Signs to distinguish between heartburn and heart attack symptoms

Signs to distinguish between heartburn and heart attack symptoms

Differentiating Heartburn from a Heart Attack: Understanding the Symptoms

Chest pain can be a cause for concern, especially when it's unexpected and severe. Two common conditions that can cause chest pain are heartburn and a heart attack. While both may cause discomfort in the chest area, understanding the nature, duration, and associated features of the chest discomfort can help distinguish between the two.

Heart Attack Symptoms

Heart attack symptoms often include pressure, squeezing, heaviness, tightness, or a burning sensation in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or comes and goes. This discomfort sometimes feels like something sitting on your chest and may radiate to the left arm, both arms, neck, jaw, back, or upper abdomen. It is commonly accompanied by other symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, cold sweat, unusual fatigue, or sudden weakness. The pain is typically not sharp but feels like crushing pressure and is not relieved by changing position.

Heartburn Symptoms

Heartburn, on the other hand, usually causes a burning sensation behind the breastbone or chest, often related to eating and may worsen when lying down or bending over. The pain tends to be sharp or brief and sometimes felt in the upper abdomen. Heartburn rarely radiates to the arms or jaw. Heartburn may improve with antacids. Other gastrointestinal symptoms like acid reflux, regurgitation, or difficulty swallowing may accompany it.

Key points to help differentiate:

| Symptom Feature | Heart Attack | Heartburn | |--------------------------------|--------------------------------------|------------------------------------| | Nature of chest pain | Pressure, squeezing, heaviness | Burning, sharp | | Duration | Lasts several minutes or longer, may come and go| Usually brief, often after eating | | Radiation of pain | Often to left or both arms, neck, jaw, back | Rarely radiates | | Response to position or antacids| Not relieved by position, antacids | Often worse lying down, relieved by antacids| | Associated symptoms | Shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, cold sweat| Typically no dizziness or sweating| | Occurrence context | Often during exertion or stress | Often after eating, related to acid reflux|

If there is any doubt, especially in someone with risk factors for heart disease, treat symptoms as a possible heart attack and seek emergency medical help immediately. It is safer to err on the side of caution with chest pain.

If you're not sure whether you're having a heart attack or a nasty bout of heartburn, consider the circumstances. If the pain is severe, persistent, or accompanied by other symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, or cold sweats, it's best to seek immediate medical attention.

Interventional cardiologist Laura Young, MD, shares tips to distinguish between heartburn and a heart attack: "If you're experiencing chest pain, especially if it's severe or accompanied by other symptoms, don't try to drive yourself to the hospital. Call emergency services instead. Taking an aspirin while you wait for the ambulance to arrive can help in the early stages of a heart attack."

If heartburn medications like proton pump inhibitors or over-the-counter antacids aren't relieving your symptoms, a doctor should rule out a heart attack. Remember, a heart attack won't stop when you take medicine, including aspirin.

Stay informed and stay safe. If you have any concerns about your heart health, consult a medical professional.

1. If you experience chest pain that radiates to the left arm, both arms, neck, jaw, back, or upper abdomen, and it is accompanied by symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, cold sweat, or unusual fatigue, you might be having a heart attack.
2. In contrast, heartburn usually triggers a burning sensation behind the breastbone or chest, sometimes felt in the upper abdomen, and is often accompanied by other gastrointestinal symptoms like acid reflux, regurgitation, or difficulty swallowing.
3. Remember, a heart attack won't stop when you take medicine, including aspirin, so if heartburn medications like proton pump inhibitors or over-the-counter antacids aren't relieving your symptoms, consult a medical professional to rule out a heart attack.
4. Mental health, fitness, and overall health and wellness play a crucial role in maintaining cardiovascular health. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and stress management can help reduce the risk of developing medical conditions like heart disease.

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