can stress mimic heart attack symptoms?

[Naancy]

Yesterday morning I was in Georgia visiting my aging parents.  I was walking a tight rope trying not to upset anyone.  I was on a walk and had terrible pain in my arm and my lungs were burning.

The next day I woke up and lay in bed while an incredibly severe pain happened on the left side of my chest, near the center.  My left arm was incredibly painful.  The pain between my shoulder blades was severe, but not as bad.as my chest.  

I could barely move.  I took pills for the pain but nothing helped.  It lasted for what seemed like a long time.

In my feeble state I called for transportation, got wheel chair assistance and flew home to Canada where health care is free.

I found throughout the day as I walked at all, pain began to threaten.

Now my question: if you have a heart attack, does it seem to come back with exertion?
Can plain old stress cause those symptoms without really involving your heart?

[bgawk]

Also stress induced cardio myopathy (which can be fatal) can mimic heart attack symptoms to the point of a disrupted EKG and elevated readings on enzymes which normally indicate a heart attack! A Cath test can rule out most blockages so that you can be properly diagnosed. I avoided a cath test for 5 years! Don't make the same mistake!

[ireneo]

An anxiety attack can mimic MI symptoms. What I don't see in your message is whether you were seen by a doctor once you got home. You should have heart attack ruled out first before thinking it was just anxiety. Please don't wait. You could have a blockage that needs to be cleared.