Ever felt a sudden racing heart, chest pain, or shortness of breath and wondered—is this a heart attack or just anxiety? You’re not alone. Heart disease and anxiety attacks share many symptoms, making it difficult to know whether you need emergency medical care or calming techniques. Knowing the difference could save your life.
Both heart problems and anxiety disorders can cause chest discomfort, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, and breathing difficulties, but their triggers, duration, and patterns differ: Heart disease symptoms often appear during physical activity, feel like a deep, squeezing pressure, and may spread to the jaw or arms. Anxiety symptoms usually arise from stress, fear, or emotional triggers, feel sharp or stabbing, and improve with relaxation techniques. Heart disease causes shortness of breath even at rest due to blood circulation issues, whereas stress-induced hyperventilation causes anxiety-induced breathlessness.
Understanding these differences helps you respond appropriately and seek the right medical attention when needed.
In the UAE, where high stress levels, long working hours, and rising heart disease cases are concerns, it’s crucial to recognise when chest discomfort is anxiety-related or a potential heart emergency. Hospitals like Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Dubai Heart Centre provide comprehensive heart screenings to rule out underlying conditions.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), over 30% of people experiencing chest pain initially mistake a heart attack for anxiety. Additionally, anxiety-related symptoms affect up to 40% of individuals with heart disease, making accurate diagnosis even more critical.
This blog explores the differences between heart disease and anxiety symptoms, helping you recognize key signs, understand risk factors, and determine when to seek medical attention.
Common Symptoms of Heart Disease
Heart disease can cause discomfort in different ways, often affecting how you breathe and move. These signs may feel severe during physical effort or when the heart struggles.
Chest pain or discomfort
Chest pain often feels like squeezing, pressure, or heaviness in the chest. It may spread to the arms, neck, jaw, or back. In cases of a heart attack or coronary artery disease, this discomfort can last for several minutes and worsen with physical exertion.
Pain linked to cardiac disease may also come with shortness of breath and cold sweats.
Anxiety-related chest pain feels different. It might be sharp or stabbing instead of heavy. Panic attacks causing this symptom are usually brief but intense and can occur without physical activity.
Rapid breathing during anxiety increases such sensations due to tight chest muscles. While both cases feel alarming, understanding these distinctions is key to managing your health.
Not all chest pains mean a heart problem—some stem from anxiety.
Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath can signal heart disease or anxiety. In heart conditions, it often occurs while resting or doing light tasks. It may feel like tightness in the chest or difficulty taking a full breath.
This could occur due to narrowed blood vessels, high blood pressure, or a weakened heart muscle caused by coronary disease.
In anxiety disorders, shortness of breath results from the body’s fight-or-flight response. Stress increases the breathing rate as your body reacts to danger—even if no real threat exists.
Relaxation techniques and stress management exercises may help calm this symptom over time. Understanding fatigue and weakness further distinguishes these issues.
Fatigue and weakness
Fatigue and weakness can signal heart disease. These symptoms often occur during physical exertion, even with minimal movement. Heart failure or coronary heart disease may cause the body to struggle in supplying oxygen-rich blood.
This leads to tiredness that does not improve with rest.
Anxiety can also trigger similar sensations but feels different. With anxiety, fatigue might follow prolonged stress or a panic attack due to a high rapid heart rate or increased blood pressure.
Unlike heart issues, rest helps ease these feelings in most cases. Recognition of other signs determines whether it is related to mental health or cardiac problems—leading into shortness of breath next.
Common Symptoms of Anxiety
Anxiety can affect the body and mind in many ways. It often triggers strong physical reactions linked to stress.
Rapid heartbeat
A rapid heartbeat can feel alarming. It may be a sign of anxiety or a medical condition like atrial fibrillation. Anxiety triggers the fight or flight response, releasing hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol.
This increases heart rate quickly. Stress, caffeine, and even fear can make your heart race during panic attacks.
Medical conditions like hyperthyroidism also cause an abnormal heart rhythm. Unlike anxiety symptoms, these need medical attention. Breathing exercises may help slow down a racing heart caused by severe anxiety or panic disorder.
Take calm breaths—one every six seconds—to manage this symptom effectively.
Calm breathing regulates both mind and body in moments of stress.
Sweating and trembling
Sweating and trembling often occur during anxiety attacks. These responses are part of the “fight or flight” reaction triggered by stressors. For example, a stressful meeting or sudden traumatic event can lead to these symptoms.
