A heart attack is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention, and a panic attack is a mental health issue that triggers powerful physical effects. Heart attacks are dangerous, and panic attacks are discomfort that one perceives as danger. Understanding the subtle differences between the two can prepare people for future episodes. Of course, when in doubt, never hesitate to seek emergency medical assistance.
Signs of a Heart Attack
A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction, is usually the result of heart disease involving a buildup of plaque inside the person’s arteries. These areas of plaque buildup can break open inside the blood vessel and form blood clots that block the flow. When part of the heart does not get enough oxygen, a heart attack occurs.1,2
Although all heart attacks are dangerous, they can range in effects from very mild to extremely intense. Symptoms of a heart attack include:1,2
- Chest pain and discomfort
- Feeling weak, faint, or light-headed
- Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back
- Pain in the arms or shoulders
- Shortness of breath, either before or during the chest discomfort
- Indigestion and heartburn
Women can have some additional symptoms of heart attack like nausea, vomiting, and unexplained tiredness.2,3
What Does a Heart Attack Feel Like?
Despite the portrayals on TV and in movies, heart attacks may not be dramatic events where the person feels extreme pain or discomfort and clinches their chest. Although chest pain is the most common symptom, about 33% of people note no pain at all during heart attacks.1 A heart attack can feel like a sudden discomfort, or it can slowly come and go over the course of several hours. Some people can report “silent heart attacks” that cause no obvious symptoms at all.1
Heart attacks will feel different for each person. Additionally, a person’s second heart attack may feel nothing like their first, so people must always consider their symptoms and experience. A heart attack can also feel differently based on your individual differences and co-occurring health issues. People with diabetes and high blood sugar at the time could report very mild or no symptoms, and women could experience extreme fatigue that lasts for days.1
Signs of a Panic Attack
A panic attack is a rush of intense fear and physical discomfort that peaks within a few minutes. It is a mental health event that has the power to greatly impact a person’s physical health. Although panic attacks are intense, shocking, and very scary, they rarely put the person in actual physical health danger.4
Symptoms of a panic attack include:4
- Heart palpitations, quicker heart rate, or pounding heartbeat
- Sweating
- Shaking
- Feeling short of breath or choking
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Nausea and stomach pain
- Feeling dizzy, light-lighted, or faint
- Feeling chills or very hot
- Feeling numb or tingly
- Feeling detached from your body or reality
- A fear of losing control or going crazy
- Thoughts of dying
Panic attacks may present at unexpected times and without a clear trigger. This aspect can make panic attacks challenging to track and to prevent.4 After panic attacks, people will begin to worry about the next one. They may also engage in a series of unhealthy coping skills in order to prevent future attacks.4
Panic attacks are frequently connected to panic disorder, but the event can occur when linked to other mental health conditions. Psychotic disorders and other anxiety disorders, like generalized anxiety disorder, phobias, and social anxiety disorder, can trigger panic attacks.4
What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like?
Due to the sudden, unexpected, and intensity of a panic attack, it will often feel like an acute medical situation. Especially if someone hasn’t had a panic attack before, they could feel tremendous fear and uncertainty about what is happening to them, and they could assume the worst case scenario is happening.
The person may appear shocked and extremely worried about their state, and due to their shortness of breath, they could struggle to communicate clearly. They could feel like they need to lay down and fear that they are going to pass out or die.4 Panic attacks are awful, but they always have a clear beginning and end. No panic attack lasts forever, even though it may feel like it will.4
A panic attack is terribly draining physically and emotionally, so the person may need to rest and take a nap following the experience. Once awake, the person may be happy they survived the attack, or they could start worrying about the next one.
Heart Attack vs. Panic Attack: 4 Key Differences
It’s clear that heart attacks and panic attacks share many similarities. Both tend to come on suddenly and lead to effects like chest pain, worry, dizziness, and nausea, but focusing on the differences can help keep people informed and safe. The differences between heart attacks and panic attacks become clear when investigating the location of pain, the type of pain, the duration of the pain, and the triggers of the attack.
Here are four key differences between a panic attack vs. a heart attack:
1. Location of Pain
Both heart attacks and panic attacks involve chest pain, but the location of the pain will be slightly different. In panic attacks, the chest pain will start in the center of the chest and stay there for the duration of the episode.
