This is one of the hardest distinctions to make by symptoms alone — when in doubt, this is always treated as a medical emergency.
| Feature | Heart Attack | Panic Attack |
|---|---|---|
| Chest pain quality | Pressure, squeezing, heaviness | Sharp or tight, can feel similar |
| Radiating pain | Often to arm, jaw, back | Less typical, but can occur |
| Onset | Can build over minutes, with exertion | Sudden, can occur at rest |
| Duration | Persists, doesn't fully resolve alone | Usually peaks and eases within 20-30 min |
| Sweating | Often cold, clammy sweat | Can occur, usually less profuse |
Caused by blocked blood flow to the heart muscle — classic symptoms include chest pressure, pain radiating to the arm or jaw, shortness of breath, and cold sweat, though symptoms can be subtler in women and diabetics.
A surge of intense fear with real physical symptoms — a racing heart, chest tightness, and shortness of breath that can genuinely feel like a heart attack, but without the underlying blockage.
This one has a simple rule: if there's any real chest pain, especially with radiating pain, sweating, or shortness of breath — treat it as a possible heart attack and seek emergency care immediately. It is never safe to self-diagnose this as "just anxiety."
This comparison is for general awareness only and cannot replace a medical diagnosis. Many conditions share overlapping symptoms — a doctor can examine and test to tell them apart accurately.