ut of control of their bodies and in danger of dying. It can be difficult for a person who is experiencing either attack to identify the difference because both involve a state of panic and uncertainty that prevents people from being able to tell the difference. If you feel you are in danger, or cannot identify whether you are having a heart attack or a panic attack, seek medical attention. A doctor will be able to tell the difference between a heart attack and a panic attack and help you understand the difference between the two. Typically, if a person is experiencing panic attacks, he or she will learn how to identify a panic attack with practice. He or she will also likely be referred to counseling for stress management and coping skills for anxiety. In counseling, you will learn what anxiety is, why you have it, and how you can control it to reduce your experience of panic attacks.
If you are in fact having a heart attack, it is critical to not only seek emergency medical intervention, but also follow up with your primary physician. Heart attacks are dangerous and can cause serious harm and even death, so it is important to seek the medical attention needed to return back to good health. After recovering from a heart attack, you may be asked to make lifestyle changes, including:
- Diet modifications
- Exercises to strengthen the heart
- Regular check ups with a cardiologist or primary physician
You may also be asked to receive counseling for stress management. This is because anxiety and stress can contribute to the onset and recurrence of a heart attack. While anxiety itself will not cause a heart attack, reducing anxiety and learning how to manage stress will decrease the chances of you experiencing a heart attack again in the future.