can a heart attack develop from having a bad panic attack?

Question

i recentley had a really bad panic attack, my heart rate was sky high and i had a pressure in my chest like it was being sucked in. ive had plenty of them before but never like this, i eventaly managed to calm myself down and i was ok, does enyone had eny iders of what it might have been?......cheers

Answer 1

It's very very common for people who experience severe panic attacks to belive they're having a heart attack, or are going to.
I, myself, was for the first time actually woken up by a panic attack on Christmas Eve, and it was massive. The pain was excruciating, and it took over an hour for it to even begin to subside.
I had a similar one this morning (Boxing Day).

As you obviously have an anxiety disorder, if you are not currently under the care of a good psychologist, I suggest you find yourself one.
Also, there are two books I highly recommend you read. There's a website called www.panicattacks.com.au, and the two books are Power Over Panic, and Working Through Panic. They are available as normal books or eBooks, and they're extremely helpful. Understanding what causes panic attacks, how to spot one coming and how to cope while having one will help a lot in your recovery, trust me :)
As well, I recommend Bach's Rescue Remedy. I get mine at my local health food shop. It's a totally natural therapy - you just put a few drops under your tongue, several times if needed, and it helps calm you down.
With the huge panic attack I had the other day I used Rescue Remedy about a dozen times in the first hour, and although it can't make the pain stop (that's not what it's for), it totally eliminated the panic, and I was actually able to get back to sleep for a couple of hours. When I woke up I was fine.

Anyway, I hope that helps, hon. Best of luck to you :)

Answer 2

Dear Real Z,

A bad panic attack CAN lead to a heart attack, but usually NOT. Dont panic. It is OK.

Heart attack can occur anytime in life, to any body, under any circumstances and at any place irrespective of health, age, geographical, religous or economical conditions. Though it is true that certain conditions like hypertension, blood-clotting, narrowing of arteries and of course, genetics do play a major role, but no one actually knows until it happens or we keep on getting ourselves monitored.

The best thing for you is to ; forget your panic attack, be cheerful and happy all the time, dont think about the 'half-glass-empty' but think of the 'half-glass-full' in your life. These are small things in life. Life is much bigger and beautiful than we can ever imagine and handle. Be carefree, but mindful of your rights and responsibilities also. It means ; a balanced life.

As a doctor, I can vouch, that it was not a heart attack. Eat one pound of Red Carrots every day. You will never have a problem. However, it is always better to get oneself checked up at regular intervals and if you feel strongly, discuss with your GP. Good luck.

Answer 3

Your heart rate being sky high and the galloping horse on your chest are physical reactions to a percieved threat. When the percieved threat is not severe, but the response is severe, this is a panic attack.

Adrenaline and non-adrenaline, cortisone, etc rush out as soon as you feel fear. The fear makes you more scared and in turn you produce more of these chemicals.

I'm sure you can see the pattern here...

After a period of time (usually 5-20mins) the symptoms subside because there is no real threat. You notice yourself calming down slowly as the chemicals are dispersed.

PANIC ATTACKS ARE NOT HARMFUL TO YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH.

Behavior therapy can be helpful; from a psychologist's point of view such behaviour can be treated with methods used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Take care.

Answer 4

Yes, stress can lead to a heart attack, through a certain number of variables being in place.

Heart attacks are caused by something, usually a clot, causing insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle. these clots generally develop over lengthy periods, and the onset is commonly so gradual that it goes unnoticed. However, stress causes increases in heart rate and blood pressure, and can accelerate the process and cause the clotting of blood vessels to develop more quickly. This can, in turn, cause a heart attack when the clot closes over suddenly, starving the heart muscle of much-needed blood flow.

More commonly, though, chest pain and difficulty breathing under stressful conditions is the result of hyperventilation and/or circulation of the blood being so rapid that the exchange of gases in the lungs is not happening properly, causing insufficient oxygenation of the blood.

I would suggest a visit to your doctor as soon as it's practical, and allow the doctor to determine your risk levels for a heart condition, and possibly to prescribe something to help ease those panic attacks down.

Answer 5

♥ I've been to the emergency room before from having a bad panic attack-IT CANNOT GIVE YOU A HEART ATTACK. A panic attack may sometimes make you feel like your having a heart attack but it does not cause them. Panic attacks does not affect your health at all.

Answer 6

Hi there, I just laugh about my past 3 years of panic now. I was not able to go anywhere without carrying xanax. Fear of having another attack was the most important subject of my days.When i first found joe barry's web site i started to cry because of my happiness.

Free audio to end anxiety and panic attacks fast?

Answer 7

a real panic attack can be terrifying
I had then after beiung in a house fire years ago. I had no control over them -- didnt even know what was happening which is why I went to the emergency room but my arms went numb too as my peripheral blood vessels all contracted . I thought I was going to die and I was very insulted when the doctor made me inhale in and out of a paper bag. just before he shot me with im valium
It is the closest thing to feeling you are dying that I could ever imagine
it only happened t hree times and I never really understood it but it went away. NO they will not kill you but if you take something like xanax on a regular basis in case you have anothr it will do you more harm then the attack ever will
In this case the cure is far far far worse than the disease even if you think you are going to die anti anxiety drugs are dangerous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

Well i suffer from the same thing,its called anxiety and panic attacks,consult your Dr i believe that it can cause heart attacks stress causes heart attacks,also you may have your blood pressure checked even tho i suffer from anxiety and stress,my blood pressure was up and down my Cardiologist put me on blood pressure pills and the tightness in my chest is gone.So i would say go see a Dr.

Answer 9

Take, for example, the worst of the sensations you’ve ever experienced in this situation-be it general unease or loss of breath. You’ll have an initial automatic reaction that says:

“Danger-I’m going to have an episode of anxiety here, and I really can’t afford for that to happen.”

At this point, most people react to that idea and confirm that it must be true because of all the unusual feelings they’re experiencing. This is where your train of thought creates a cycle of anxiety that produces a negative impact on your overall presenting skills.

So let that initial “Oh dear, not now” thought pass by, and immediately follow it up with the attitude of:

“There you are-I’ve been wondering when you would arrive. I’ve been expecting you to show up. By the way, I’m not in the least threatened by any of the strange sensations you’re creating. I’m completely safe here.”

Instead of pushing the emotional energy and excitement down into your stomach, you’re moving through it.

Your body is in a slightly excited state, exactly as it should be while giving a speech-so release that energy in your self-expression. Push it out through your presentation, not down into your stomach.

Push it out by expressing yourself more forcefully. In this way, you turn the anxiety to your advantage by using it to deliver a speech; you’ll come across as more alive, energetic, and in the present moment.

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http://youtu.be/4Jd-0vc1xCw

Answer 10

"It's possible. Although I'm not a big fan of a "panic attack," it's possible for stress and anxiety to cause a heart attack." (Which is typically the cause of a panic attack.)