Heart Palpitations vs. Heart Attack: Recognizing the Difference

Although both conditions affect the same organ, heart palpitations and heart attacks feature vastly different symptoms and underlying causes. The ability to recognize the variations between these two conditions may mean the difference between life and death.

Identification

• The symptoms for heart palpitations include a fluttering, rapid or pounding heartbeat. Meanwhile some symptoms of a heart attack include a pressurized or tight sensation in the chest, shortness of breath and fainting.

Causes

• Heart palpitations rarely relate to a serious medical condition, as they ordinarily come about due to stress, certain medications, or excessive caffeine or nicotine intake. However heart attacks normally occur when a coronary artery remains cut off from its blood supply due to a clot.

Warning

• Heart attacks can be deadly if not attended to in a timely fashion. While palpitations may prove to be harmless the majority of the time, they may also indicate a more serious condition such as heart failure or a stroke.

Features

• Women experiencing a heart attack may exhibit more noticeable symptoms such as clammy skin, pain in the abdomen and dizziness.

Prevention/Solution

• One of the most common sources for the onset of both conditions continues to be stress. Cutting out stress, as well as excessive alcohol intake and smoking can help prevent future heart palpitations and heart attacks.