Nurse Explains How to Tell a Heart Attack From a Panic Attack
TV presenter Alison Hammond prompted concern when she suddenly left the screen clutching her chest during filming for This Morning. The ITV star later told followers on Instagram that she had experienced heart palpitations and feared she was having a heart attack, describing the moment as “very scary”. After being taken to hospital, Alison underwent tests on her heart, lungs and blood, all of which came back clear. She is thought to have experienced a panic attack.
Emily McGrath, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said Alison did the right thing by seeking medical attention. She said: “Alison is a great role-model for what to do if you experience worrying heart symptoms, and we’re so glad to hear she is doing well. Having chest pain or tightness, shortness of breath, sweating, or feelings of dread can be frightening. While symptoms like this can have many different causes, including anxiety or panic attacks, heart attack-like symptoms should never be ignored or dismissed.”
The BHF says heart attacks and panic attacks can produce several similar symptoms. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart becomes blocked, whereas a panic attack is triggered by a sudden surge of intense fear that causes physical symptoms. The charity has outlined the key warning signs associated with both conditions:
Ms McGrath added: “If you experience chest pain or discomfort that is severe, lasts more than a few minutes, or is accompanied by symptoms such as sweating, nausea, dizziness or pain spreading to the arm, neck, jaw or back, call 999 immediately.
“Never worry about wasting anyone’s time. Women in particular tend to dismiss heart attack signs because of a misperception that heart attacks only happen to men. By encouraging people to seek immediate medical help when something doesn’t feel right, Alison is helping to raise awareness that could save lives.”
Around 100,000 people are admitted to hospitals in the UK each year after suffering a heart attack. These attacks claim an average of 460 lives annually—equivalent to one death every three minutes. More than eight million people in the UK are living with cardiovascular disease, a condition that raises the risk of both heart attacks and strokes.
