Is This a Heart Attack Or a Panic Attack?

Is This a Heart Attack Or a Panic Attack?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=David_B_Llennac]David B Llennac

Heart Attack or Panic Attack - How to Know the Difference

You feel your heart begin to beat wildly in your chest as you break into a cold sweat and have trouble catching your breath; is this a heart attack or panic attack? Your first thought is that it's a heart attack since you have an impending feeling of doom which you may even have felt before your attack began. This makes your heart beat even faster and you become so overwhelmed that the feeling gets even worse until you begin to feel light headed or maybe even pass out. This is a panic attack.

When you suffer from anxiety, the slightest thing can trigger a panic attack and some can be so intense that you can't imagine it being anything other than looming death. It's very common for those having an anxiety attack to mistake it for a heart attack and this fear is enough to just take over and really wreak havoc on your heart rate, but no matter how fast your heart beats or how panicked you feel; you are not having a heart attack and this episode will not kill you.

One thing that will prove helpful in dealing with this is learning the differences between the two so you know right away if it is a heart attack or panic attack. Ive already described how a panic attack feels, so here are the signs of a heart attack so you can know the difference and give yourself some peace of mind.

Signs of a Heart Attack

- Pressure in the Chest (described as feeling like there is an elephant sitting on your chest)

- Chest pain - note that this is not always present

- Sweating

- Shortness of breath

- Pain in the right arm

- Pain in the back or shoulder blades for women

- Nausea or vomiting

If you look at the list and think about your experiences with panic attacks, you will see that you only have two of these in common; sweating and shortness of breath. Some people do drive themselves into such an anxious state that they become nauseous, but in the case of a heart attack, the nausea is prevalent before any of the other symptoms. The pressure in the chest is one that can confuse some because during a panic attack, you may feel a tightening feeling in the chest that is common with extreme anxiety, but it is far less severe than what one feels when having a heart attack.

Anxiety turns to panic because of your fears, meaning that when you fear the attack you are actually making things worse for yourself and setting your anxiety up to go from just anxiety to a full blown attack. That is the vicious circle of panic attacks. Learning how to change your thinking will help you stop a panic attack before it gets out of hand. Next time you feel your anxiety level begin to rise, try not to fear the attack and think of what you just read; you now know how to tell if its a heart attack or panic attack.

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How to Cure Panic Attacks - Applying Some Simple Tips

How to Cure Panic Attacks - Applying Some Simple Tips
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=David_Lidum]David Lidum

Before learning how to cure panic attacks you should first understand what the panic attacks are. A sudden attack of fear which is not related with the present situation you are in is classified as panic attack and can be part of an anxiety panic disorder. It causes you discomfort and you feel like losing control over your life. You might experience fast heart palpitation and shortness of air which leads to difficulty in breathing. Such signs are the pre-warnings for an anxiety panic attack.

Anxiety panic disorders generally last for a short period of time and if you train yourself to control them, you can save yourself from having a full blown attack but for this you must understand ways of dealing with anxiety attacks.

First of all you must detach yourself from the situation and try to divert your mind in some other activity which pleases you. Some people listen to soothing music as it calms you down. You can cultivate a hobby like gardening, painting, cooking, writing, etc. Take deep breathe; simply inhale in and out eases you. Although it seems difficult at first, once you practice, it relieves you a lot from the terror of an anxiety panic disorders.

Exercise of any kind is a great stress buster and helps you a lot to fight the panic attacks. Stop consuming alcoholic and caffeine based drinks, instead take plenty of water as it helps you flush out the toxins out of your body and helps in reducing the stress and helps in effectively dealing with anxiety attacks.

If you suffer from these anxiety panic disorders very often then you must check your diet. You must have a balanced diet along with enough fruits and vegetables. Apart from diet, exercise, etc you need to get enough sleep and relaxation to your body. A good night sleep is the best tonic for a disturbed mind and body. It repairs your body tissues and is one of the most effective medicines for panic attacks and health in general.

For more information about panic attacks and anxiety disorders along with a treatment that has helped thousands of others overcome their crippling condition click below. http://www.102tips.info/anxiety/

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