The panic attack causes the person activates the sympathetic system that them sweating and breathing fast. Rapid breathing will cause many CO2 removed than normal, lead to lower level of CO2 in the blood. Carbon dioxide makes the blood more acid, so lower level of CO2 will make the blood become basic, cause respiratory alkalosis which causes the numbness in feet and hands.
This says that a very long time ago South Africa could have had glaciers and had a cold climate were as now South Africa has a very hot and humid climate.