Panic Attack vs Heart Attack | Key Differences Explained

Heart Attacks: Western vs. Eastern Cultures

✔ Seen as a medical emergency with clear symptoms: crushing chest pain, left arm pain.

✔ People are quick to seek help.

✔ Described emotionally - fear of losing control, derealization, catastrophic thoughts.

✔ Open to therapy—mental health stigma is lower.

✔ Symptoms often described as stomach pain or discomfort due to modesty and stigma.

✔ Less urgency in seeking help to avoid causing alarm or burdening others.

✔ Described with physical symptoms: dizziness, numbness, tightness - avoiding emotional terms due to stigma.

✔ Often interpreted as somatic issues (like “heart wind” in China).

✔ Often linked to social anxiety: fear of embarrassing or offending others (like taijin kyofusho in Japan).