Panic Attack Or Heart Attack? - Been to the Hospital ER But Told You Had Anxiety Instead?

It is very hard to distinguish the difference between panic attack and heart attack due to the large similarities present. People with panic attack or heart attack would experience chest tightness, palpitations, lethargy and other similar signs and symptoms. The main difference between the two disorders is that panic attacks are caused by mental and psychological factors. Heart attack is a significant health problem which involves vital organs. The doctor and nurse should be able to identify the difference in order to prevent further complication. If the person is having a heart attack but has been misdiagnosed, severe consequences could be encountered. Coma, stroke, myocardial infarction and even death would occur. That is why the doctors and nurses in the emergency room should use every tool, technique and device to accurately and correctly diagnose the condition.

If a person is having a panic attack or heart attack, specific examinations should be done. Heart attack has more extensive effects on the body including heart damage, breathing problems and irregular cardiac rhythm. Once the patient has been rushed to the hospital, extensive blood work should be done. If the blood shows elevation in cardiac enzymes and proteins, then heart attack is the disorder experienced by the person. Panic disorders only imitate the signs and symptoms presented by the heart attack. But swift action should be done in order to prevent the chest tightness, high blood pressure and other symptoms from worsening. Different methods and medications can be utilized in order to calm and relax the patient. Meticulous examination should first be done in order to detect the underlying cause for both cases.

The person experiencing chest tightness due to panic attack should be given with relaxants and sedatives. This is necessary in order to lower the blood pressure and heart rate. When people have anxiety, heart activity is excessively increased. This can be attributed to the release of different emergency hormones due to the fear and panic experienced by the person. The sedatives can lower myocardial and heart cell activity. It can also reduce the activity in the part of the brain inducing panic. Some of the most commonly used and effective drugs sold in the market are oxazepam, diazepam and clonazepam.

Another way to reduce the chest tightness experienced by people is the ingestion of heart medications. Heart activity can be directly lowered by using beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and diuretics. Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers block the different receptors in the heart which is used to increase activity. This can be explained well by using everyday examples. The blockers could serve as an obstruction in the electric plug preventing appliances from working. This means, the signal needed to increase heart activity is arrested and prevented from reaching the heart. Diuretics are used to lower the blood volume if ever the chest tightness is very severe. This is very effective especially if the blood pressure have been greatly increased.
Doctors should know if the patient has panic attack or heart attack in order to swiftly and rapidly deal with the problem.

Has your doctor told you that you suffer from panic attacks but you are continuing to experience confusion whether it is panic attack or heart attack? Find out how you can eliminate panic attacks today by visiting: http://www.preventing-panicattacks.com

Please note in relation to panic attack medication. All material provided in the articles are provided for informational or educational purposes only. No content is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your symptoms or medical condition.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paris_D._Lee