Hi - you answered my question last week when my husband had an apparent panic attack after using the treadmill. He was finding it hard to take a deep inward breath and so got checked out at the ER. In the end he was discharged, told it was a panic attack and was very reassured by this. His ECG was good along with his bp and sats. I however am still troubled because they didn't do bloods and he didn't have A stress ECG. Since the 'episode' ai have booked him in for a stress test, but he genuinely feels this is just a 'head' thing by its nature, and is certain there is nothing physically wrong. Since that night he has occasionally felt the sensation and says it hovers in the background but is only made worse if we talk about last week, and especially when he saw the treadmill again. He was lecturing on Sunday and felt fine running for the train, bounding up and down the stairs, but felt the weight on him when he thought about standing up on stage (he fears an attack whilst lecturing) As soon as he started chatting with a colleague however, it disappeared altogether. He has resumed his morning excercise but is easing himself slowly back into it because he fears the feeling and having it happen again. If this were a genuine underlying heart problem, would he be able to control it or trigger it with a thought in this way? Does the fact that it is still hanging around give any clues as to what it might be? It is neither better nor worse with rest or exertion, but seems to be governed by certain situations and fear of the feeling itself. Is this more suggestive of panic, or can heart symptoms ebb and flow due to state of mind? I know that it's impossible to be definitive until the test, but as a mother of 4 young children I am frightened and looking for any chance that this still might be stress related rather than a heart condition. Is there still a chance of this given his symptoms? There is nothing else except this occasional difficulty in taking a breath, and I hear him sighing occasionally throughout the day. Any thoughts much appreciated.
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1)he would not be able to control it with his mind. If it were a heart problem, he would get it with stress all of the time and activity
2)It could be acid reflux, muscular or like you said panic
3)Yes, this is more suggestive of panic
4)I highly doubt a heart problem but a stress test is a perfect idea.
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Hi and thanks. Someone here suggested the resting ECG at the time of the 'attack' was meaningless and the fact that he had breathlessness with exertions was worrisome. Does this mean that the ECG was not reassuring at all? Because he had it done during the episode can that give us any real reassurance? You say he would get it with stress all the time if it were heart related, he has had it hovering in the background this week, and it flares up if he gives it a lot of thought, or faces the trigger like the treadmill or a packed auditorium - can this be counted as being there all the time then?Many thanks in advance
I think his symptoms are actually reassuring.
He can run full speed after a train and he is fine? That is good.
However, his symptoms are "concerning" enough to warrant a stress test.
The EKG is not necessarily meaningless. If he suffered a heart attack, there could very well be changes on the EKG.
If it is simply angina, then probably it is useless. But I wouldn't call it useless altogether.
Experience: Cardiology Expert