A heart attack and a panic attack have very similar symptoms, so it is important to determine which one it is, experts say.
According to a team from Penn State Health, chest pain, a heart attack, shortness of breath and sweating can occur, but just a heart attack can be fatal.
A heart attack occurs when a blockage in an artery restricts blood flow to the heart muscle. Symptoms continue until someone receives medical treatment. In a panic attack, the symptoms can last for 20 minutes and then disappear.
However, only a health professional can confirm a heart attack or a panic attack, so any of the common symptoms should be taken seriously, the experts said.
Men 45 and older and women 55 and older have a higher risk of heart attack than younger men and women. Others at high risk include people with high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome or a family history of a heart attack.
“If a young person without risk factors experiences chest pain, the likelihood of it being a heart attack is very low,” said Dr. Rajesh Dave, an interventional cardiologist at Penn State Holy Spirit Medical Center, said in a Penn State news release. .
“But chest pain in a 50-year-old man who has been a long-term smoker with a 20-year history of diabetes is likely to indicate a heart attack and needs urgent medical attention,” Dave added.
Stress and anxiety are the most important risk factors for panic attacks, but anxiety can also be accompanied by a heart attack.
Heart attack patients often have some symptoms in the days or weeks before the attack, and heart attacks usually occur during physical activity. Panic attacks usually occur when someone is resting and can be caused by an anxiety attack, such as receiving bad news.
People who have a panic attack should sit in a quiet, dark place and take deep breaths to slow down their heart rate.
Dr Michael Farbaniec, a cardiologist at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, said: “If you can not tell if it’s a panic or a heart attack – or just want to be sure – call 911 and is seen immediately. “
You can reduce your risk of a heart attack by eating a heart-healthy diet and exercising regularly, Dave said. Panic attacks can be prevented through stress-reducing techniques such as meditation and yoga.
“And if you quit smoking, you will reduce the risk of both panic and heart attacks,” Dave said.