Over 4 million Americans suffer from one form of anxiety disorder or another. For those that have the misfortune of dealing with it, the symptoms of an anxiety or panic attack can be quite alarming. Many people confuse their anxiety symptoms with those of a heart attack, and it is easy to see why! Listed below are some anxiety symptoms. As you read through them, you will see why it is not surprising that someone would be confused as to whether they were suffering from anxiety or a true heart attack.

• Chest pain and heart palpitations
• Excessive sweating
• Tingling in the extremities
• Muscle tension or weakness
• Excessive worry, tension
• Nausea
• Tiredness
• Irritability
• Difficulty concentrating
• Restlessness
• Having an unrealistic view of a common problem

Several of these anxiety symptoms fall right in line with what you might experience if you were having a heart attack, particularly the chest pain, heat palpitations, excessive sweating and tingling. If you are experiencing any of them, you should seek medical attention immediately.

The treatment for anxiety symptoms is quite different than for those who have suffered a heart attack. First and foremost, a person who has anxiety disorder needs to seek psychological counseling. While anxiety is not a mental illness, a person who suffers with it needs to learn to get control of it. There are some medications that can be prescribed to help with anxiety, too. These include:

• Anti-depressants: SSRIs, Tricyclics, and MAOIs are commonly prescribed for severe anxiety. This type of medication needs to build up slowly within a person’s system for the full benefits to be felt.
• Anti-anxiety drugs: These drugs are usually only prescribed for a short amount of time, as the body seems to build up a tolerance relatively easily.
• Beta-blockers: Also prescribed for those who have suffered from heart issues, this type of medication can help to curb some of the physical anxiety symptoms that are listed above.

For those who are prescribed medicine for their anxiety symptoms, it is important that they follow the physicians direction closely, as some of these medicines interact with other over-the-counter treatments. They should talk to their physician as well as their pharmacist should they have any questions or concerns.