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PEOPLE WITH FEAR OF HEIGHT; ACROPHOBIA
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Syeda Sar ah Abb as
Univ ersity of Kar achi
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Liaquat National Hospit al & Medic al Colle ge
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Syeda et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research

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52

PEOPLE WITH FEAR OF HEIGHT; ACROPHOBIA

Syeda Sarah Abbas1, 2,* and Sehrish Kiran1

1Faculty of Pharmacy, Jinnah University for Women Karachi , Pakistan .
2Department of Pharmaceut ics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi , Pakistan .

Article Received on 10/09 /2015 Article Revised on 01/10 /2015 Article Accepted on 25 /10/2015

INTRODUCTION
There are many people in this world some of them may
be in our surrounding who have fear of heights. In
medical terminology this condition is known as
acrophobia. Acrophobia is composed of Greek words
ákron , meaning “peak, summit, edge” and phóbos, “fear .
Person with this phobia may face trouble, feeling of
irritation or fear while climbing a ladder, standing on
high floor of a building or other activities that involve
height. It is one of the common phobias which cause a
severe irrational fear of objects or situations . This type of
situation can be hazardous , as sufferers can experien ce a
anxiety attack in a high place and become too agitated to
get themselves down safely with a negative impact on
life, limiting career opportunities as well as affecting
simple day -to-day situations such as helping your child
out of a tree or a visit on huge building even changing a
light bulb .[1]

Acrophobia should not be confused with vertigo. fear
from heights, but it is accurately describe as medical
condition that causes spinning sensation that occurs
when one is not actually spinning. The fear caus ed by
height can sometimes cause similar feeling, but
conditions are totally different . Most people may
generally feel a bit apprehensive when looking down
from a very steep cliff – this is considered a natural even
appropriate feeling. However, when anyon e experience
panic attacks , nausea, rapid breathing and dizziness or
vertigo when walking onto a balcony, standing on a
ladder or driving over a b ridge, going up a flight of stairs
your fear has now become an irrational obsession. If a
person experience ac rophobia, he may or may not experience vertigo symptoms. Instead he may feel panic
when at height. He may instinctively begin to s earch for
something to cling to, he may find that he is unable to
trust on his own sense of balance.[2]Common reaction
that ca n observe include crawling, kneeling, descending
immediately or otherwise lowering the body. This
condition has same emotional and physical response that
can see in other phobias. Person having acrophobia
might avoid the visiting friend’s home with balconie s or
spending vocations in hotel’s room on high floor.[3]

Cause of Acrophobia may be any traumatic experience
involving heights. Main treatment of choice for specific
phobias is Cognitive -behavioral (CBT ). Behavioral
techniques by which survivor expose to feared situations
(gradually or rapid) are frequently used . In addition, the
patient is taught ways of stopping the panic reaction and
regaining emotional control.

Traditionally, actual exposure to heights is the most
ordinary solution. However, there have been a number of
research studies into using virtual reality as a treatment
for acrophobia. Studiesperformed since 2001 have shown
that virtual reality may be just as effective. A major
benefit of virtual reality treatment is the savings in both
cost an d time, as there is no need for “on -location”
therapist accompaniment. More research will need to be
carried on before this method becomes a readily
available option, but if it is available it may be worth
trying .[4]

wjpmr , 2015,1(1), 52-53
Short
Communication

ISSN XXX -XXX
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WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL
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*Correspondence for Author: Dr. Syeda Sarah Abbas
Faculty of Pharmacy, Jinnah U niversity for Women Karachi , Pakistan.
Mail ID: syedasarahabbas@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
People that have fear of heights may face irritation, uncomforted or other emotional and physical symptoms. This
conditio n is referred as “ACROPHOBIA” (fear of height). They might feel fear on high floors, climbing ladder or
other similar situations in which height involves. Symptoms include panic, rapid breathing, nausea or vertigo.
Vertigo should not confuse with acrophobi a because both have almost similar feeling but both are different
situations. It may reserve the individual’s common activities. There are certain therapies by which this phobia is
treatable.

KEYWORDS: Acrophobia, phobia, fear of height.

Syeda et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research

www.wjpmr.com

53 RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Acrophobia is a terrible situation that can create
underestimation, confusion and panic in a victim’s life.
So a ve ry serious attitude towards these kinds of people
is needed, in accordance of solution of trouble an d a
proper treatment. Luckily in this scientific era re searcher
have designed lots of therapies that can vanish this
phobia and individual can live a calm and normal happy
life by left the fear of height back. Now the need arises,
sincere attentions for these survivors are obligatory to
treat them. By providin g basic knowledge and
awareness, we can put our efforts to get people aware
and sound practical to treat these psychoactive problems .
[5-10]

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