more of their life in an attempt to appease the panic,” Wilson said.

“That’s why it’s so important for them to develop self-help skills that will help them face and cope with those provoking situations.”

“During a panic attack, our heart rate increases, and our body gets ready to either fight or flee,” a psychologist told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines a panic attack as a “sudden surge of overwhelming fear” that is not proportional to the actual situation.

The attack typically passes within minutes, but repeated attacks can continue to recur for hours, the APA noted.

“It’s important to develop self-help skills to help face and cope with those provoking situations.”

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The episode may occur in individuals who have suffered a recent traumatic event or a major life stressor, such as death or divorce, experts say.

Attacks can also stem from a genetic predisposition for anxiety disorders or depression.

Symptoms of the condition

A person experiencing a panic attack may suddenly experience a racing heartbeat and trouble breathing.

People may also feel lightheaded, dizzy or nauseous, according to the APA.

Trembling, a “pins and needles” sensation in the fingers and toes, sweating, hot flashes or sudden chills, or a feeling of terror are some of the other listed symptoms experienced by individuals.

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines a panic attack as a “sudden surge of overwhelming fear” that is not proportional to the actual situation. (iStock)

“When one is having a panic attack, they might breathe rapidly, a condition called hyperventilation, which can lead to numbness in the fingers and toes from the vasoconstriction that occurs from the imbalance of oxygen and carbon dioxide,” Dr. Fred Davis, associate chair of emergency medicine at Northwell Health on Long Island, New York, told Fox News Digital.

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It is important to rule out any underlying medical conditions to be sure it is a panic attack, health experts say.

“These symptoms can mimic other medical conditions like a heart attack, asthma exacerbation, electrolyte abnormalities, thyroid issues or neurological disorders,” Davis noted.

A licensed therapist can diagnose a panic attack and panic disorder.

What to do in the event of a panic attack

If a panic attack occurs, Davis recommends focusing on taking slow, deep breaths.

Most panic attacks will resolve within a few minutes, but if symptoms persist or get worse, it might be necessary to seek medical treatment to rule out other causes, Davis added.

When people are “having a panic attack, they might breathe rapidly, a condition called hyperventilation, which can lead to numbness in the fingers and toes,” an expert said. (iStock)

“It’s tempting to say that the way to cope with a panic attack is to calm down — but that is much easier said than done,” Frye told Fox News Digital.

“It can help to acknowledge the worry and anxiety, and remind ourselves that our bodies are trying to help us out.”

“It’s tempting to say that the way to cope with a panic attack is to calm down — but that is much easier said than done.”

Frye recommended focusing on what is going on in the environment and remembering that not everything needs to be solved immediately.

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If a person experiences recurrent panic attacks and spends a good portion of time “in constant fear of another attack,” the individual may have a panic disorder, in which case an evaluation and treatment is recommended, according to Mayo Clinic’s website.

Different types of treatments — such as cognitive behavioral therapy and, in some cases, medications — can help a person learn to cope with panic attacks and panic disorders, Davis and Wilson told Fox News Digital.

Preventing panic attacks

Implementing some lifestyle changes can help keep panic attacks at bay, Wilson noted.

Some of these include making efforts to sleep well, significantly reducing or eliminating caffeine, exercising regularly and limiting alcohol intake.

Experts recommend learning to manage life stressors by practicing relaxation skills, such as meditation. (iStock)

He also recommends learning to manage life stressors in your life by practicing relaxation skills, such as meditation.

If you take medications, it’s a good idea to confirm with your physician that none of them are provoking symptoms of anxiety, Wilson said.

If you are suffering from recurring panic attacks, experts recommend discussing the episodes with your physician. (iStock)

Developing a supportive social network and having a strong sense of purpose can also help.

“Make sure you are using your gifts and talents, and take actions in your life that reflect your values,” Wilson advised.

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If you are suffering from recurring panic attacks, experts recommend discussing the episodes with your physician.

Fox News Digital reached out to the APA for comment.

Amy McGorry is a contributing health writer for Fox News Digital. Follow her on Twitter @amymcgorry.

Health

Matt Damon’s Gluten-Free Diet Helped Him Lose 18 Pounds

Published

8 hours ago

January 8, 2026

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Matt Damon’s Gluten-Free Diet Helped Him Lose 18 Pounds

Matt Damon’s Weight Loss: Actor Drops 18 Lbs with This Diet | Woman’s World

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Health

Deadly cancer risk could drop with single 10-minute workout, study suggests

Published

9 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Deadly cancer risk could drop with single 10-minute workout, study suggests

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

A single 10-minute workout may trigger blood changes that help fight colon cancer.

That’s according to new research from scientists at Newcastle University, who found that exercise quickly changes the blood in ways that affect colon cancer cells in the lab.