The body releases adrenaline, causing shaky hands and excessive sweating.
Heart-related conditions rarely cause noticeable hand tremors but may involve cold sweats instead. Sweating from heart attacks often pairs with chest pain, breathlessness, or squeezing pain in the arms.
An acute heart attack might also feel like extreme weakness alongside clammy skin. If you suspect cardiac trouble, seek immediate help at an emergency room in facilities like BIDMC or other UAE healthcare centres for proper examination.
Sense of impending doom
A racing heart and trembling often lead to feelings of terror. This overwhelming fear can escalate into a sense of impending doom, common during panic attacks. People may suddenly feel certain they are in danger or facing death, even without real threats.
This sensation is linked to the body’s fight or flight response. The brain reacts as if there’s an immediate crisis, causing rapid heartbeat and abnormal thoughts. These symptoms can mimic those of a heart attack, making it hard to differentiate between anxiety and cardiac events like atrial fibrillation or sudden cardiac arrest.
Key Differences Between Heart Disease and Anxiety Symptoms
Heart disease symptoms often link to physical strain, while anxiety signs stem from emotional stress—read on for clearer insights.
Onset and duration of symptoms
Anxiety symptoms often appear suddenly and peak within 10 minutes. These include a racing heart, sweating, or a sense of impending doom. Panic attacks can last between 15 to 30 minutes but feel much longer due to heightened stress responses like rapid breathing.
Heart disease-related issues such as chest pain or shortness of breath develop gradually. Pain may worsen with physical exertion and linger for hours. A squeezing pain in the chest during a heart attack usually requires immediate medical attention, unlike anxiety episodes that ease with relaxation exercises or exposure therapy over time.
Physical versus emotional triggers
Heart disease symptoms often follow physical triggers. Activities like climbing stairs or heavy lifting can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, or fatigue. These signs stem from reduced blood flow due to blocked arteries in the chambers of the heart.
Physical exertion worsens this problem and may hint at conditions like atrial fibrillation or heart failure.
Panic attacks arise from emotional triggers like stress, trauma, or social phobia. Anxiety causes a fight-or-flight response with rapid heartbeat, sweating, and trembling. Unlike heart issues, these reactions link more to fears and nervous overthinking than physical strain.
Stress management methods such as deep breathing and meditation help calm these feelings quickly.
Response to rest or relaxation
Symptoms from anxiety often ease with rest or relaxation. Breathing exercises, such as taking one breath every six seconds, slow the rapid heart rate and reduce panic symptoms. Practising mindfulness calms the fight or flight response triggered by stress.
Heart disease symptoms, like chest pain or shortness of breath, may not improve with rest. Conditions like atrial fibrillation or abnormal heart rhythms might persist without medical intervention.
It’s vital to distinguish between a racing heart caused by anxiety and signs of cardiovascular disease needing urgent care.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between heart disease and anxiety symptoms is key. Quick action can save lives, especially during chest pain or shortness of breath. Recognising triggers and symptom patterns helps provide clarity.
Health professionals offer tests like cardiac catheterisation or therapy for panic disorders to guide treatment. Stay informed, seek help when needed, and take control of your health today!
Also, Read:
FAQs for Heart Disease vs. Anxiety Symptoms
Dr. Aisha Rahman is a board-certified internal medicine specialist with over 12 years of clinical experience in chronic disease management and preventive healthcare. She has worked at leading hospitals across the UAE, helping patients manage conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic disorders.
A strong advocate for preventive medicine, Dr. Rahman emphasizes early diagnosis, lifestyle modifications, and patient education to reduce chronic illness risks. She is an active member of the Emirates Medical Association and has contributed to health awareness programs and medical research initiatives. Her expertise has been featured in The National UAE, Gulf Health Magazine, and leading medical journals. As a keynote speaker at healthcare conferences, she shares insights on evidence-based treatments, patient-centered care, and advancements in internal medicine.
Dr. Omar Al-Farsi is a clinical nutritionist and medical researcher with over 15 years of experience in dietary science, metabolic disorders, and preventive healthcare. He has served as a senior consultant for UAE healthcare authorities and contributed to public health initiatives focused on nutrition education and disease prevention.
Dr. Al-Farsi has collaborated with leading hospitals, research institutions, and universities in the UAE, ensuring that health information is scientifically accurate and evidence-based. His research has been published in Gulf Medical Journal, Dubai Health Review, and WHO Nutrition Reports, making significant contributions to nutrition science and public health awareness.