A heart attack often presents with angina, which is chest pain resulting from an inadequate blood supply to the heart. This pain can feel like pressure or squeezing and may be accompanied by shortness of breath. A key characteristic is that the pain can spread from the chest to the arms, neck, jaw, back, and stomach. Importantly, several symptoms, such as palpitations, a racing pulse, and a pounding sensation in the chest, are similar to those experienced during a panic attack.