Panic attack or heart attack?

[plifter]

I've been having some massive panic attacks lately. I just had a few where my chest tightened and I felt pain in my left arm. I've since settled down and feel better now. How can one distinguish between panic attacks and heart attacks? I'm 33 years old by the way so I'm not quite in the high rick age group yet.

 

[RottenWillow]

I've been having some massive panic attacks lately. I just had a few where my chest tightened and I felt pain in my left arm. I've since settled down and feel better now. How can one distinguish between panic attacks and heart attacks? I'm 33 years old by the way so I'm not quite in the high rick age group yet.

Only way to be absolutely certain is to get an EKG. Even if you've had a tiny heart attack in the recent past it'll be evident on an EKG. That will remove all doubt.

 

[Frisky]

I've been having some massive panic attacks lately. I just had a few where my chest tightened and I felt pain in my left arm. I've since settled down and feel better now. How can one distinguish between panic attacks and heart attacks? I'm 33 years old by the way so I'm not quite in the high rick age group yet.

Same thing happend to me a while back and I had to rush to ER, my entire hand went numb and I couldn't talk because my face was numb. They did an EKG and everything was fine. Told me it was just a severe panic attack, gave me some valium and sent me on my way.

 

[Gymgurl]

You can't go by age....you could have something wrong with your heart to begin with and not know it....I would have your Dr. check you out just to make sure

 

[plifter]

Same thing happend to me a while back and I had to rush to ER, my entire hand went numb and I couldn't talk because my face was numb. They did an EKG and everything was fine. Told me it was just a severe panic attack, gave me some valium and sent me on my way.

Thanks for sharing that info. It makes me feel a little better knowing that other people have gone through the same thing. I'm scared that I will have a real heart attack and not make it to the hospital in time because I thought it was just a panic attack. These incidents don't tend to last long, 30 seconds- 1 minute. The problem is that they are increasing in frequency.

 

[Gymgurl]

even if you go see your regular Dr. He will give you something for the attacks.....but you will know....

 

[Frisky]

Thanks for sharing that info. It makes me feel a little better knowing that other people have gone through the same thing. I'm scared that I will have a real heart attack and not make it to the hospital in time because I thought it was just a panic attack. These incidents don't tend to last long, 30 seconds- 1 minute. The problem is that they are increasing in frequency.

Imagine it lasting for well over 1-1/2 hours, my entire body was stiff. And was in panic because I was having a panic attack... made it worse. I didn't know what was going on. It came on while I was driving too. I had to pull over and wait for my beau to come and get me and drive me to the hospital.

 

[RottenWillow]

I'm scared that I will have a real heart attack....

The problem is that they are increasing in frequency.

I think its a good chance that the first issue is causing the second issue. Fear is kinda building up and keeping you closer to the threshold of a panic attack more often.

 

[Frisky]

I think its a good chance that the first issue is causing the second issue. Fear is kinda building up and keeping you closer to the threshold of a panic attack more often.

That is exactly what happened to me, and it seemed like I was having them more often.

 

[plifter]

I think its a good chance that the first issue is causing the second issue. Fear is kinda building up and keeping you closer to the threshold of a panic attack more often.

Are you saying that my fear of a heart attack is causing panic attacks? I think there is a bit of truth to it. I'm a bit of a hypochondriac (not in the clinical sense). I worry about various ailments (especially heart attacks). I think I worry to the point that I finally release all of the fear in the form of a panic attack.

Off the topic, Frisky, is that you in your avatar? If so, you're smoking. The photographer did a good job too. One day I would like to be able to take pictures like that.

 

[Frisky]

Off the topic, Frisky, is that you in your avatar? If so, you're smoking. The photographer did a good job too. One day I would like to be able to take pictures like that.

No suga, thats not me. I think the photographer did an amazing job, it caught my attention and held it.

 

[bran987]

Are you saying that my fear of a heart attack is causing panic attacks? I think there is a bit of truth to it. I'm a bit of a hypochondriac (not in the clinical sense). I worry about various ailments (especially heart attacks). I think I worry to the point that I finally release all of the fear in the form of a panic attack.

Off the topic, Frisky, is that you in your avatar? If so, you're smoking. The photographer did a good job too. One day I would like to be able to take pictures like that.

yes, that can happen.

 

[Raptorex]

absolutely avoid stimulants, diet stuff, coffee...coke.

 

[bran987]

absolutely avoid stimulants, diet stuff, coffee...coke.

yeah that really gets me, but I can't stay away from those.

the only thing that is a more reliable indicator of an impending panic attack is a really bad hangover. it's almost 100% accurate hah. almost so accurate that I can control it and shake it off my this point.

 

[jnevin]

yeah that really gets me, but I can't stay away from those.

the only thing that is a more reliable indicator of an impending panic attack is a really bad hangover. it's almost 100% accurate hah. almost so accurate that I can control it and shake it off my this point.

That can also be delerium tremens.

 

[bran987]

That can also be delerium tremens.

come again?

 

[jnevin]

come again?

My brother gets these after drinking heavily. It never happened to me.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000766.htm

 

[bran987]

My brother gets these after drinking heavily. It never happened to me.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000766.htm

wow... sounds way more intense than mine... but I do have some of those symptoms i.e. elevated pulse/nervousness/anxiety/palpitations
I'll probably grow into delerium I guess.

 

[solidspine]

I’m 56 and had my first major panic attack when I was 26,

Visited the hospital though I was having a heart attack, etc……

That happened many times, panic attack, ER, Doc,

and then finally, I some how, with the help of shrink realized what was actually happening was in fact

Panic attacks.


No easy answer, best answerer is behavioral changes, but I still take medication.

 

[Trojan Horse]

You can't go by age....you could have something wrong with your heart to begin with and not know it....I would have your Dr. check you out just to make sure

True. Forget the age part. There are many factors that can contribute to a heart attack. If you felt chest tighten and numbness on an arm etc... That sounds like a heart attack, not a panic attack. Maybe you panicked after this episode though. Check it out a.s.a.p. Alot of people have mild etc... heart attacks and don't even realize it until a bigger one comes along.

 

[solidspine]

Don’t worry, they will not kill you,


You can learn to live with panic attacks.



It is not a bummer,



Don’t worry you will overcome these silly panic attacks.

 

[seaking420]

speaking of heart conditions, I get some discomfort in my chest almost like every other day, not pain or numbness, nothing in the arm too. I think its stress, its been happenening for about almost a year now. I haven't gotten it checked but I think I'm going to just to figure out what the hell it is.

 

[vin01]

I am 23 and have an irregular heartbeat, occasional PVCs. I've known about it for 7 years but lately it's been getting worse, occurring more often. I think it has led to frequent palpatations and a fluttering heartbeat which has started occuring in the past year. I have had two complete cardiac workups in the past 6 mos, everything about me psychically is fine. The anxiety I get from these episodes only make it worse when it happens, and may make them occur more frequently because I constantly think about it.

Sunday I was laying on the couch watching tv and out of the blue my heart started beating 130-140bpms and I almost passed out, arms and legs went numb. this continued for 45 min, heart slowed to 110bpm, I had to go to the ER.

They never figured it out, everything about my cardiac system is still fine. I have more dr appts upcoming...

Anyway, the anxiety I have about these episodes def. affect the heart condition, and vice versa.
If I could reduce the frequency of these palps, I could reduce the anxiety. If I could stop thinking about them, I could reduce the palpatations....