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Can Panic Attacks Lead To Heart Attack?

Posted on Thu, 24 Apr 2014

Question: I have anxiety disorder and panic attacks. I used to love working out now am scared to death because of how it feels like panic. Can my already elevated heart rate from working out get even higher when adding in a panic attack. What can happen to the heart. As panic adds on can it cause heart attack or fainting?

Answered by Dr. Sukhvinder Singh (2 hours later)

Brief Answer: please see below Detailed Answer: Dear sir It has been proven in studies that any kind of stress is bad for heart. Psychosocial stress increases risk of acute heart attack and angina. However episodic increase in heart rate during panic attack does not damage heart unlike long term increase in heart rate. Best way to deal with panic attack is to increase your will power and seek professional help. You can consult a clinical psychologist. Hope this helps. Feel free to discuss further. Sincerely Sukhvinder

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sukhvinder Singh (21 hours later)

So if my heart rate is up from running a panic attack added ontop of that wont make the rate go do high that it would kill me or make me pass out or hyperventalate. ?

Answered by Dr. Sukhvinder Singh (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer: please see below Detailed Answer: Dear Sir If you are already running too much and rate is high, the sympathetic drive is already up in your body. This same drive is active, in excess, when panic attack occurs. So it is not likely to cause much additional increase in heart rate , anxiety, palpitation and sweating. What exactly will happen is anyone's guess. However this will keep your sympathetic drive up for a longer time. Yes, theoretically this may cause SERIOUS rhythm disorder of heart occasionally but probability is low (provided you do not have any existing structural heart disease.) Hope this helps. If you have any other query feel free to write. Sincerely Sukhvinder

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar