Panic Attack or Heart Attack?!?

Question

I'm in recovery for bulimia. Had it for 6 years & as you can imagine it's taken it's toll. 3 months ago I was told if I didn't sort myself out I may not be here next year. So I got my test done & got myself into therapy. Unfortunately the damage is already done.

Last saturday I was walking home from a party & found I was having very strong heart palpitations, normally this fades when I do my breathing techniques (I suffer from anxiety attacks.) After an hour or so, I was still getting really bad chest pains, & suddenly it felt like I was being suffocated. I couldn't see. I felt blind. My left arm was shooting with pain & I collapsed on the floor, struggling to breathe. Luckily my friend was with me, but I persuaded him to not call an ambulance as i'm sure it was just a very very bad panic attack. But he's convinced it was more likely a mild heart attack. I go in for regular ECGs as i suffer from cardiac arrhythmia, so will it show up on my next one? I do have a very low blood pressure, & my heart is pretty weak (my legs pool with blood most of the time, & i'm on blood thinning tablets to prevent clotting)

I'd just like to know, should I assume it was merely a bad panic attack, or could it have been more? & what should I do if it happens again- The pain of it was like nothing i've felt before! :/

Answer 1

There is no way anyone here can tell for certain if you had a heart attack or not. It would just be guessing.  

An EKG would show evidence of a past heart attack.  I have seen people with EKGs that show a heart attack sometime in the past.  They were not aware that they ever occurred.  This is not to frighten you, it just means the prudent thing is to have things checked out.  You should have listened to your friend when it happened.  Better safe (and maybe embarassed) and still be alive.

I am an RN.

Answer 2

you don't say your age,or weight or if you smoke.,,big diff,

Tell them what happened...............a heck of a anxiety attach(practice your relaxation response,,,just don't use it when u need it,,,)

Sometimes itis nothing.............need to tell them

Answer 3

First off, see your doctor today.

Secondly, next time it happens call 911. Don't mess about with something like this... especially with your history and medical issues.

Answer 4

With you medical history you should not have talked your friend into not calling ambulance. From what it sounds like it sounds like a panic attack but you can never be to sure with a history like yours. You need to go to your pcp asap and let them know what happened. Your pcp will fuss at you most likely for not going to the hospital and will probably run some blood test and other test to see how things are. In the future just go to the hospital if it happens again. It is better to be safe than sorry.