A heart attack and a panic attack have many similar symptoms, so it is crucial to determine what it is, experts say.
Chest pain, racing heart, shortness of breath and sweating can occur with both, but only a heart attack can be fatal, according to a Penn State Health team.
A heart attack occurs when a blockage of an artery restricts the flow of blood to the heart muscle. Symptoms continue until a person receives emergency medical treatment. In the event of a panic attack, the symptoms may last 20 minutes and then disappear.
However, only a health care professional can confirm a heart attack or panic attack, so any of the common symptoms should be taken seriously, experts said.
Men aged 45 and over and women aged 55 and over have a higher risk of heart attack than younger men and women. Others at high risk include people with high blood cholesterol and triglycerides, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome or a family history of heart attack.
“If a young person without risk factors suffers from chest pain, the likelihood of it being a heart attack is very low,” Dr. Rajesh Dave, an interventional cardiologist at Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, said in a statement. Penn State Press.
“But chest pain in a 50-year-old man who has been smoking for a long time, with a 20-year history of diabetes, most likely signals a heart attack and needs urgent medical attention,” added Dave. .
Stress and anxiety are the main risk factors for panic attacks, but anxiety can also be associated with a heart attack.
Patients with a heart attack often have symptoms in the days or weeks before the attack, and heart attacks most often occur during physical activity. Panic attacks usually happen when a person is resting and can be caused by an anxiety trigger, such as receiving bad news.
People who have a panic attack should sit in a calm, dark place and breathe deeply to slow down their heart rate.
Dr. Michael Farbaniec, a cardiologist at Penn State Health’s Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, said: “If you don’t know if it’s a panic or a heart attack – or you just want to be sure – call 911 and be seen immediately. “
You can reduce your risk of heart attack by eating a heart-healthy diet and exercising regularly, Dave said. Panic attacks can be prevented by stress-relieving techniques such as meditation and yoga.
“And quitting smoking will reduce your risk of both panic and heart attack,” Dave advised.