Panic attack or heart attack? How to tell the difference

Shortness of breath, chest tightness, heart palpitations – are these symptoms of a panic attack or a heart attack?

Experts say it’s important to know cardiovascular risk factors and anxiety history to differentiate between the two because symptoms can overlap. While a panic attack is generally not a medical emergency, if in doubt you should seek medical attention immediately, as a heart attack can manifest itself differently in each person.

“We can use tools like blood tests and electrocardiograms along with the context of symptoms to rule out a heart attack,” says Dr. Joy Gelbman, a cardiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. “Cardiovascular risk may also increase when stress and anxiety are prolonged and severe. Therefore, it is important to find ways to reduce stress, such as: B. being outdoors, stretching, doing breathing exercises, listening to music or meditating.”

For both conditions, prevention can make a big difference. “Just like you want to prevent a heart attack, we should focus on ways to prevent a panic attack,” says Dr. Ryan Sultan, a psychiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and director of the Mental Health Informatics Laboratory at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. “It’s not always easy, but good sleep, healthy eating and exercise all have an impact on the overall well-being of the body, mind and spirit.”

Dr. Gelbman and Sultan share more Health Matters about the differences between a panic attack and a heart attack, how the two are related, and when it’s time to seek immediate help.