Your heart suddenly starts racing, your breathing becomes shallow, there’s pressure in your chest, and one thought dominates your mind: “This is a heart attack!”

Some symptoms can be truly frightening — but they’re not always heart-related. Often, it’s just a panic attack that the body experiences as a medical emergency. So how can you tell what’s really going on?

A panic attack may mimic a heart attack, but there are key differences:

– Pain is usually surface-level, “on the skin,” and doesn’t radiate to the arm, shoulder, or jaw
– It starts suddenly, often during stress or for no clear reason
– Accompanied by anxiety, derealization, fear of losing control or dying
– Symptoms worsen at rest or even at night, when relaxed
– Breathing exercises, cold water, talking to someone, or a mild sedative usually help

Heart-related pain is a very different picture:

– Pain is pulling, squeezing, or pressing, usually behind the breastbone
– Can radiate to the left arm, jaw, back, or shoulder
– Worsens with physical activity, like walking or climbing stairs
– Often comes with shortness of breath, cold sweat, weakness
– Doesn’t go away quickly at rest, and won’t be relieved by breathing techniques or reassurance

The golden rule: if in doubt — don’t guess, act.
Call emergency services or see a doctor. It’s better to be safe than to miss warning signs.