A Cardiologist's Top Tips for Dealing with Heart Attack Phobia

Cardiologist Dr. Tiffany Sizemore shares that she sees people suffering from cardiophobia - or a fear of having a heart attack - every single day in her office. She shares that many people have deep anxiety due to a family history or risk factors like diabetes, and some people experience fear-inducing panic attacks that can feel like a heart attack. Find out what Dr. Sizemore recommends for helping to calm your cardiophobia nerves!
Psychiatrist Dr. Ish Shares How He Deals with His Own Cardiophobia
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[@chriswhamilton]

My anxiety literally manifests in crushing chest pain radiating to my back for hours.

[@POSS99]

Irregular heartbeats are scary. I still get them when I'm not anxious

[@rebeccakerkow5510]

They are terrifying , I have been dealing with them for over 35 years .

[@kathleenbennett2128]

i had SVT, racing heart, like a gas pedal in a car getting floored, with my heart rythem, where heart raced out. i described fast hand fluttering...in the ER.. racing heart rythem passed out

[@soothingsoundsbypearl5366]

As someone who has had anxiety for almost all my life, it's somewhat problematic to simply put anxiety and heart attack symptoms into these two separate categories. I have had every single major symptom of a heart attack, horrible chest pressure, standing pain, twisting sensation in my heart, left arm pain and numbness, pain that radiates into my back and neck, sweats, nausea all of it. I've ended up in the hospital multiple times with these symptoms only to be told, I'm having anxiety. I'm athletic, very active, I eat incredibly clean, I don't smoke or drink but I can assure you, none of that is enough to make me feel secure when I feel that grip of what feels like death, clutching my chest.

[@CelestialTrailblazer]

You should check your Lungs for cardio-pulmonary hypertension. After doing a CT scan of my chest after experiencing all the symptoms you mentioned and discovered that I have multiple pulmonary nodules. I'm not sure if this is the root cause of all of my symptoms including anxiety.

[@soothingsoundsbypearl5366]

@@CelestialTrailblazer I think that can be found in chest xrays and I've had a few of those. As well as an ultrasound. Seeing my cardiologist tomorrow actually.

[@daltonschafer6092]

@@soothingsoundsbypearl5366 please let me know what he said about your situation I have the same problem as you I’ve been to the ER so many times I’ve had ct I’ve had X-rays an ultrasounds plenty of blood test they all say your fine it’s just anxiety

[@soothingsoundsbypearl5366]

@@daltonschafer6092 my stress test came back normal. They put a biofeedback machine on me for 2 days. Still waiting on those results. I was in NYC 2 days ago and had one of the worst panic attacks in months. I was fine all day, on the subway, walking around, no big deal. Wave of heartburn hit me and sent me spiraling on the ride back to my car in the train. Heart was beating close to 200bpm, fingers turned dark purple (the girl I was with noticed and asked why my hands were so dirty 😕 it wasn't dirt) spent the 3 and a half hour drive back just feeling my heart slam in my necks pulse. It's like 2 steps forward and a giant leap back.

[@purplfiction2]

I started having this since 3 months back… these Panick attacks are very random. Don’t know what triggers it. Been to ER twice.. reports came normal.

[@MaxMiller614]

I wish she was my cardiologist lol I need that kind of reassurance in my life

[@Horror_Film_Aficionado]

We need more doctors like this one very kind

[@emilylia5809]

Such a nice doctor omg... First time hearing a doctor talk so nicely. Wow

[@ironCheval]

Thank for doing this interview, seriously really really helped me.. :)

[@krs1690]

Bless you Doc. !

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

Look, nothing in life is guaranteed, not even life itself. Live every day to the full, don’t waste time of stuff and people that are not important. Always get symptoms checked out and even get a second or third opinion but sooner or later you’re on your own. Accept your life and LIVE IT.

[@katiedid92982]

I'm literally copying this comment and saving it 🤣 Seriously though. I have awful panic attacks and during them the fear of death is always there. This comment is so calming, because it's so straightforward and SO true. None of us are getting out of here alive, and it's such a waste of our time here to worry about it (which is why panic disorder sucks SO bad.) I'm going go read your comment the next time I feel panic coming on...so thanks for this!

[@souhardya1487]

wow beautiful comment

[@Therealnickwalker]

She’s a great doctor

[@Horror_Film_Aficionado]

I agree

[@jennynunez7946]

I have Atrial fibrillation, and I feel like a walking time bomb. I don't know when it's going to start. It's affecting my mental health. I feel so nervous when I feel palpitations, dizziness, chest pain, short of breath. I know it's anxiety over this 😢

[@haruhisuzumiya6650]

I have a panic disorder so my intrusive thoughts are palpitations and cardiac arrest

[@gauravnarodey8021]

same can u pls contact me

[@MrBoLT__]

can i help you

[@StrwbrrySmmr]

i know she said "females have atypical symptoms" but it's just.. man I genuinely can never tell the difference. I always have a really bad crushing pressure and lightheadedness with my panic attacks. I also get this horrible, ice-cold burning sensation throughout my body it's the worst. even doctors have told me that these aren't symptoms of panic attacks but I've had so many tests done and I just remember that as best as I can. That they've all been normal every time (except when I was a teenager, and had stress-related hypertension)

[@imthesadguyduh]

I must search up symptoms so much this video came to me 😅😅

[@Robert-hs8yf]

My insurance denied coverage for the CT angiogram. Now what?

