Panic Disorder or Heart Attack?

[AbeLinkedIn]

This isn't for me, but my brother. He had come to me an hour ago saying he was awoken by chest pain and an inability to deep breathe. AFAIK he doesn't have any other classic signs of a heart attack, but I'm seriously debating on whether or not I need to rush him to the ER. He doesn't have a history of panic to my knowledge but is under a ton of stress from family issues and work and car problems bearing down on him. I'm not going to bed until I know he's fine, even if it males me worse for wear.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

Anyone? This is urgent

 

[Cuchculan]

If he is still alive, it is just panic disorder. I have seen a person ( Mt Dad ) have a heart attack. It was straight down to the ground. So if your brother is able to talk on a phone to you, chances are it was not a heart attack. It would effect him a lot worse if it was a heart attack. But if it makes you feel both better to have him checked out, then do that. For peace of mind at least.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

We're living together with my mom. He's 22, hasn't had a history of panic or heart issues aside from high blood pressure which runs in our family. He took tums and said the feeling subsided a bit but he still feels some pressure and can't yawn fully. It figures when I get over my own HA I worry about someone else.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

I barely got any sleep last night. He took a Tums and said the symptoms subsided some and when I asked him this morning how he felt he said he can't say for sure, it might be in his head. It's making me think things and give myself symptoms like feeling faint. He seems to be walking around normally and talking okay and I assume slept fine, so is that a good sign? How would I know if he was really ill?

 

[Akenn]

I barely got any sleep last night. He took a Tums and said the symptoms subsided some and when I asked him this morning how he felt he said he can't say for sure, it might be in his head. It's making me think things and give myself symptoms like feeling faint. He seems to be walking around normally and talking okay and I assume slept fine, so is that a good sign? How would I know if he was really ill?

He is very young and it may be panic attack. If it happens again I would get him checked just for peace of mind. I had a panic attack out of nowhere and they really take a toll on you.

 

[Boomer57]

The heart attack scenario is one to be cautious with .... on one hand, once you've rung the bell, you can't unring it -- say "chest pain" to someone and you'll likely (and I think rightly) end up in the ER. No saying "oops, nevermind."

On the other hand, ignoring clear, unambiguous cardiac symptoms could land you in the morgue.

I'm a 61 yo M, and I've done the ER trip for chest pain; only later realized it was likely a PA. I'm glad I went (actually, my wife insisted). Nothing was found, but ER doc and cardiologist said it was the right thing to do.

YMMV.

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[AbeLinkedIn]

My thing is he is being very ambiguous with his symptoms. I'd assume if he was in distress he wouldn't be going to work or going about his day to day. Yesterday was stressful to him since we have a lot of family issues and car trouble and other stressors. He claims he can't yawn but if that's the case I don't think he could have slept.

 

[hatboxghost]

Here’s the thing, you can’t force anyone to do anything unfortunately. Men are stubborn and hard headed (take it from me I am a male! Lol)
But I will say, when other people start describing their symptoms, I revert to the worst possible scenario. So, ultimately it’s his decision to make. You might be able to convince him to go get it checked out at an Urgent Care instead of the ER. (Cheaper and faster)
WORSE CASE: if it’s an emergency, he will be taken to the appropriate location where it can be addressed. Otherwise, keep reassuring him and yourself that things are very likely going to be just fine.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

He told me that he's feeling marginally better but if things don't improve tomorrow morning he'll do a walk in a the GP we usually visit to see what's up. He thinks it's just indigestion and stress but me being the worry wart I'm wondering if he's going to job out to the Reaper.

 

[AiThink]

Sounds like anxiety. But a dr can rule out any more serious issues.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

Update: We haven't heard any other complaints of the symptoms like chest pressure or inability to deep breathe. We think it was anxiety and stress from work and not anything more sinister. He's since got the new car and feels much better, I made this thread out of impulse I suppose.