Anxiety vs Medical Emergency: When Symptoms Feel Dangerous
It can be frightening when the physical symptoms of anxiety feel similar to those of a medical emergency. If you regularly experience anxiety, you may understand all too well the “anxiety vs. heart attack” fears.
Severe anxiety and panic attack symptoms often include chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, hyperventilation, and trembling.[1][2] These symptoms can be overpowering and often make people believe they’re having a heart attack or another serious issue.
In the heat of the moment, in particular, it can be hard to distinguish physical anxiety symptoms from a health emergency. Whatever is actually happening, it’s important that you receive the right support.
Mental health care providers can help you separate panic attack symptoms from an urgent medical condition and strengthen coping strategies for future anxiety episodes. This article will cover:
- The link between anxiety and physical symptoms.
- How to tell the difference between a panic attack vs. heart attack.
- Medical red flags to be aware of.
- Treatment options when anxiety persists.
Link Between Anxiety and Physical Symptoms
While physical anxiety symptoms can feel complex, the explanation behind them is actually relatively simple.
When your brain perceives a threat to life in your environment, it will do all it can to prepare your body to deal with that threat. However, a common trait of panic disorder is that your brain inaccurately measures the danger around you. This can, in turn, cause you to feel a sense of threat that doesn’t match the actual situation.
Your brain then activates the fight-or-flight response, your body’s most important stress response. This allows you to either “fight” the danger or run away from it (“flight”). To prepare, adrenaline is released to increase both your heart rate and blood pressure. This is essential to push blood to the muscles you will need to use to fight or run.[3]
While this would have been useful for your ancestors, in the modern day, most of us experience fewer genuine threats. In anxiety disorders, that system can become activated even when no immediate physical danger is present.
Because of this, the physical effects of the brain’s response can present as panic attack symptoms, including:[3][2]
- Hyperventilation.
- Chest pain.
- Sweating.
- Nausea.
- Shortness of breath.
- Dizziness.
- Tingling.
Hyperventilation specifically can contribute to chest pain and anxiety, as it creates an uncomfortable feeling with tingling sensations and dizziness.[2] When all of these physical anxiety symptoms are interlinked, many confuse them for a health emergency.
Panic Attack vs. Heart Attack
By understanding the key differentiations between anxiety vs. heart attack symptoms, you may have more clarity the next time you experience a panic attack. However, you mustn’t use this article to self-diagnose. Just like any other medical concern, speaking to a professional is always advised if you have a health concern.
Symptoms of a Heart Attack
The most common symptoms of a heart attack can include:[4]
- Chest pressure/pain.
- A squeezing sensation in the chest.
- Neck/jaw/arm/back pain.
- Shortness of breath.
As you can see, there are several overlapping symptoms with panic attacks, including:[1][4]
- Shortness of breath.
- Dizziness.
- Chest pain.
- Sweating.
This is why you may believe you need immediate medical care. If you suspect at all that you’re having a heart attack, seek professional help. A doctor will be able to examine you and get a full understanding of what you’re experiencing.
Medical Emergency Red Flags
Symptoms of both anxiety and heart attacks can feel very intense, so it can be hard to decide if an immediate check-up is required. Seek further medical advice if any of your symptoms are new, unusually intense, or noticeably different from what you’ve experienced before.[5]
Additional signs that could indicate that immediate medical attention is required include:[6]
- Confusion.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Sudden weakness.
- Numbness.
- Difficulty speaking.
- Substantial difficulty catching your breath.
If you experience any of these, a medical assessment can provide clarity and reassurance.
Health Anxiety
Health anxiety, while not an official diagnosis in itself, involves certain thinking patterns that many experience when faced with physical symptoms. For some people, slight changes in bodily sensations can result in extreme medical anxiety because they become convinced they have a severe illness. Medical assessments may provide little or no reassurance as the person believes that there is still something undiscovered even if the doctor tells them they’re fine.[1]
Health anxiety can make it harder to distinguish anxiety from a heart attack due to the fear and distress that come with it.[1] But health anxiety can be an indication of an underlying clinical mental health condition. If you believe you may have medical anxiety, a mental health professional can provide an accurate diagnosis.
