Anxiety episodes that are experienced as physical symptoms. The physical symptoms are frightening but they are not dangerous. It can be difficult to recognize that the symptoms are from anxiety, and a medical evaluation to check for other explanations for the symptoms is appropriate. Up to 2% of the population have panic disorder (panic attacks). Episodes typically last from 2 to 10 minutes, but can be as long as 1-2 hours. Some people with panic attacks avoid locations or activities that have seemed to trigger previous attacksthis habit of avoiding triggers is called "agoraphobia" and this behavior can be extreme enough to interfere with usual life.