Social media is great for many things. It can bring people together, it can inspire a call to action, and it can be a great tool for information. On the flip side, however, social media can also be a way to spread misinformation, so it’s always good to fact check what you see, especially if it seems too good to be true.

In recent years, there have been many viral posts proclaiming that eating sour candy can stop a panic attack in its tracks. As someone who has long suffered from anxiety and never heard of such a thing before, I had to investigate.

What Are Panic Attacks?

According to Mayo Clinic, a panic attack is “a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause.” Symptoms can include a rapid heart rate, shaking, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, sweating, and even an impending sense of doom or fear. Panic attacks are no laughing matter—often, they are mistaken for heart attacks. “They are sudden, often inconveniently timed and quite frankly, terrifying. It is understandable that in the throes of a panic attack, people want nothing other than an emergency exit,” says family physician Dr. Christine Palmay.

Does Sour Candy Actually Stop A Panic Attack?

According to Dr. Palmay, the evidence is anecdotal, at best. “Many evidence-based recommendations focus on distracting techniques to quell a panic attack,” she explains. “Some examples include repeating a comforting sentence, deep breathing, and/or tactile efforts such as tapping your chest.” With this in mind, it makes sense that eating sour candy might distract your mind enough to keep panic at bay. “The sudden taste of a sour candy can be startling and overwhelming, thus serving as a distraction technique,” Dr. Palmay says. However, she warns, “This is not evidence based and may be dangerous.”

Think about the fact that common symptoms of panic attacks can be heavy breathing or even hyperventilation and you’ll understand why. “I would be worried that one could choke on the sour candy,” Dr. Palmay cautions.

Final Verdict

While sour candy could potentially help as a distraction method, there is no science to back up using it as an effective method for preventing panic attacks. “Obviously, having techniques to address panic attacks at that exact moment are helpful, but focusing on prevention is even more essential,” Dr. Palmay summarizes.

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