Can an anxiety attack feel like a heart attack?

Question

I have been under a lot of stress lately, yesterday I had an espresso & about an hour later, my chest got tight, sore, I couldn't get a deep breath in, my left arm went cold & numb, I felt dizzy & almost passed out. I was ready to call 911, but after taking some tylenol, the symptoms began to subside. I'm a little better today & have an appt with my Dr.

Answer 1

It could be a panic or anxiety attack. However, you should ALWAYS go immediately to the ER with the symptoms you described and rule out a heart attack before you assume it is anything else. A heart attack can kill you, as you know. Anything else it might be won't kill you, at least not immediately, so you need to be sure it's not a heart attack first. There are other conditions that it can be too. Gastric and muscular problems are some of the other sources of chest pain. Next time it happens DO call 911 right away. If it is a heart attack you need to get to the hospital right away so the doctors can minimize the damage to the heart muscle and prevent further heart attacks.

Answer 2

Yes

Answer 3

Yes it can!!!
I went to the ER countless numbers of times thinking I was having a heart attack and it turns out I suffer from anxiety. I dont know if you have any risk factor for heart problems but it's a good thing your going to your doc.

Good luck

Answer 4

If you have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder then you may know your symptoms and recognize them as anxiety. Otherwise you should just go to the ER if you are having those symptoms.
You failed to mention your age, family history of CAD, and if you smoke, or have diabetes, or have had a previous heart condition. I have heard ppl say that when they had a panic attack they thougth they were having a heart attack, so I guess the answer is yes.

Answer 5

Yes it can, If you feel an attack coming even if a heart attack cough hard this will help in the beating of your heart and breathing. Take aspirin not Tylenol nest time this happens.

Answer 6

Yes it does feel like a heart attack so do Panic attacks. But the expresso didn't help! being under alot of stress can trigger an attack and with a large amount of caffeine on top of it not good. The Tylenol probably didn't help you. You probably just calmed down but it is good that you are seeing your Dr. good luck

Answer 7

Yes, an anxiety attack can feel like you're going into cardiac arrest-- though you're not. You can feel heart palpitations, racing heart, weak, dizzy, faint, confused, unable to breathe. And then afterwards, you can feel completely exhausted. (PS it's physically impossible to faint when you're having a panic attack because your blood pressure is actually very high, and you can't faint unless your blood pressure goes extremely low.. even though it FEELS like you might faint.)

My guess would be the espresso triggered it, especially if you hadn't eaten anything all day and have been under pressure.
While you're waiting to see your doctor, take a look at this website about hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and see if you have any of the symptoms. If you do, simple diet changes will be all you need--not drugs.
http://hypoglycemia.org/hypo_test.asp

Answer 8

The only thing that would make me think it had something to do more with your heart rather than your anxiety is that your left arm went cold and numb. Make sure you tell your dr all of your symptoms even the little ones because they matter!

Answer 9

my friend had an ambulance called for him by his housemate, he was in fits of tears and screams on the floor, arms aching, heart stabbing pains.....was notthing..