Medical terms can be confusing and sometimes complicated, especially when you are not familiar with the terminologies. The human body is created and wired in such a way that it easily reacts and shows signals when something goes wrong. The bad news, however, is that it cannot diagnose itself. In fact, a good number of times, the body sends out similar signals for different disease conditions, making it difficult for the layman to tell for sure what is wrong with us. If you start getting the feeling of chest pain, nausea, shortness of breath and light-headedness, chances are that you will pass them as mere anxiety or stress, but what if it is not? Have you thought of the possibility of it being a serious health condition such as heart attack? There seems to be a thin line between the signs and symptoms of a panic attack and that of a heart attack. Knowing the difference between the two and acting fast can save your life and that of others. Here we would talk about panic attack, heart attack, and how to differentiate between the two.

What is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack occurs when the flow of the blood to the heart is interrupted. It could be as the result of a blockage to one or more of the coronary arteries. The narrowing of the coronary arteries as a result of the build-up of fatty plaques is a leading cause of heart attacks. This is known as atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease or ischemic heart disease (IHD), that the primary cause most heart attack cases. In an ECG reading, the blockage of the arteries could be complete as in the case of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), or it could be partial as with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). You may need to undergo further diagnosis and testing to determine which one you have. The above phenomena are referred to as a heart attack. Use of tobacco and illicit drugs like cocaine can trigger heart attack as they can cause spasm of the coronary artery, which would, in turn, shut down blood flow to the myocardium (the heart muscle layer).

What is a Panic Attack?

The onset of panic attacks is usually sudden, without warning and involves an extreme feeling of terror. Most times, the fear and terror experienced is not in proportion to the situation at hand and other times, they are not even related to the event happening around them. People with panic attacks are usually unable to predict the next episode, but in cases of a panic disorder, the panic attacks sure do reoccur. The main causes of panic attacks are not quite clear. They are likely to develop in association with major life changes such as getting the first job, getting married, getting fired from work and other life stressors. Some people are said to be more biologically vulnerable to develop panic attacks that are to say that the tendency to develop panic attacks runs in families.

What are the Symptoms of a Heart Attack?

Now that we have looked at heart attack and the likely causes, let’s find out how does heart attack manifest? What signs and symptoms will the body exhibit to give the hint of a heart attack? A good number of people that have never experienced a heart attack before having this notion that the feeling of a heart attack is synonymous to that of chest pain, but that is not entirely true. According to Dr Maryann McLaughlin, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai, once said: “heart attacks do feel like very strong pain, but their onset is usually marked by a squeezing sensation and pressure that can go down each arm”. That feeling is comparable to the constricting feeling one has when one wears a tight bra. Sweating and nausea are also typical of heart attacks. In addition, heart attacks usually start slow and last longer, unlike panic attacks. Listed out here are the symptoms of a heart attack.

• Shortness of breath.
• Chest pain that increases in intensity and reaches its peak after a few minutes.
• A constant constricting pain, pressure and aching in the chest region. The pain usually starts from the chest then, travels downwards the left arm, shoulders, jaw, neck, abdomen and the back region.
• A fluctuating intensity of pain that lasts for 10 minutes or more.
• The prickly feeling could extend to both arms, but in most cases, it is restricted to the left arm.
• Feeling of nausea and vomiting.
• Cold and sweating.

What are the Symptoms of a Panic Attack?

Due to overlapping or similar symptoms, panic attacks could be easily mistaken for a heart attack. A feeling of panic attacks are awful and can be scary. It is not pleasant at all, and people that suffer from it often feel like they might die. Different people might have different stories to tell about it, but there are some general principles that one could use to tell that it is a panic attack. One of the major ways one can distinguish them from heart attacks is the duration of time they last. While panic attack lasts for about 10 minutes, the heart attack starts slow and lasts longer. Here are some of the symptoms of a panic attack.

• Sudden feelings of fear and terror for no apparent reason
• Increased heartbeat
• A stabbing pain in the chest that lasts for as short as 5 to 10 seconds
• A localized pain that could occur at rest
• Pain accompanying anxiety
• Sweating
• Shaking and trembling
• The feeling of loss of control
• A sense of detachment from one’s body or unrealistic feeling
• Abdominal cramps
• Tingling sensation in the hands

Overlapping Symptoms Between Panic Attack and Heart Attack

Some symptoms manifest in both conditions, Panic and Heart Attacks, making it difficult to distinguish between the two. Those common symptoms include:

• pain in the chest
• sweating
• dizziness
• shortness of breath
• tingling sensation

Because it can be difficult at times to tell for sure which condition one is suffering from, there is a need for you to see your doctor once you notice any of the symptoms as mentioned earlier. Your doctor can perform a few tests and examinations to diagnose the exact condition.