[@PinkCheetah011]

My one question I would really like to know is has she ever been wrong? Like telling the patient that's anxious they're fine and then later on something happened to them. I'm sure she would never admit it but Doctors can be wrong. THATS what makes me nervous and scared.

[@oilboss2220]

I'm guessing you have this phobia which I do too but if everything shows well on the testing, you are good. What has given me reassurance is asking my Dr. For a holter monitor to assess and reassure me. Even if they say "I don't think you need it" DEMAND it for peace of mine. If anything was wrong it would show up on that

[@b.363]

According to statistics "approximately 11,000 heart attacks are misdiagnosed each year." So yeah I'm sure it has.

[@ayurvedpravin2579]

This is what makes people go deeper into anxiety. Hypochondria is where you won't believe any doctors. Take 3 opinions no matter but if all three say it's normal. Just move on

[@ayurvedpravin2579]

@@b.363 Sorry that you got unlucky to have a good cardiologist.

[@abishegamsam]

@@b.363 now are u feeling good?

[@azmagaref]

We all have blockages after 35 years, I don't really want to know how bad they are or what they look like😬That's worse than not being sure.

[@Jesus-ji8dh]

bruh

[@ioritzobieta3699]

Suspicious. A CT angiogram has some risks and should be done when there are evidence of compatible CAD symptoms not just for the sake of it.

[@Nolan.Gurule]

What about stings in the chest or hurting chest pains

[@Optimus174]

Yes i have them

[@haruhisuzumiya6650]

I get burns when I panic

[@abrahamhernandez1913]

Me too I get these!

[@tryha.11.1]

​@@abrahamhernandez1913same

[@lu__1227]

I’m afraid of having POTS It’s so scary every single day 😢

[@jebinvarghesejacob9233]

Please listen carefully, iam 35 year indian man.. I have cardio phobia.. Last 6 years.. I checked my wholebody.. All ok.. But too much fear

[@poojakapoor780]

Same here

[@gainsbourg66]

This video is misleading because emotion and stress CAN temporarily irritate and upset the heart muscle, and surrounding tissue (pericardium) without it showing up in medical tests. The coronary arteries can also go into spasm (Prinzmetal Angina) for no obvious reason - with no blockage whatsoever being present. When the heart muscle is affected by stress hormones and other hormones released from the adrenal glands it can lead to pain and other symptoms. It's not always 'all in the mind.' The good news is the heart muscle and surrounding tissue affected does not result in progressive heart disease or cause permanant damge, nor any damage that will weaken the heart or lead to a heart attack. However, if you have regular heart disease as well, such as a blockage or narrowing of the coranary arteries, it can make this condition more serious and life threatening.

[@CelestialTrailblazer]

Just go and grab a finger pulse oximeter and if your resting heart rate isn't between 60-75 range or if it's over 100, that is a red flag and you should visit your cardiologist to get checked. Also, be aware of the so-called 'Doctor' that tells you to ignore abnormally high resting heart rate. When I went to an ER once with a resting heart rate clocking in at 160bpm, the doctor told me to just ignore it and told me to continue to go back to doing my regular activities. Hell he even told me to ignore it even if my resting heart rate is at 200bpm. He doesn't realize that when you have a resting heart rate of 160bpm or 200bpm you physically can't do anything because you will feel shortness of breath and dizziness. I just can't pretend to ignore and continue doing my usual activities with a 160bpm or a 200bpm heart rate.

[@cavalrystyles8776]

How are you now?. Idk how you're even able to stand up let alone walk.

[@CelestialTrailblazer]

@@cavalrystyles8776 I don't move around much. I no longer do the usual activities. I pretty much stay in my bedroom and sit in front of my computer and watch Netflix , KZbin etc. I can't exercise or do weighting. I simply can no longer do anything that causes slight physical stress. As soon as I do anything that requires a bit of physical effort my heart rate go from 80bpm to over 120bpm. That being said, what I find rather strange is that my resting heart rate drop as low as 48-55bpm range during bedtime when I lay down to go to sleep. Hell....even my shortness of breath doesn't become as bothersome during that time. What've also noticed is that my resting heart rate stays within the 68-80bpm range when I sit in front of my computer especially after evening. As soon I stand up to go the bathroom its abnormal again. Hell...even a slight sneeze causes my resting heart rate shoot up from 78bpm to 160bpm then it comes back down again. Slight adrenaline triggers it. Its not just physical stress that triggers these abnormal pulse rate, even showing emotions like anger, being upset about something, sadness by crying, or happiness/excitement by laughing also triggers it.

[@unnikrishnanpillai4499]

@@CelestialTrailblazer Do you have any heart disease?

[@CelestialTrailblazer]

@@unnikrishnanpillai4499 I have MVP (mitral valve prolapse), Mitral Regurgitation, and Tricuspidal Regurgitation.

[@krs1690]

You owe to yourself to go to another cardiologist abd start doing your check ups, starting from an ECG , then an echocardiogram and after (ask your doc if it's necessary) go for a cardio CT angiography to find if there's some artery or vein blocked due to plaque or smth else. There is no way a resting heart mire than 120 to be considered nomral. I've suffered from anxiety and panic attacks and i know at the peak of the panic episode my heart rate about 120 bpm and they found out (after all my check ups) it's caused by psychological stress and anxiety. 200 bpm it's not even normal at brisk exercise! Hope you come next time and tell us you're OK with your heart check ups, then probably you need some good temporary anti-anxiety medication.