Chest pain and shortness of breath can be signs of either a heart attack or an anxiety attack. Understand the differences and know when to seek help.
Chest pain, a racing heart, and shortness of breath are symptoms that can point to either a heart attack or an anxiety attack — and it’s exactly that overlap that creates so much doubt and fear when symptoms appear. Understanding the differences can help you act with more confidence.
What Heart Attack Pain Usually Feels Like
Heart attack pain is often described as tightness, heaviness, or pressure in the center of the chest, which may spread to the arm, jaw, or back. It’s usually accompanied by cold sweat, nausea, and shortness of breath that worsens with exertion. Symptoms tend to persist or progressively get worse.
What Anxiety Attack Pain Usually Feels Like
With an anxiety attack, the pain is often more brief, like a sharp stabbing sensation, and comes with tingling in the hands, a “lump in the throat” feeling, intense fear, and racing thoughts. Symptoms tend to peak within a few minutes and then gradually ease.
Warning Signs That Help Tell Them Apart
- Pain that worsens with physical exertion: more associated with a cardiac problem
- Symptoms that improve when you calm down or take deep breaths: more associated with anxiety
- History of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol: increases the likelihood it’s cardiac
- Pain radiating to the left arm or jaw: a warning sign for a heart attack
When in Doubt, Don’t Take Chances
Even knowing these differences, it’s not safe to try to self-diagnose during a crisis. If you have any doubt about the cause of chest pain, the safest course is to seek emergency medical care to rule out a cardiac problem.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace a medical evaluation. If you’re unsure about the cause of your symptoms, seek emergency care.