Panic Attack Vs Heart Attack: How To Know If You Have A Panic Attack Or A Heart Attack

People usually forget about panic attacks from heart attacks. Here we look at the differences between the two.

The fact of the matter is that there are similarities between panic attacks and heart attacks in terms of symptoms, including chest pain. But unless they are two separate medical reactions. Before we look at the specifics of panic attacks vs. heart attacks, let's define these health issues.

• Panic Attack: A sudden attack of panic that triggers a physical reaction when there is no physical threat.
• Heart attack: When the blood supply to the heart is suddenly blocked, usually due to a blood clot.

When we talk about the difference between a heart attack and a panic attack, it should be clear that one is a medical emergency while the other is not. The problem is that when a panic attack occurs, it can be frightening and feel like an emergency.

People who have suffered such attacks report feeling as if they have lost control and may die. While some people only have one or two panic attacks in their lifetime due to a stressful situation, others have recurrent panic attacks.

Those who suffer from panic attacks and feel fear or stress for prolonged periods can be diagnosed with panic disorder. Panic attacks are not life threatening; however, they can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life.

Heart attacks are a medical emergency. Lack of blood for the heart can cause serious damage to the heart muscle and can be life threatening.

Key Differences Between Panic Attacks and Heart Attacks

So how do you know if you have a panic attack or a heart attack? Sometimes it's hard to tell. The difference between heart attacks and panic attacks can be narrow.

When a person has a heart attack with chest pain, that pain is usually described as "crushed." It is a pain that tends to be in the middle of the chest but can travel down the left arm and into the back. In some cases of heart attack, the pain extends into the neck and even the jaw.

This pain lasts for about five minutes and can be accompanied by a tingling sensation in the left arm. It is not uncommon for a person in the middle of an attack to break into a cold, clammy sweat or feel sick on his stomach and vomit. Anyone with these symptoms should call 911 immediately.

People with a panic attack can experience chest pain, shortness of breath, numbness or tingling sensations, nausea, and sweating. These symptoms usually peak after about 10 minutes. It is important to note that chest pain is not “pushing” like the pain reported by people with a heart attack. In addition, any tingling or numbness can be felt in both hands, not just the left. Some people notice these sensations in their legs and toes.

For panic attack vs. heart attack, those with panic episodes focus on their fears, such as losing control, while those with a heart attack tend to focus on the “crushed” pain.

Differences in Causes of Panic Attacks and Heart Attacks

There is no single cause for panic attacks, although there are a number of factors that we know can contribute to the causes of panic attack and panic disorder. Some of these factors are listed below.

• Great stress
• Sensitive attitude
• Genetics
• Changes in brain function

Several studies suggest that panic attacks are linked to the body's natural "fight-or-flight" response to danger. Contact with a threatening animal, such as a bear or crocodile, would probably speed up your heart rate and breathing as you prepare for the life - threatening situation. These are similar reactions experienced by people with a panic attack. The only difference is that staring at you is no obvious danger.

If you have a family history of panic attacks or panic disorder, you are at a higher risk for panic attacks. Other risk factors include extreme stress, such as the death or serious illness of a relative; a traumatic event, such as a sexual assault or car accident; and major life changes, including divorce or the arrival of a new baby. Smoking or excessive caffeine intake can increase the risk of panic attacks.

Heart attacks occur when one or more of the coronary arteries become blocked. This is usually due to fatty deposits. Coronary artery disease can lead to heart attacks. Spasm of the coronary artery that reduces blood flow to part of the heart can also cause a heart attack.

The most common heart attack risk factors are:

• Age: Men 45 or older and women 55 or older are more likely to have a heart attack.
• High blood pressure: Over time, high blood pressure can damage the arteries.
• Tobacco use : Smoking as well as exposure to secondhand smoke
• High blood cholesterol or triglycerides: Bad cholesterol (LDL) can narrow the arteries. Good cholesterol (HDL) can reduce risk. Triglycerides (blood fat linked to diet) increase the risk.
• Diabetes: Not producing enough insulin or not responding properly to insulin
• Lack of physical activity: Inactivity can lead to high blood cholesterol levels
• Obesity: Associated with high LDL, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
• Stress: Some people respond to stress in a way that increases the risk of heart issues.
• Illegal drug use: Stimulants, including cocaine and amphetamines, can cause spasms in the coronary arteries that can lead to a heart attack.
• History of preeclampsia: A condition that results in high blood pressure during pregnancy. It increases the lifetime risk of heart disease.
• History of the autoimmune condition: Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
• Family history: If your brothers, parents or grandparents had early heart attacks, you may be at increased risk.

One factor in the causes of panic attacks and heart attacks - stress. If you are having difficulty dealing with stress and panic attacks, it is important to get help.

How are Panic Attacks and Heart Attacks Diagnosed?

A panic attack diagnosis usually begins with a physician getting rid of other conditions that may mimic the symptoms of panic, including a heart attack.

To help narrow the diagnosis, a complete physical examination will be performed. Some of the procedures set out below may also be carried out.

• Blood tests
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
• Psychological test

In most cases, the patient will complete a psychological questionnaire. It will ask about alcohol or other substance abuse as well as stressful situations such as fear or relationship issues.

For heart attacks, your primary care physician should screen you for heart issue risk factors during regular exercise. If and when there is a case where a person shows signs of a heart attack, he or she will be asked to describe the symptoms. Blood pressure, pulse, and temperature will be raised.

Here are some tests that are performed in cases where a heart attack is suspected:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): Records the electrical activity of the heart through electrodes attached to human skin. Damaged core does not conduct electrical impulses properly.
• Blood tests: If your heart is damaged, certain enzymes can leak into the blood
• Chest X-ray: To check the size of the heart and look for any fluid in the lungs
• Echocardiogram: Provides visual images of the heart, which can show whether the heart has been damaged or not.
• Coronary catheterization (angiogram): When liquid is injected into dyes through a thin tube fed through an artery, the arteries appear on X-rays, exposing obstructions.
• Computed tomography (CT): Used to diagnose heart problems and the extent of damage from a heart attack.

Panic Attacks vs. Heart Attacks: Differences in Treatment Methods

As you can imagine, panic attack treatment differs from heart attack treatment. If you have a panic attack or panic disorder, there are two types of treatment: medication or therapy.

In severe cases of panic attack, a victim can go to the emergency room for acute panic attack treatment. Oxygen is likely to be administered while vital signs are monitored. During the hospital visit, medication may be given intravenously. The treatment will be explained and the patient reassured that everything is OK.

When the panic episode subsides, psychotherapy may involve ongoing treatment. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, medication may also be recommended.

For the treatment of a heart attack, the sooner the therapy is administered, the more likely you are to have a positive result. This is because, after a heart attack, more and more heart tissue declines with each passing minute. To reduce the risk of further damage, blood flow must be restored quickly.

The treatment of a heart attack can include the following:

• Medications: This includes drugs that reduce blood clotting, dissolve blood clots, or blood thinning medications. Pain relief can also be administered to comfort the sufferer, as well as beta-blockers, which essentially relax the heart muscle making the position of the heart much easier. There are also medications that can lower blood pressure and reduce stress on the heart.
• Procedures: Coronary angioplasty and stenting are used to detect obstructions. Coronary artery bypass surgery is a procedure that allows a surgeon to apply veins and arteries around an obstruction to allow the blood to flow to the heart.

When symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and tingling in the arms occur, it can be frightening. It is often dismissed as a panic attack or by a panic attack, while those with a panic attack conclude that they have a heart attack. Understanding the difference between panic attacks and heart attacks can eliminate confusion and save your life.