When A Heart Attack Is Mistaken For A Panic Attack: Why The Difference Matters

Recent media coverage surrounding television presenter Alison Hammond has highlighted an important medical issue. After experiencing alarming symptoms during a live television broadcast, Ms Hammond feared she may have been having a heart attack.

Following medical assessment, she later confirmed that her symptoms were caused by a severe panic attack rather than a cardiac event. She described the episode as feeling ‘very real’, a reminder that panic attacks and heart attacks can produce strikingly similar symptoms.

A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear or anxiety that causes very real physical symptoms, often with no obvious danger present. Although not usually physically harmful, it can feel overwhelming and may closely resemble a serious medical emergency. Panic attacks typically reach their peak within a few minutes and often resolve within 10 to 30 minutes, although feelings of exhaustion or distress can last much longer. Many people experiencing a panic attack for