Whether we talk about Heart Attack Or Panic Attack — both the conditions are serious.
However, to receive the proper treatment, you must first determine which one of the conditions you are experiencing.
So, what do these two health events have in common, and how do they differ? Let us analyze.
Heart Attack and its Symptoms:
A Heart Attack occurs when a portion of your heart does not receive enough blood. This usually happens when an artery that supplies blood to your heart gets blocked.
Following is a list of the most common heart attack symptoms:
- Pain or pressure in the chest.
- Shortness of breath.
- Pounding or racing heart.
- Feeling lightheaded.
- Sweating, specifically cold sweats.
- Upper-body pain or discomfort (such as in the jaw, neck, arms, shoulders, or back).
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Feeling of impending doom.
A heart attack can be life-threatening. Hence, do not wait for the symptoms to subside. Seek medical help — right away.
Panic Attack and its Symptoms:
A panic attack is a sudden, overwhelming feeling of fear or anxiety. Panic attacks are not severe, but they can affect your quality of life and mental health.
Now, individuals who suffer through panic attacks on a regular or frequent basis — may have panic disorder.
An isolated panic attack, on the other hand, can happen to anyone, even those without any panic disorder diagnosis.
Following is a list of the most panic attack symptoms:
- Sudden feelings of anxiety and fear.
- Chest pain.
- Trouble breathing.
- Feeling of impending doom.
- Pounding or racing heart.
- Sweating.
- Shaking or trembling.
- Weakness or dizziness.
- Nausea or stomach ache.
The Difference Between a Panic Attack and a Heart Attack
The symptoms of these two conditions can be alarmingly similar.
Though, there are some differences, which can surely help you in detecting the condition.
What does it feel like to have chest pain?
Heart attacks feel like:
- Pressure on the chest.
- Feeling of getting squeezed.
- Achy or burning sensation.
Panic attacks often cause:
- Sharp or stabbing pain (not typical with a heart attack).
- Heart racing or chest discomfort.
The Location of Pain:
Both panic and heart attacks cause chest discomfort. But during a heart attack, pain radiates to other areas like the arm, jaw, or neck. The ache usually stays in the chest during a panic attack.
The Factors:
Heart attacks are more likely to occur after physical strain or exertion, which is not a symptom of panic attacks. But you wouldn’t have a panic attack after exercise unless there was an emotional stress trigger associated with it.
But what if the Symptoms Hit You at Night?
Panic attacks and heart attacks can both wake you up.
But individuals who have nocturnal panic attacks normally have daytime panic attacks, too. So if you wake up with chest pain or other symptoms and have never had a panic attack before, it could be a sign of a heart attack.
How Long It Lasts?
The symptoms of a panic attack might last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. The symptoms then disappear, and you start feeling better.
But a heart attack won’t let up.
Pain and symptoms of it might keep coming in waves.
It can produce excruciating chest discomfort, ranging from a 9 to a 10 on the pain scale. The discomfort may then subside to a 3 or 4 before worsening again. The pain might vary, but it will not go away.
Let’s Wrap It Up:
A heart attack is a medical emergency.
Thus, seek immediate medical care.
And why not take precautions before the cure?
I always believe in focusing on healthcare than sick care.
So, lead a healthier lifestyle. Contact me and I will outline a customized plan for you — a plan that will help you in changing your unhealthy behavior and adopting better lifestyle habits.
So, what is the wait for?
Contact me right away.
