How do we tell the difference between heart attack and anxiety attack? Symptoms of heart attack and anxiety attack can be very similar to each other. Frankly, telling the difference between the two can be quite confusing. For example, both conditions manifest rapid or irregular heart rate. However, the difference lies with the pain element. In anxiety attacks, the rapid heart rate experienced is not
accompanied by severe pain. Chest palpitations, tightness or discomfort are the symptoms usually felt. But in heart attacks, changes in heart rate is always followed by extreme pain located in the center of the chest that may radiate to the left arm, across the left shoulder and upper back, or up to the lower jaw.
Anxiety symptoms that are commonly mistaken for a heart attack include rapid or increased heart rate, dizziness, light-headedness, tightening of the chest, discomfort or chest pains and rapid breathing. When there is a surge of emotions and your mind is overwhelmed with fear, the heart reacts by pounding heavily. As a result, you can’t hardly breathe. Naturally, when a person is faced with too much of these sensations, they can elicit undesirable and debilitating symptoms that may lead to conclusions of a heart attack, stroke or cardiac arrest.
Heart attack is severely fatal. The heart muscle fails to function due to a clogged or blocked artery. When this happens, the heart is deprived of blood and oxygen. Angina pectoris is a common cause of heart attack. The coronary arteries become surrounded with cholesterol plaques. These plaques harden the inner channel of the artery and narrow the passage of the blood. As a a result, the heart will no longer receive the supply of blood and oxygen it needs to function normally. In severe cases, the plaque can rupture and cause blood clot, which can partly or completely block the flow of blood.
Since heart problems are associated with stress and anxiety, it is very natural to feel all emotional at some point or another. Most people have taken stress and anxiety as unavoidable and as constant life companions. However, anxiety only poses a problem when you allow it to control your life. It can be horrible, terrifying and highly distressing in many ways.
The thing about heart attack is that one will not suffer it unless there is an existing heart condition or disease. An anxiety attack will not cause a heart disease or heart attack. But the surest way to determine whether what you’re experiencing is a heart attack or anxiety attack is to go for a medical examination or call for an emergency assistance.
