A panic attack can feel like your body is in danger when it is not, and the symptoms can look a lot like a heart attack. This guide pulls together what the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), MedlinePlus and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) say. It is general education, not medical advice.
By the Exsura Team · October 25, 2026
Panic attacks and heart attacks can feel alike, and no official source we found gives a reliable way to tell them apart by symptoms alone. NHLBI says: “Any time you think you might be having a heart attack, don’t ignore it. Call 9-1-1 for emergency medical care, even if you are not sure that you’re having a heart attack.”
MedlinePlus says to call 911 or the local emergency number if you have sudden crushing, squeezing, tightening, or pressure in your chest, pain that spreads to your jaw, left arm, or between your shoulder blades, or “nausea, dizziness, sweating, a racing heart, or shortness of breath.” NIMH lists chest pain, a racing heart, dizziness and sweating among panic attack symptoms, so these overlap. NHLBI’s advice is to call even if you are not sure.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, MedlinePlus says to call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org, and adds: “You can also call 911 or the local emergency number or go to the hospital emergency room.” The 988 Lifeline says it is “available 24/7/365” and that its conversations are “free and confidential.” For help deciding which number to use, see 988 vs 911: when to call which.
MedlinePlus describes panic attacks as “sudden periods of intense fear, discomfort, or a sense of losing control.” It says these attacks happen even though there is no real danger, and that they often cause physical symptoms such as a rapid or pounding heartbeat that can feel like a heart attack.
NIMH says panic attacks “can occur at any time, sometimes even during sleep,” and can happen as often as several times a day or as rarely as a few times a year. It adds that while these feelings can be distressing, “panic attacks themselves are not life-threatening, and the physical symptoms usually resolve with time.”
“A panic attack is a one-time or occasional episode of intense fear with physical and emotional symptoms. An isolated panic attack is not a mental disorder.”NIMH, Panic Disorder
NIMH lists these physical symptoms that may occur during a panic attack, along with a fear of death or impending doom:
Having a panic attack does not mean you have a disorder. MedlinePlus says “Many people only have one or two panic attacks in their lifetime and get better without treatment.” SAMHSA likewise says people who experience occasional panic attacks may not develop panic disorder.
NIMH says panic disorder often begins in the late teens or early adulthood and that women are more likely than men to develop it. Its statistics page estimates that 2.7% of U.S. adults had panic disorder in the past year and 4.7% at some time in their lives. Those figures come from surveys run in 2001 to 2003, so treat them as old.
The sources describe this a little differently. NIMH says “A panic attack can last from a few minutes to an hour or sometimes longer.” The MedlinePlus encyclopedia says an attack begins suddenly and “most often peaks within 10 to 20 minutes,” and that some symptoms continue for an hour or more.
Nobody knows for certain. MedlinePlus says the cause of panic disorder is unknown, and NIMH says panic disorder sometimes runs in families but that no one knows for sure why some relatives have it and others do not. SAMHSA lists genetics, trauma, major stress and changes in brain function among the factors that play a part.
NIMH describes one idea, saying that “Some researchers think panic attacks are like “false alarms,” where our body’s typical survival instincts are active either too often or too strongly, or some combination of the two.” That is a theory researchers are looking at, not a settled explanation.
NIMH says “Treatment for panic disorder typically involves psychotherapy, medication, or both.”
NIMH adds that finding the best treatment may take trial and error, and that both psychotherapy and medication can take some time to work. To find a provider and prepare for a first visit, see how to find a mental health provider, or look at low-cost mental health care in Dallas County.
We did not find an official step-by-step guide for what to do during an attack. NIMH says that exposure therapy, a common CBT method, “may be used along with relaxation exercises and breathing training techniques.”
NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) describes breathing exercises as focusing on “taking slow, deep breaths” and notes that people occasionally report negative experiences from relaxation techniques, such as “increased anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or fear of losing control.” If you have severe or long-lasting symptoms of any kind, NCCIH says to see your health care provider.
NIMH says that if your anxiety, or the anxiety of a loved one, starts to cause problems in everyday life, such as at school, at work, or with friends and family, “it’s time to seek professional help.” MedlinePlus says to contact your provider if panic attacks are interfering with your work, relationships, or self-esteem.
MedlinePlus also notes that many people with panic disorder first seek treatment at the emergency room because an attack often feels like a heart attack, and that other medical disorders must be checked for before panic disorder can be diagnosed. NIMH says a provider may conduct a physical exam to make sure an unrelated physical problem is not causing your symptoms.
We did not find an official source that gives a reliable way to tell them apart by symptoms. NHLBI says to call 9-1-1 any time you think you might be having a heart attack, even if you are not sure.
NIMH says panic attacks themselves are not life-threatening and the physical symptoms usually resolve with time. They can still be very distressing, and MedlinePlus says untreated panic disorder can sometimes lead to other health conditions, including depression and substance use disorders.
No. NIMH says an isolated panic attack is not a mental disorder. A diagnosis of panic disorder requires recurrent, unexpected attacks plus at least 1 month of ongoing worry about more attacks or changes in behavior to avoid them.
NIMH says treatment typically involves psychotherapy, medication, or both. It names cognitive behavioral therapy and SSRI or SNRI antidepressants. A provider can discuss which options fit you.
Sources last checked October 25, 2026. This article is general education, not financial, legal or medical advice. Rules, fees and programs change, so confirm details with the organization before you act.
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