Chest pain. Shortness of breath. Difficulty breathing. When these symptoms strike, it’s natural to fear the worst: Am I having a heart attack?

But panic attacks can mimic these same symptoms. The truth is that the symptoms overlap so closely that it can be difficult to tell them apart. 

Both conditions demand attention, but knowing how to differentiate between a panic attack vs. a heart attack is crucial for getting the proper care, fast. 

Understanding Panic Attacks

A panic attack is a sudden attack of overwhelming fear and anxiety. Oftentimes, there’s no obvious external trigger. People who have regular panic attacks may have a panic disorder, a type of anxiety disorder.

But an isolated panic attack can happen to anyone trying to cope with stress. 

The nervous system triggers adrenaline production, causing physical symptoms as your body goes into a fight-or-flight response. The experience can last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. 

Symptoms vary from person to person, but common panic attack symptoms include: 

• Rapid heartbeat
• Heart palpitations
• Chest pain
• Trembling
• Intense fear 
• A feeling of impending doom
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Chills
• Numb or tingling hands

Understanding Heart Attacks

Heart attacks, also known as cardiac arrest or myocardial infarction, are usually caused by coronary heart disease. With this condition, cholesterol deposits in the coronary arteries burst, leading to a blood clot that prevents blood flow to your heart muscles. 

Heart attacks are life-threatening. And once you’re having one, every second counts. 

The sooner they’re identified and treated, the higher your chances of survival. If you suspect you may be having a heart attack, go to the emergency room for immediate medical care.

Like with panic attacks, heart attack symptoms can vary from person to person. Common symptoms include:

• Heart palpitations
• Chest pain and pressure
• Pain that radiates to the arm, jaw, or shoulders
• Pain that gets worse over time 
• Feeling short of breath
• Feeling dizzy or light-headed
• Nausea and vomiting
• Tingling or numbness in the fingers or toes 
• Feeling too hot or too cold
• Trembling or shaking
• Sweating 

How Can You Tell if It’s a Panic Attack or a Heart Attack?

When chest pain hits, it’s hard to know: panic attack or heart attack? Both cause rapid heart rate, chest pain, breathlessness, sweating, and more, making them difficult to distinguish in the moment. 

However, recognizing the key differences between heart attacks vs. panic attacks can help you act with confidence when unexpected symptoms strike. 

Panic attacks are triggered by emotional stress or anxiety, causing sudden and intense fear with sharp stabbing pains — all localized and short-lived, dissipating in less than an hour. 

Heart attacks result from a physical blockage in the heart’s blood supply and produce a squeezing, crushing pain that often radiates to other parts of the body and worsens over time. 

A medical professional should evaluate any unexplained chest pain to (hopefully) rule out a cardiac emergency. But understanding the differences — like the type of pain, how it spreads, and what triggers it — can be lifesaving.

Pain Characteristics

Can anxiety feel like a heart attack? Yes. The overlapping symptoms — chest pain and breathing issues — can make the experiences feel similar at first. 

But it’s the nature of the pain that can often be the clearest way to tell a panic attack from a heart attack.

During a panic attack, the pain may feel sharp or stabbing, often in one area of the chest. It can feel like a tight band around the chest, making breathing hard. But it rarely spreads beyond the sternum. For some, it’s a fleeting chest discomfort that comes and goes. For others, it’s a constant shooting pain that gets worse with deep breaths.

A heart attack causes deep, crushing, or squeezing pressure. It can feel like a weight is pressing down on the chest. This pain usually radiates out to the arm, shoulder, or jaw. The intensity may also come and go, but the pain doesn’t improve over time. 

Duration of Symptoms

One key difference between panic attack vs. heart attack symptoms is how long the pain lasts. With panic attacks, the symptoms typically peak within 10-20 minutes and subside within an hour. Some residual anxiety may linger for hours or even days, but the pain shouldn’t last more than an hour.

Heart attack pain gets worse over time, not better. It’s persistent and worsens over time, lasting anywhere from several minutes to hours if left untreated. This kind of pain indicates an ongoing medical emergency requiring immediate treatment. Don’t wait to see if it passes — get help right away. 

Triggers or Onset

Psychological or emotional factors usually trigger panic attacks. Acute stress, traumatic memories, phobias, or even seemingly random surges of anxiety can trigger a panic attack. They often begin suddenly, reaching their peak in a matter of minutes. 

Heart attacks, on the other hand, are usually triggered by physical stressors that strain the cardiovascular system. In the short term, this can look like physical exertion, extreme cold, or a heavy meal. But some long-term factors — like high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, smoking, and diabetes — can put someone at a higher risk of having a heart attack. 

Lifestyle changes to reduce high blood pressure and lower cholesterol can help prevent future cardiac events. You can also try to avoid eating too many foods that harm the heart’s health. 

No matter how high your risk level, however, heart attacks can happen to anyone at any time. Most importantly, the onset is much slower. They may strike at unexpected times, but the symptoms develop more gradually, worsening progressively over minutes and hours rather than hitting with full intensity. 

When To Seek Medical Assistance

Knowing the distinctions between panic attack and heart attack symptoms could be lifesaving, but you should never dismiss the signs without medical evaluation. If you notice serious signs of a heart attack, including severe chest pain, call 911 or visit the emergency room. 

Panic attacks may not be life-threatening, but your mental health’s effect on your physical health shouldn’t be underestimated. Not only are these episodes distressing, but they can also trigger alarming physical symptoms — rapid heart rate, chest pain, dizziness, and shortness of breath. 

An urgent care facility can provide immediate relief for panic attacks and rule out any risk of cardiac or respiratory emergencies. If you’re unsure, never wait. Your life could depend on it. 

Whether you need immediate symptom relief or referrals for ongoing care, our doors are open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Take control of your health and visit Next Level Urgent Care today.