How can I tell the difference between a heart attack and a panic attack?

Answer 1

Unfortunately panic attacks can mimic a heart attack to the point where the only way to tell is by doing an EKG and blood tests.

This is one area you don't want to mess around. Don't take a chance...Get to the ER, better yet call 911.

Best case scenario is it's anxiety. Worst case, it is cardiac related and the longer you wait, the more damage is done.

Answer 2

On both I insist you go to ER or call 911.
I lived with panic, anxiety attacks for years. Later it led to a heart attack. So many women have died from heart attacks because they were diagnosed as panic attacks.
In 1995 I was up half the night with my left arm hurting, earlier that evening I felt sick at my stomach. I thought I had food poisining, that's how sick I was. Next morning I get up take a shower and getting ready for church. Pow, a pain ran from my left hand all the way across my chest down to my right arm. The pain drawed me over. I asked my husband to take me to the hospital. When I got to ER they asked me what was wrong. I told them I thought I was having a panic attack. I got a little light head and was headed for the floor. Next thing I know IV's, nurses, doctors running all over the place. I was having a heart attack.
Heart attack symptoms are not always the same for everybody. Panic attacks can be a heart attack.

Answer 3

Heart attack or Myocardial Infarction and Panic attack (although, no such term in Medicine) may mimic each other. In Myocardial Infarction there may be : Precordial pain, i,e, pain over the left side of anterior chest wall; however may be or may be referred to right side, anterior aspect of neck, left arm, back and upper abdomen. The pain is excruciating in nature. There is a sensation of suffocation and sometimes patient may say that they feel some heavy stone is kept on his / her chest. There may be dypnoea---difficulty in breathing and a lot of sweating. Patient may loose his / her consciousness without other neurological symptoms, usually. Whereas, in panic pain what do you mean to say neurological shock, there is no typical pain as described above, there is less suffocation and very little sweating. Patient here may loose consciousness also. However sometimes neurological shock may lead to Myocardial Infarction due to extreme of anxiety and tension. The best thing try to avoid tension and anxiety and take fresh air and relax.

Answer 4

You can't necessarily. If in doubt, get to the doctor pronto! The more you worry the worse things will become.

Answer 5

Sometimes you can't. A doctor will have access to machines that can help test and find out, though.