Panic Attack or Heart Attack? Identifying the Differences
Are you having chest pains? But you do not know if your chest pain is a result of a panic attack or a heart attack? Well, confusion is normal since both may have some similarities that are difficult to distinguish.
In this article, we will discuss the differences between a panic attack and a heart attack in layman’s terms.
What Is a Panic Attack?
This is the sudden occurrence of an episode in which one experiences anxiety and fear. The onset of the attack is unexpected and can occur either when someone undergoes stressors or without any particular cause.
Common signs of a panic attack include:
* Rapid heartbeat
* Sweating
* Trembling
* Lightheadedness
* Shortness of breath
* Chest pains
* Sense of losing control
* Feeling like one is about to die
Though the symptoms are disturbing, a panic attack is not dangerous. One can easily seek panic attack therapy.
Definition of a Heart Attack
A heart attack occurs due to the blockage of the blood supply to the heart. The lack of sufficient oxygen causes this condition.
Symptoms associated with a heart attack may include:
* Chest pressure or discomfort
* Chest pain radiating to an arm, neck, jaw, or the back
* Shortness of breath
* Nausea
* Cold sweats
* Exhaustion
Differences from other medical conditions:
In contrast to the symptoms experienced during a state of panic or anxiety, those caused by a heart attack usually get worse.
Anxiety Attack vs Heart Attack: Key Differences
A panic attack and a myocardial infarction have many things in common, and therefore, many people tend to confuse the two events. However, significant differences exist between an anxiety attack and a heart attack in the following areas:
Chest Pain Location
Sharply localized pain in the chest occurs during an anxiety episode, whereas heart attack-related chest pain tends to be diffuse in nature with a squeezing/dull pressure-like feeling; moreover, the diffuse nature of heart attack chest pain frequently radiates from the chest.
Duration
Symptoms associated with an anxiety event usually last between 10 and 20 minutes and begin to resolve; however, symptoms associated with myocardial infarction may last for several hours or increase progressively in severity.
Trigger
Panic attacks are typically triggered by some type of stress, fear, or emotion; however, panic attacks may also occur for no known reason. In contrast, myocardial infarction is often preceded by an identifiable and known physical dysfunction affecting the heart and/or blood vessels.
Physical Activity
During physical exertion, myocardial infarction chest pain typically intensifies; chest pain associated with an anxiety attack has been documented to occur at rest.
Panic Attacks Cause Chest Pain if you do not go to the Hospital.
Chest pain during panic attacks can be very frightening. Many times, individuals will confuse this with an actual heart attack since the chest pain can feel very severe or sharp. However, the difference is that panic attacks generally do not have radiation down to the jaw and/or down the arm and tend to diminish once the individual calms themselves.
If you are ever unsure of your health, please seek immediate medical help.
What Causes Panic Episodes?
There are several possible causes of panic attacks.
These may include:
* High stress levels
* Family history of anxiety
* Major life changes
* Traumatic events
* Certain medical conditions
* Excess caffeine
Because triggers vary from person to person, identifying them can help reduce future episodes.
What is a nocturnal panic attack?
Nocturnal panic attacks are panic attacks that occur when you are asleep, and then you suddenly wake up feeling frightened.
Among other things, the symptoms of a nocturnal panic attack include:
- Racing heart rate
- Sweating
- Difficulty breathing
- Discomfort in your chest
Because of this, many people think there is something wrong with their hearts, but these episodes are caused by anxiety rather than heart disease.
Tips for Calming Anxiety Attack Symptoms
When symptoms begin, try these simple techniques for calming anxiety attack feelings:
* Take slow, deep breaths.
* Focus on your surroundings.
* Sit in a quiet place.
* Relax your muscles
* Remind yourself that the feeling will pass.
In addition, regular exercise, healthy sleep habits, and stress management can help prevent future episodes.
Anxiety and Panic Disorder treatment options.
If people have multiple episodes of panic attacks, they may be diagnosed with a panic disorder, which could potentially have developed due to episodic or chronic panic attacks, among other reasons.
Fortunately, treatment options for an individual struggling with panic disorder are numerous and proven to work.
Some examples of panic disorder treatment options include:
* Relaxation training
* panic attack therapy
* Lifestyle modifications
Out of all the choices mentioned above, the use of cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the best possible methods that work in the treatment of panic disorder. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy enables people with panic disorders to recognize any destructive thoughts and replace them with more constructive actions.
Conclusion
The knowledge that you have regarding the difference between the occurrence of a heart attack and a panic or anxiety attack can relieve some of the fear that you have about the situation. The signs associated with both these diseases are similar, such as chest pain, rapid heartbeat, etc. But the causes and ways of treating them are quite distinct from each other.
If you start showing symptoms that are out of the ordinary for you, you should get yourself checked out by a doctor to determine what is causing your medical condition and how to address the problem.
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