SALT LAKE CITY — Determining the difference between the symptoms of a heart attack and those of a panic attack can be difficult to do — even for medical professionals. But here are some clues that may help.

Panic attacks

A panic attack comes out of nowhere, it seems, but it is your subconscious mind playing tricks. During a panic attack you feel extreme anxiety, hopelessness and doom for no apparent reason. In fact, most panic attacks come after a crisis in your life, not during the crisis itself. The cause is generally not known, which is what makes the attacks so frustrating.

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People who suffer from them have at least four of the following symptoms:

• fear of dying
• fear of losing control
• feeling of choking or airway closure
• feeling of detachment
• numbness
• nausea
• tingling in hands
• heart palpitations
• shortness of breath
• chest pressure
• sweating
• chills
• trembling

People with panic attacks live in fear most of the time and do not want to be left alone in case of another attack. What becomes even for frustrating is panic attacks cannot be predicted. However, some studies have shown that panic attacks are in some part related to alcohol abuse, depression and drug abuse.

If panic attacks rule your life, understand that there is no quick-fix cure. You need to seek medical help and seriously consider taking anti-depressant medication, such as Prozac, Paxil, or Zoloft, in addition to counseling to help control symptoms. The problem may be your brain just does not produce enough serotonin.

Activity is another great way to help reduce and relieve panic attacks. Exercise, quilting, reading, shopping, doing crossword puzzles — basically anything that will help divert your mind from panic — will help.

Heart attacks

A heart attack has more physical symptoms than mental symptoms. Most heart attacks are caused by a clot blocking one of the coronary arteries, which shuts down the blood and oxygen supply to your heart muscle.

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A heart attack often begins after the person has exercised, shoveled the snow, moved equipment, etc. It happens when you are resting after a strenuous activity more often than during the activity, and it can even wake you from a deep sleep.

Symptoms of a heart attack include:

• bad indigestion
• tight band pressure around the chest
• anxiety
• cough
• fainting
• light headedness or dizziness
• nausea
• vomiting
• pale skin all over
• sweating
• feeling cold and clammy

If you’re experiencing the above symptoms, it is very critical you seek medical help and do not wait for the symptoms to go away. Every minute you wait is a minute more of damage to your heart muscle and allows less of a chance doctors can help you recover. Once the heart muscle is dead, it is dead.

Heart attacks usually happen to people in their mid-50s or older. Panic attacks usually start happening in your 20s and 30s or older. If in doubt about the symptoms you’re experiencing, by all means seek medical help fast. You need to make sure your heart is OK before you look into anything else.

Suzanne Carlile, "Nurse Suzy," has been a nurse since 1982. Her main focus is critical care and nursing education. She holds a master's degree in nursing, is a Certified Emergency Nurse, and a member of NNSDO Intermountain West Chapter.

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