A panic attack can often mimic symptoms of other serious medical conditions. Sometimes, a panic attack can cause chest pain and tightness, leading a person to believe they are suffering from a heart attack. The fight-or-flight response in the body may trigger muscles in the chest to contract. This, in turn, may cause even more anxiety, which causes the muscles to constrict even further. The person may enter a vicious cycle which makes it difficult for them to calm down.

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