What is the difference between a heart attack and a panic attack?

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1. 1

   Panic attack (Wikipedia)

   WikipediaPublished Oct 15, 2026Checked Oct 17, 2026

   “Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear and discomfort that may include palpitations, otherwise defined as a rapid, irregular heartbeat, sweating, chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, trembling, dizziness, numbness, confusion, or a sense of impending doom or loss of control. Typically, these symptoms are the worst within ten minutes of onset and can last for roughly 30 minutes, though they can vary anywhere from seconds to hours. While they can be extremely distressing, panic attacks themselves are not physically dangerous. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) defines them as "an abrupt surge of intense fear or intense discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes and during which time four or more of the following symptoms occur." These symptoms include, but are not limited to, the ones mentioned above. Panic attacks function as a marker for assessing severity, course, and comorbidity (the simultaneous presence of two or more diagnoses) of different disorders, including anxiety disorders. Hence, while panic attacks cannot be applied to all disorders found in the DSM, they are a common comorbidity.”

2. 2

   Derivation of an updated brief multivariable prediction model to detect panic-related anxiety in emergency department patients with cardiopulmonary complaints.

   Frontiers in psychiatry (Sung et al.)Published Feb 11, 2026Checked Oct 17, 2026

   “A stepwise multivariable prediction model was constructed using 13 SCID-defined panic symptoms as predictors, with the diagnosis of panic-related anxiety as the outcome. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated through sensitivity, specificity, receiver operating characteristics (ROC), and the Youden index.Results321 eligible patients were included, with 39% meeting criteria for panic-related anxiety. The optimal cutoff (≥3 symptoms) in the derived model achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.88, sensitivity of 78.4%, specificity of 85.7%, a Youden index of 64.1%, classified 82.9% correctly, positive likelihood ratio=5.4880, and negative likelihood ratio=0.2520.ConclusionsThis newly derived model demonstrated strong diagnostic accuracy in identifying panic-related anxiety among ED patients with cardiopulmonary complaints, suggesting its potential utility in clinical screening. Implementation of this model may facilitate timely diagnosis, reduce repeated ED visits, and improve patient outcomes.”

3. 3

   Agoraphobia (Wikipedia)

   WikipediaPublished Oct 17, 2026Checked Oct 17, 2026

   “Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by symptoms of anxiety in situations where people perceive their environment to be unsafe with no way to escape. These situations can include public transit, shopping centers, crowds and queues, or simply being outside their home on their own. Being in these situations may result in a panic attack. Those affected will go to great lengths to avoid these situations. In severe cases, people may become completely unable to leave their homes. Agoraphobia is believed to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The condition often runs in families, and stressful or traumatic events such as the death of a parent or being attacked may be a trigger. In the DSM-5, agoraphobia is classified as a phobia along with specific phobias and social phobia. Other conditions that can produce similar symptoms include separation anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and major depressive disorder. The diagnosis of agoraphobia has been shown to be comorbid with depression, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation. Without treatment, it is uncommon for agoraphobia to resolve.”

4. 4

   Ventricular fibrillation due to coronary vasospasm triggered by hyperventilation in a patient with panic disorder: case report.

   European heart journal. Case reports (Takimoto et al.)Published Aug 18, 2025Checked Oct 17, 2026

   “Suspecting hyperventilation-induced coronary vasospasm, a hyperventilation test was performed, which induced 90% coronary spasm accompanied by chest pain. An acetylcholine (ACh) provocation test revealed total occlusion of the left main bifurcation, with significant ischaemic ST-T elevation. Medication with a calcium channel blocker (nifedipine 40 mg per day), nitrate (isosorbide dinitrate 40 mg per day), and statin (rosuvastatin 20 mg per day) was initiated. Three months later, a repeat ACh provocation test performed to assess response to the medications revealed 90% stenosis with ischaemic ST-T changes and chest discomfort. Subsequently, a subcutaneous cardioverter defibrillator was implanted to address refractory vasospastic angina.DiscussionHerein, ventricular fibrillation was likely caused by coronary spasm induced by hyperventilation during the panic attack. Regarding the management of patients with panic disorder who present with chest pain, clinicians should carefully assess the symptoms and consider hyperventilation-induced coronary spasm as a differential diagnosis.”

5. 5

   A case report of a multivessel coronary vasospasm that responded to IV diazepam.

   Medicine (Abboud et al.)Published Sep 1, 2025Checked Oct 17, 2026

   “During a panic attack in the procedure, 5 mg IV diazepam was administered.OutcomesTreatment lead to symptom resolution and normal coronary arteries on repeat angiography, without plaques or stenosis.LessonsThis case demonstrates multivessel CAVS refractory to standard vasodilators but responsive to IV diazepam, as evidenced by angiographic resolution. The temporal association with a panic attack suggests a link to psychological stress, aligning with literature on stress-related cardiovascular events. Limitations include the single-case design, lack of provocation testing, and inability to definitively establish causality between anxiety and vasospasm, necessitating larger studies to confirm IV diazepam's efficacy. Multivessel CAVS may respond to IV diazepam when standard treatments fail, particularly in cases associated with psychological stress. This case underscores the need for further research to validate the therapeutic potential of IV benzodiazepines in managing CAVS and to explore the interplay between psychological stress and cardiovascular events.”

6. 6

   Prevalence and predictors of panic attacks among reproductive-age females among the attendees of primary health centers of Abha, Saudi Arabia.

   Journal of education and health promotion (Al et al.)Published Jul 4, 2025Checked Oct 17, 2026

   “Participants included those who met the inclusion criteria of reproductive age and consented to participate. Data was collected using a validated electronic questionnaire of socio-demographics, obstetric history, panic attack experiences, and triggers. Statistical analyses, including chi-square and regression, were applied.ResultsAmong participants, 15.5% were diagnosed with panic disorder, and 63.7% experienced at least one panic attack, predominantly between 18 and 25 years. Symptoms included tachycardia, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, and chest pain. Significant associations were found between panic attacks and marital status, number of children, smoking, and family history.ConclusionNearly two-thirds of reproductive-aged women, particularly divorced women with a family history of panic attacks, experienced these episodes early in life. These attacks were linked to low coping skills and high-stress perception, impacting daily life and emotional resilience.”