In heart attacks, the pain will start in the center of the chest before radiating to other areas. The jaw, neck, shoulders, and arms could be the center of the pain before the heart attack ends.5
2. How the Chest Pain Feels
The sensation of the pain will differ between the two attacks as well. With heart attacks, the pain will resemble an intense pressure in the chest, and the person will often describe it as if an elephant is sitting on their chest. There could also be an achy or burning feeling in the chest.5
With a panic attack, the pain will be more sharp and stabbing. The racing heartbeat and pounding rhythm will be hard for many to detail and describe.5
3. Duration of Pain & Consistency
The onset, duration of the attack, and consistency of symptoms will help to separate heart attacks from panic attacks. In panic attacks, episodes begin with a noteworthy surge of fear and discomfort. The symptoms peak after just a few minutes and last for a relatively short time.4
Heart attacks, on the other hand, can start slowly and have no notable symptoms, or they can be intense, remit, and then come back over the course of several hours. Panic attacks will not last for hours.1
4. Triggers
Whereas panic attacks can seemingly arise out of nowhere or be triggered by a source of fear, heart attacks tend to stem from physical activity or strain. If the episode presents when walking, working in the yard, or exercising, it’s more likely a heart attack.5
At times, attacks can occur at night. Nighttime panic attacks usually only happen in people with daytime panic attacks, too.5
Risk Factors for Panic Attacks & Heart Attacks
Risk factors will increase the chances of a panic attack or heart attack occurring. Some of these issues are controllable by the person, while others are completely beyond control. When people recognize the risk factors they can control, they can take steps to adjust their situations and reduce dangers.
Risk Factors of a Panic Attack
Like other conditions, panic attacks have various risk factors that interact to produce a tendency for the episodes to take place.
Risk factors for a panic attack include:4,6
- Family history of panic attacks
- High levels of sudden or chronic stress
- Previous traumatic experiences
- High anxiety or having a different anxiety disorder, like PTSD or a phobia
- Experiencing unwanted feelings
- Cigarette smoking
- Excessive caffeine consumption
- History of physical or sexual abuse
Not all people will have multiple panic attacks, but after someone has one, it seems to increase the risk of others to follow.4
Risk Factors of a Heart Attack
Several lifestyle and physical health issues contribute to the risk of heart attack. By addressing these changeable situations, one could greatly reduce their risk.
Risk factors for a heart attack include:1
- Smoking cigarettes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- Being overweight or obese
- Eating an unhealthy diet
- Low levels of physical activity
- High blood sugar
Other risk factors for heart attacks are outside of the individual’s control. These include:1
- Age
- Family history of heart attacks and heart disease
- Infections
- Preeclampsia
Having only one of these factors will contribute to increased risk, but when combined, the risk becomes much greater.
What About Heart Palpitations or Skipping Beats?
No matter the attack, the person will focus intently on their heart rate, rhythm, and strength of beat. Palpitations are strongly linked to panic attacks, but rather than having an association with heart attacks, palpitations are closely connected to arrhythmia, a type of heart disease that creates fluttering feelings in the chest.3
It is important to remember that changing heartbeat could indicate a serious problem, or it could be related to diet, exercise, sleep, or stress. Whenever anyone has a concern about the state of their heart, they should follow up with a healthcare professional.
Can a Panic Attack Cause a Heart Attack?
Panic attacks can put increased strain and pressure on your heart, but this is unlikely to induce a heart attack. Of course, any time a person can take steps to reduce their stress, they lower their risk of either type of attack. When having a panic attack, people generally fear the worst. They worry that they are having a heart attack, that they’ll pass out, or that the panic attack will kill them. While it’s possible for those things to happen, those cases are quite rare.5
When Should You Seek Medical Attention?
If you feel uncomfortable, struggle to breathe, feel dizzy, or experience pain in your chest, seek immediate, emergency medical attention. The great news is that medical professionals are able to quickly and accurately diagnose a heart attack with a series of tests.1
What Happens If I Go to the Emergency Room for a Panic Attack?
There is no harm in taking the extra precaution of going to the emergency room for a panic attack. Since people are so easily confused by panic attacks masquerading as heart attacks, emergency professionals become familiar with the issue.
The professionals can offer you education about the differences between the two attacks and offer medication to reduce symptoms. Hopefully during future incidents, you will be better able to discern a panic attack from a heart attack and employ mental health strategies to feel better.
If you need help from a mental health expert, seek out therapy and medication as appropriate.
Final Thoughts
Heart attacks and panic attacks are each serious health episodes. One is dangerous, and the other triggers discomfort, so people should always do their best to learn the differences and follow the best course of action. When in doubt, though, head to the nearest emergency department to get the needed care. Always better to be safe with your health and well-being.
For Further Reading
Panic Attack vs Heart Attack Infographics
