Heart attacks and anxiety attacks can feel very similar, and it’s often hard to tell the difference.
Both can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and a racing heartbeat.
But knowing how to spot the difference is important because a heart attack is a medical emergency that needs immediate care.
A heart attack happens when blood flow to part of the heart is blocked. Without enough blood, that part of the heart muscle can be damaged. Heart attacks are usually caused by a blockage in the arteries, and they often come on suddenly, although there may be warning signs in the days or weeks beforehand.
According to the American Heart Association, common symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain or discomfort (like pressure, squeezing, or fullness), pain spreading to the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach, shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea, and lightheadedness.
Anxiety attacks, sometimes called panic attacks, are caused by intense stress or fear. They’re not caused by a physical problem in the heart, but the symptoms can feel very real and scary.
People having an anxiety attack often experience a fast heartbeat, chest tightness, trouble breathing, sweating, dizziness, shaking, and a fear of losing control or dying. The symptoms can come on very suddenly and usually last from a few minutes to about half an hour.
The biggest difference between a heart attack and an anxiety attack is the cause. A heart attack is caused by a physical problem in the heart, while an anxiety attack is triggered by stress or emotional pressure.
Another difference is how the symptoms develop. Heart attack symptoms may build up slowly or come on suddenly and tend to get worse over time. Anxiety attacks often peak quickly and then fade as the body calms down.
Research published in the journal Circulation found that many people, especially women, didn’t recognize heart attack symptoms and thought it was just stress or anxiety. This delay in getting help can be dangerous.
On the other hand, studies in The Journal of Anxiety Disorders show that people with frequent panic attacks often go to the emergency room fearing a heart attack, only to find their heart is fine.
It’s important to know that it’s possible to have both conditions. People with heart disease can also have anxiety, and those with anxiety disorders may still have heart problems. That’s why any new or unusual symptoms should be taken seriously. If you’re not sure whether it’s a heart attack or an anxiety attack, it’s always safer to seek medical attention.
Doctors may run tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG), blood tests, or imaging scans to rule out a heart attack. If it turns out to be an anxiety attack, they can also help with treatments such as therapy, breathing exercises, or medication to manage anxiety in the long run.
In short, while anxiety attacks and heart attacks may feel alike, their causes and treatments are very different. Understanding the signs of each can help you stay calm—and get the right help when needed.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies about a big cause of heart failure, and common blood test could advance heart failure treatment.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about a new way to repair human heart, and results showing drinking coffee may help reduce heart failure risk.
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