Veena,

Thanks for your question.

When some people have symptoms of their panic disorder, they may have tachycardia (rapid heart beat) and release of adrenaline which acts like a stimulant to the heart as well as other organs.  These symptoms will add stress to the heart, much like a stress test is designed to do.  If a person has underlying heart disease with significant blockages of their coronary arteries, it is possible to provoke a situation where the heart is not getting enough blood to handle the situation and may result in an acute event including severe angina (chest pain from coronary artery disease without a heart attack) and even a heart attack.

The good news in your situation is that you have a normal stress test which indicates that you do not have significant blockages of your coronary arteries.  Therefore the chances of provoking a cardiac event are very unlikely.

If your panic disorder continues, I suggest you see your physician.  There are several medications on the market today with minimal to no side effects that can control this disorder, and make your life not only more comfortable, but normal. 

Best wishes and feel better.

Martin Cane, M.D.