How to Differentiate Between the Panic Attack and Heart Attack

Even though panic attacks share similar symptoms with heart attacks, there are still some factors that can make it easier to distinguish between the two. They include the below. 1. The onset of the attack The onset of either attack can help one know if it is a panic attack or a heart attack. It is true that both can indeed develop suddenly and out of the blues; however, there could still be some differences. Heart attacks are sometimes triggered by physical exertions such as climbing the stairs, carrying heavy load etc. Heart attacks do sometimes start with pain that increases in intensity and reaches its peak in a few minutes to hours. 2. Characteristics of the pain Chest pain is common to both attacks; however, characteristics of the pain do differ. The chest pain that accompanies panic attack is usually sharp and localized to the middle of the chest region while that of a heart attack could be likened to a pressure or a squeezing sensation. That of heart attack is not localized to the chest region but radiates to other parts of the body such as the arm, jaw, shoulder and back. 3. Duration The duration of the attacks is another distinguishing factor. Even though there are varying cases, panic attacks hardly last for more than 20 to 30 minutes. On the other hand, symptoms of a heart attack tend to last for a longer time and worsen over time. 4. Medical history and age of the individual These are amongst the major factors that indicate whether one is experiencing a panic attack or a heart attack. The risk for heart attack increases as you grow older. Panic attack, in comparison, accompanies stressful events and can be experienced at any age. Younger people (especially those below 40) who are healthy are more likely to be experiencing panic attack than older individuals and those without a prior medical history of panic attacks. Chronic smokers, people with a family history of heart disease and those with high blood pressure are much more likely to experience a heart attack. 5. Your ECG and blood tests Your ECG and blood tests (troponin levels) are the after all the best methods to confirm the type of your chest pain. ECG results will show certain changes to confirm a heart attack; while no such changes will be evident in case of a panic attack.

Can a Panic Attack Lead to a Heart Attack?

A panic attack doesn’t really cause a heart attack. A heart attack only occurs when one or more of the blood vessels supplying the heart are blocked, leading to interrupted blood flow to the heart. Although panic attack does not cause a heart attack, it has been established that anxiety and stress do play a role in the development of coronary heart disease. Research has revealed that people with anxiety disorders have a greater tendency of developing heart diseases as a result of low heart rate variability. The heart rate is meant to change throughout the day depending on the individual’s activity or even emotions but with low heart rate variability, and the heart can hardly adjust to the changes. Low heart rate variability also indicates that the autonomic nervous system is not working efficiently. Do you know How to Differentiate a Panic Attack from an Anxiety Attack? I have already covered that topic.

What Should I Do If I experience a Chest Pain Due to A Panic or Heart Attack?

When people are hit with panic attacks or heart attacks, what is the recommended line of action? Young people that are healthy should be evaluated for onset or even prolonged symptoms of panic attacks. Dr Sam Torbati, the co-chair and medical director of the Ruth and Harry Roman Emergency Department, says that individuals that suffer from prior episodes of panic attacks should start with breathing exercises and relaxation techniques. He also suggested using medication prescribed by a physician. Seeing a psychologist or a therapist would be helpful, especially with the ones with recurrent panic attacks. The older patients (over 30 years) or those at higher risk of developing heart diseases should rush to the Emergency Department (ED) of the nearest hospital at any perceived symptom of chest pain, light-headedness, shortness of breath, sweating and pain that radiates from the chest towards the jaw, arm, neck or back region. Remember cases of heart attacks can be critical and have to be treated as urgent, so must at least call your local Ambulance Service (In Australia 000, In USA 911)

In Conclusion

It is a good thing that you now have a knowledge of the difference between a panic attack and a heart attack. However, it shouldn’t just end here. If you are experiencing those symptoms mentioned above, you should see your doctor or nearest hospital, especially if you still are not certain whether it is a panic attack or heart attack. Whether you are suffering from a panic attack or heart attack, it is not wise to procrastinate. In the case of a panic attack, your attacks could get worse without medical attention. The result of procrastination could even be worst in the case of a heart attack as the lack of prompt medical attention could lead to death. The timely intervention of a doctor or specialist could enhance your quality of life as well as increase your life expectancy.