In the study, the U.K. researchers exposed colon cancer cells to human blood serum collected immediately after exercise, finding that the cells repaired DNA damage faster and showed gene activity patterns linked to slower growth.

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The blood samples came from 30 adults who had just completed a short, high-intensity cycling workout that lasted about 10 to 12 minutes, according to a press release.

Even a 10-minute burst of intense exercise may send protective signals through the blood that affect colon cancer cells, researchers say. (iStock)

Samuel T. Orange, an associate professor at Newcastle University and one of the study’s authors, spoke with Fox News Digital about the findings.

“Our findings show that exercise rapidly triggers molecular changes in the bloodstream that can act directly on colon cancer cells, reshaping gene activity and supporting DNA damage repair,” he said.

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The results suggest that even brief activity can make a difference. “Every movement matters. Exercise doesn’t need to last hours or happen in a gym,” Orange added.

The research suggests that exercise quickly triggers changes in the blood that affect colon cancer cells and helps support DNA repair. (iStock)

One of the most surprising findings, according to the researcher, was how strong the biological response was after even a single workout.

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“Exercise altered the activity of more than 1,000 genes in colon cancer cells,” he shared.

Even brief bouts of activity can make a difference, the researcher said. (iStock)

The study findings suggest that the effect is driven by exercise-triggered molecules released into the bloodstream, sometimes referred to as “exerkines,” which act like chemical messengers and send signals throughout the body.

“Each time you exercise, you trigger biological signals that support health and resilience to diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease,” Orange said.

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The researchers cautioned that the study was conducted using cancer cells grown in the laboratory, not in patients.

The findings are based on experiments using colon cancer cells grown in the lab, not studies conducted in people, the researchers noted. (iStock)

The study involved 30 healthy male and female volunteers between the ages of 50 and 78. Their blood samples were used to carry exercise-triggered signals to cancer cells grown in the lab.

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“These findings now need to be replicated in people with cancer,” Orange said. “We also need to better understand the longer-term effects of repeated exercise signals over time.”

Despite the limitations, the researcher said the findings strengthen the case for exercise as an important part of colon cancer prevention.

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“Each time you move your body and get a little breathless, you’re contributing to better health and may help influence biological processes linked to bowel cancer,” he added.

Kelly McGreal is a production assistant with the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital.

Health

Brain Health Challenge: Try a Brain Teaser

Published

20 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Brain Health Challenge: Try a Brain Teaser

Welcome back! For Day 4 of the challenge, let’s do a short and fun activity based around a concept called cognitive reserve.

Decades of research show that people who have more years of education, more cognitively demanding jobs or more mentally stimulating hobbies all tend to have a reduced risk of cognitive impairment as they get older.

Experts think this is partly thanks to cognitive reserve: Basically, the more brain power you’ve built up over the years, the more you can stand to lose before you experience impairment. Researchers still don’t agree on how to measure cognitive reserve, but one theory is that better connections between different brain regions corresponds with more cognitive reserve.

To build up these connections, you need to stimulate your brain, said Dr. Joel Salinas, a neurologist at NYU Langone Health and the founder and chief medical officer of the telehealth platform Isaac Health. To do that, try an activity that is “challenging enough that it requires some effort but not so challenging that you don’t want to do it anymore,” he said.

Speaking a second language has been shown to be good for cognition, as has playing a musical instrument, visiting a museum and doing handicrafts like knitting or quilting. Reading is considered a mentally stimulating hobby, and experts say you’ll get an even bigger benefit if you join a book club to make it social. Listen to a podcast to learn something new, or, better yet, attend a lecture in person at a local college or community center, said Dr. Zaldy Tan, the director of the Memory and Healthy Aging Program at Cedars-Sinai. That adds a social component, plus the extra challenge of having to navigate your way there, he said.

A few studies have found that playing board games like chess can be good for your brain; the same goes for doing crossword puzzles. It’s possible that other types of puzzles, like those you find in brain teaser books or from New York Times Games, can also offer a cognitive benefit.

But there’s a catch: To get the best brain workout, the activity should not only be challenging but also new. If you do “Wordle every day, it’s like well, then you’re very, very good at Wordle, and the Wordle part of your brain has grown to be fantastic,” said Dr. Linda Selwa, a clinical professor of neurology at the University of Michigan Medical School. “But the rest of your mind might still need work.”

So play a game you’re not used to playing, Dr. Selwa said. “The novelty seems to be what’s driving brain remodeling and growth.”

Today, we want you to push yourself out of your cognitive comfort zone. Check out an online lecture or visit a museum with your challenge partner. Or try your hand at a new game, below. Share what novel thing you did today in the comments, and I’ll see you tomorrow for Day 5.