Panic Attack and Heart Attack Symptoms
Trouble breathing
Rapid heartbeat
Chest pain or burning
Dizziness
Numbness in your hands and feet
Feeling of impending doom
Sweating
Fainting
Trembling.
Hard to tell the difference right? A panic attack can occur randomly or can be caused by a stressful event, but there is no immediate danger. A heart attack is dangerous, and it requires immediate medical attention.
Heart Disease
Heart disease affects your heart’s muscle, blood vessels, and electrical system and is the leading cause of death among women. The most common form of heart disease is coronary artery disease in which plaque (a fat-like substance) deposits on your artery walls. This is a chronic condition that occurs in people with risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, smoking, abnormal levels of blood fats, high blood pressure, a family history of heart disease and older age. When the plaque ruptures, it causes a blood clot to form and will block an artery. If this happens it may result in a heart attack.
Tests, Tests, and More Tests
Some of the following tests may help you and your doctor rule out an actual heart attack:
Electrocardiogram
Having a test done called an EKG can help you figure out if the pain is coming from your heart. An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) measures your heart’s electrical activity by placing small electrodes on your chest, either while you are lying down or during stress testing. It records your heart’s rate and rhythm and can detect evidence of a heart attack or inadequate blood flow to your heart.
Blood Tests
Along with an EKG, blood tests screen for a variety of proteins found in the blood that are known to be associated with heart attacks.
Stress Tests
The treadmill stress test is walking on a treadmill to stress the heart with exercise while having an EKG.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
An MRI of the heart uses strong magnets to detect energy signals from your heart muscle.
What If You Have Both?
If you have had a heart attack before and have panic attacks, you should work with your doctor to identify the symptoms that trigger an immediate trip to the emergency room. Whether it turns out to be another panic attack or not, you should treat those symptoms as a possible heart attack. After, you should treat all other symptoms as signs of anxiety or a panic attack, even though they may feel like a heart attack.
Don’t Wait
Call 911 if you think you are having a heart attack. If you have chest pain or discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes or other symptoms which seem life-threatening, get to the emergency room. Treatment results are best if you arrive in the emergency department shortly after your symptoms begin. Once a heart attack is ruled out, seek treatment such as talk therapy and medication.
If you find that you are having anxiety or panic attacks, please contact me via email so we can talk further.
eglcsw@eileengrudierlcsw.com
REFERENCES
https://adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/ask-and-learn/ask-expert/how-can-i-tell-if-i%E2%80%99m-having-panic-attack-or-heart-atta
http://www.womensheart.org/content/heartdisease/panic_attack_or_heart_attack.asp