Good Read... Anxiety & The Heart....Check It Out....Knowledge Is Everything.....

[TriggerPoint]

Anxiety and heart attack signs and symptoms

Heart attack signs and symptoms:

Chest discomfort or pain.

Upper body pain (shoulders, arms, back, neck, jaw, teeth, etc.).

Stomach pain.

Shortness of breath.

Anxiety.

Lightheadedness or dizziness.

Sweating.

Nausea and vomiting.

Fainting (more likely with women, the elderly, and people with diabetes).

Unusual fatigue.

This list is not exhaustive. For more information about the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, see your doctor.

Some of the signs and symptoms of anxiety:

Chest tightness or pain.

Upper body pain (or pain anywhere in the body).

Stomach upset and pain.

Shortness of breath.

Palpitations.

Anxiety.

Lightheadedness or dizziness.

Sweating.

Nausea and vomiting.

Feel like passing out.

Unusual fatigue or exhaustion.

And a great many more. For more information about the many signs and symptoms of anxiety and anxiety attacks, see our anxiety symptoms page.

As you can see, some of the signs and symptoms of anxiety and the signs and symptoms of a heart attack are similar.

Because anxiety and heart attack symptoms can be similar, it's best to seek immediate medical attention if you aren't sure which is being caused by anxiety in which by the heart. Fortunately, most medical professionals can easily tell the difference between anxiety symptoms and heart attack symptoms.

How to tell a difference between anxiety and heart attack symptoms?

If you are having a hard time telling the difference between anxiety symptoms and those of a heart attack, here are some things to watch for:

Anxiety generally produces more symptoms than just those similar to a heart attack. For example, anxiety often produces body-wide sensations and symptoms that are dissimilar to those of a heart attack. Again, most doctors can spot the differences easily.

Anxiety generally doesn’t cause people to pass out. Even though you might feel like passing out due to anxiety, most people don't. Yes, some people do, but this is the exception and not the rule.

Hyperventilation is a common cause of symptoms similar to those of a heart attack. Relaxing your breathing and giving your body a few minutes to adjust usually alleviates symptoms that are solely related to hyperventilation and anxiety. So within a few minutes, you should be able to tell the difference as heart attack symptoms generally don’t subside this easily.

Numbness and tingling in the feet is a symptom of anxiety but not usually of a heart attack.

Anxiety often causes a tightness in the throat or a choking feeling. A heart attack generally doesn't.

Anxiety often causes your legs to feel weak or that they won't support you. A heart attack generally doesn't.

While anxiety can make it feel like you need to vomit, most people generally don't. Yes, some people do, but this is the exception not the rule.

Calming yourself down can reduce and eliminate many anxiety symptoms within a few minutes. Calming yourself down does little to alleviate symptoms of a heart attack. While calming yourself down may reduce some of the symptoms of a heart attack, it generally doesn't eliminate them or as easily.

These are just a few ways you can tell the difference between anxiety symptoms and symptoms of a heart attack.

Another consideration is that many people become anxious if they think they are having a heart attack. So anxiety symptoms can coexist with heart attack symptoms. And, being anxious can aggravate heart attack symptoms. While there are some ways to tell the difference, it's best to seek immediate medical attention if you are concerned that you are having a heart attack.

Keep in mind, most medical professionals prefer you seek their assistance if you believe you are having a heart attack. They aren't bothered or annoyed by being cautious. Even if you aren't having a heart attack, it's better to be cautious than uncertain. It's also better for you to know your symptoms are solely anxiety related and not those of a heart attack, as worry is a common cause of anxiety and its sensations and symptoms.

Can anxiety cause a heart attack?

This is a common concern among anxious personalities. If you have a low risk of having a heart attack, no, anxiety can’t cause a heart attack by itself. If you have an underlying heart condition, however, the stress of being anxious can aggravate your heart condition.

If you have a heart condition and are worried about how being anxious might affect it, it's best to talk with your doctor and work at addressing your anxiety underlying factors so that your body’s stress can become lower overall.

