How do you tell the difference between a heart problem and anxiety?

[KLB32]

I have been diagnosed with OCD, general anxiety disorder and panic disorder. About 3 months after I stopped therapy(in late 2004), I started getting PVC's.  Then one day I was grocery shopping and felt like I was having a heart attack.  I couldn't breathe, was hot and sweaty, my chest felt tight, I felt numb, rapid heart rate/skipped beats and all I could think of was getting out of there. I went to the ER and had an EKG which I was told was normal overall but did show a couple of PVCs.  The Dr. explained to me what PVCs were and told me to follow up with my GP soon to rule out an underlying heart problem.  This was on a Saturday so I called my Dr. that Monday.  He ordered a Holter which showed 45 PVCs and 15 ventricular ecotopies (which I am told is the same thing).  He referred me to a cardiologist who told me PVCs were nothing to worry about in a structurally normal heart and that they were probably anxiety related.  I had an echo which confirmed my heart structure was normal.

Lately, I have been having weird episodes that mimic a heart attack.  I get short of breath, feel weak and tired, heart races/skips, chest pressure, arm pain (sometimes, nausea/heartburn(sometimes) and dizziness.  I have been to the ER 3 times in the last 2 months and am assured I am ok.  The three EKG's I've had have been normal. For some reason, I just can't believe I'm ok.  It happened again today in the middle of church and I had to leave.  I went home and took a Xanax and fell asleep for two hours.  I felt better when I woke up except for the heartburn was still there.  

I'm 32, don't smoke, rarely drink, I'm thin, BP is under control, slightly high cholesterol but my "good" cholesterol is in a good range and my triglycerides are normal.  My parents and brother do not have heart problems.  My grandfather has CAD and wears a pacemaker but his problems did not start until he was about 60.  He's still living.

Does it sound like these "episodes" are just panic attacks?  How can I tell the difference between panic attacks and a real heart attack?

[iddo]

Yes mate i have been suffering exsacly the same for 12 months now dailey have had my bloods checjed 3 ecg.s and a 24 hour tape docs all say its anxiyity but i just cant belive them it feels so bad

[margaux1]

I go through the same thing, i swear i have a heart condition and they say my heart is normal. ive been dealing with these things since im about 14 and im now 30. been on and off alprazolam and now since i had my baby 6 months ago their alot different like a thumping heart beat where it feels like my heart is skipping a beat, its sooo scary annoying and i feel like their missdiagnosing me. one thing i will say when i take the alprazalam i do feel better it hepls but y should i have to take something everyday you know? i really try hard to work it out myself but it comes to a point where ur like wtf! so, i dont know, im gonna go back to the heart doc and see what else he can do for me cause the pannic attacks are different then they were before now its this skipped heart beat thing which i never had before.. good luck!

[Adam84]

How reliable / good are 7 day heart rate monitors to check if you have a problem? I had it done, tests came back basically ok. They put it down to anxiety, every time i sit my pulse is ok 60-80bpm, when i stand it jumps 110-120bpm. Can this be anxiety e.g. when i sit my heart rate is fine but when i stand it goes up - because im thinking it will??
If i had a 7 day monitor and blood tests would i need further tests or just beleive the GP?

[godisgood1981]

Wow anxiety is so nerve wrecking but like seanjohn said it is very possible to get control of it without medication. With the help of God we have to learn to control our fears once the serious stuff has been ruled out. If you have panic attacks more than 10 times by now you should be able to tell yourself ok I didn't die r have a heart attack the last 10 times so i'm going to be ok. Fear is "false evidence appearing real", so unless the doctor tells you that its your heart try to stay calm and talk yourself out of a panic attack. I've also found that keeping a journal helps alot also. Try jotting down how you feel and what brought it on.

[seanjohn925]

It's anxiety trust me. For over a year I have been fighting this anxiety demon. In & out of the E.R. dozens of medications. I am now proud to say i am anxiety free for the most part. I haven't had an episode in months and I'm not taking anything at all. Something triggered your anxiety and you've trained your mind to be anxious all the time. Now you have to reverse the process un-learn how to be anxious it sounds crazy but it works. Eating healthy and taking a B2-B12 vitamin complex along with vitamin C will help due to the extra tension on your adrenal glands from anxiety. Keep a note pad and write down every time you get anxious and what caused it if there was a cause at all. Pressure points are a good way to stop anxiety in the middle of an attack. I found out my anxiety was associated with my heart every time my HR was elevated i would get anxiety. You need to face your demons. The first step to recovery was I ran on a treadmill as fast as i could for 10 minutes. I thought I was going to die but after I was still alive. You need to tackle your trigger head on or your anxiety will lead to depression and agoraphobia. I hit rock bottom and made it back to the top and so can you. -Eric

[cristiano777]

hi im a 25 year old male and for the past 6 months iv been struggling with a tight chest, due to tension and stress acording to my docs.
I get pain in the left side and right at the top of my chest it feels like something is pushing down on me and its really uncomfortable!
Iv not been to work i hardly go out because of it and i worry its a heart thing, i often have episodes of rapid heartbeat dizziness only tonight i was just watching t.v and i started feeling really cold and all of a sudden i was feeling really il rapid heartbeat etc...i just dont get how this can last so long and come on for no reason??is anyone in a similar boat who would like to talk????please write back ..