Mission Connection is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
What to Do When the Anxiety Persists
If you feel like physical medical tests aren’t putting your anxiety at ease, then it may be time to consider mental health support. Repeated reassurance from medical tests may ease your worries temporarily, but it often doesn’t address the underlying anxiety driving those fears. Addressing the root causes can help reduce physical anxiety symptoms while also making future episodes feel less frightening and easier to manage.[7]
There is a wide range of anxiety treatment therapies backed by in-depth research that can reduce feelings of anxiety.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a relatively new holistic therapy that has been found to reduce emotional distress and improve overall well-being.[8] ACT aims to help you feel comfortable with negative emotions, thoughts, and memories. It encourages you to make room for uncomfortable experiences rather than avoiding them. ACT gives you the chance to commit to behaving in ways that align with your values.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a short-term talking therapy that can help you identify unhelpful thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Through developing your coping strategies and ability to challenge negative thoughts, the ultimate aim is to promote positive behavior. CBT is a very popular form of treatment, effectively reducing panic attack symptoms.[7]
Humanistic Therapy
Humanistic therapy is a holistic framework that encourages you to understand your life and your story by looking beyond your mental health conditions. By shifting focus from mental health to personal growth, you can pursue self-discovery and positive, lasting change.[9]
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Trauma is a major cause of anxiety, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an eye movement therapy that aims to assist you in working through painful memories and emotions. The therapist guides you through these memories in a safe environment whilst teaching you effective coping strategies.
EMDR has been found to reduce anxiety symptoms and improve functioning in people diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.[10] Unlike some trauma therapies, EMDR often doesn’t require describing every detail of the traumatic experience aloud. This can prevent therapy from retraumatizing you.
Treatment When and Where It Works for You
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Receive Support for Anxiety With Mission Connection
A medical professional should always evaluate overwhelming and painful physical symptoms. However, Mission Connection can provide expert assistance on those symptoms specifically linked to anxiety. Whether it’s behaviors linked to health anxiety, panic attack symptoms, or another presentation of anxiety, we’re here to help.
Our team of licensed mental health professionals goes beyond traditional treatment and provides life-changing care. We offer several options for effective outpatient treatment, including in-person programs at our locations in California, Virginia, and Washington, virtual telehealth, and a hybrid program that combines in-person and virtual care.
We create a personalized, structured care plan for every patient that consists of evidence-based therapies (CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed approaches) and medication management (when appropriate).
Mission Connection is Joint Commission-accredited. We also accept most major insurance providers, so that your recovery is not hindered due to financial issues.
Reach out to us online or call us at 866-833-1822 to find out how we can support your long-term recovery. Our compassionate team is available 24/7 to answer your questions and provide guidance with no obligation.
Anxiety vs. Medical Emergency FAQ
What can I do if I am experiencing panic attack symptoms?
A recommended strategy is to use grounding techniques to lessen your distress. Grounding and breathing techniques work by making you focus on the present moment and halting your fight-or-flight response.[11] A good example is the “5,4,3,2,1” method, in which you:[12]
- List 5 items you can see.
- Name 4 items you can feel.
- Describe 3 things you can hear.
- Find 2 things you can smell.
- Identify 1 thing you can taste.
When should I go to the ER for anxiety?
Go to the emergency department or call emergency services if you have new or severe chest pain, especially if it is accompanied by symptoms such as shortness of breath, pain spreading to the arm, jaw, or back, or loss of consciousness.
What is the difference between a panic attack and an anxiety attack?
The main difference is that “panic attack” is a formal clinical term. By comparison, an anxiety attack is more of an informal term, though the two are often used interchangeably. Panic attacks often happen suddenly and feel unmanageable, while anxiety grows slowly around stressors.[1]
How long does it take to recover from a panic attack?
After a panic attack, it’s common to feel mentally and physically exhausted, so it may take some time to recover after a panic attack. The initial panic typically subsides after a few minutes. However, the aftereffects, such as fatigue, worry, and shakes, can last much longer.