[Kevin160]

At first when i read this it made me a bit concerned haha, but its been about a month since i had most of these symptoms and bp would spike , but i realized its from anxiety and whenever i calm the symptoms go away and i feel better, bp is low most of the times, and im young and healthy, your post also showed me my symptoms are more suitable for anxiety because of the tingling and chocking feeling etc.. thank you for the clearification , most people dont diffrentiate because they can be so similar , and even though its more unlikely than anxiety, but your brain tend to think irrationaly sometimes and you fear things that will likely never happen

[TriggerPoint in reply to Kevin160]

Kevin, Thanks For Your Reply. The Article Was Posted To Educate. There Is No Purpose To Induce Panic or/ Fear. I See You Are Having Mostly "Anxiety" As All Your Vitals Return To Normal & That Is GREAT !* Most Of Our Anxiety IS "Unreasonable Fear". Having A Cardio Doc Is Important To Ease One's Fears & Worry About Whoever May Have Those Cardio Fears & Concerns.... Also, Take My Cardio Doc. He Has Run Every Test There Is To Find A Serious Problem With My Heart.... ALL ARE GREAT & CLEAR. However He Decides To Keep Me On BP Drugs. [?] I Asked Him Why ? He Said, "So You Won't Have A Stroke".... [ Not Necessarily A Heart Attack ]... Go Figure ?

Thanks My Friend....

[Kevin160 in reply to TriggerPoint]

Yes youre right, its mostly irrational , i think i might consider going to a cardiologist , but in the time being it doesnt seem urgent , im only 17 and im physically healthy, i dont drink or smoke , im not overweight , but it was still a bit scary when i started getting physical symptoms such as pain in my left hand and shortness of breath, but then i realized these were just anxiety attacks and fear because now as i started meditating and doing breathing exercises and more activities i feel much better .. thanks for the advice

[deborah27]

Yeah, great bedtime reading. Thanks.

[TriggerPoint in reply to deborah27]

deb....this this article upset you ? or/ are you just reading ?

[deborah27 in reply to TriggerPoint]

I have to say that it bothered me, yes. I don't know where you live and I don't need to... but I, for one thing don't have a cardio doc. The symptoms of anxiety may 'look' like a heart attack and that is for some people enough to establish a serious health anxiety. This can be both a trigger and also perpetuate the health anxiety. When we are in a rational frame of mind of course we can read information and process it in a logical and measured way. But.... so often we reach for our phone or our tablet to read posts and reach out for immediate support or to find a reassuring place to be. Also, a lot of us may live alone or have no support. This forum is crucial, a real lifeline. Please direct me to a website by all means, share information certainly. But, give me the choice.

[TriggerPoint in reply to deborah27]

I Respect Your Decision & Honor Your Opinion. But This Is A Copy & Paste From A Website That Was Merely Shared That's All ? You Don't Have To Adhere To It ? I'm Not Trying To Sway One's Way Of Thinking Here. It's Merely A Share... Opinions & Disagreements Are Open To The Reader.....

Thanks & Sorry It May Have Bothered You....

There Are Many Articles On This Subject Matter, Here's Another :

abcnews.go.com/Health/MindM...

[deborah27 in reply to TriggerPoint]

Thanks for your reply, clearly your motive was to offer info.

[kenster1]

hi trigger I remember when I saw your first few posts I thought wow this is some guy to post all these facts on health medications etc it lets people read about various things and information they might not know about.if people don't like what they see then skip over it and move on.i don't see anyone going into detail about medication and health than trigger giving useful and important facts.to some people than can be vital.this isn't triggers own thoughts its facts he has gathered and kindly shared.

[TriggerPoint in reply to kenster1]

Thank You So Much. It Was Merely A Share... Opinions & Disagreements Are Open To The Reader..... Again. Thank You. Here's Another Article On The Subject Matter :

abcnews.go.com/Health/MindM...