Heartburn symptoms can be mistaken for a heart attack
THe human body is complex. Several health conditions display similar symptoms, sometimes resulting in you fearing a serious health problem when the symptoms may indicate something less serious that may be nothing to worry about.
For instance, severe heartburn and a heart attack can be hard to tell apart, particularly for the ordinary person without medical training. It is important, therefore, to understand how they typically differ and learn when to seek a medical opinion for the symptoms you feel.
Telling the difference
Heartburn, angina and a heart attack may feel alike. All three can cause chest pains. even wellexperienced doctors cannot always tell the difference from your medical history and a physical examination. You may have to undergo tests to rule out a heart attack.
Heartburn can be relieved by drugs that reduce acid levels in the stomach. Heartburn does not cause more general symptoms such as breathlessness.
Both heartburn and a developing heart attack can cause symptoms that subside after a while. The pain does not have to last a long time to be a warning sign.
It is advisable, therefore, to visit the doctor or clinic if you have had an episode of unexplained chest pain even if it went away within a few hours.
Heartburn
Heartburn pain is discomfort or actual caused by digestive acid moving into the oesophagus. Typical features include a burning sensation in the chest that may also involve the upper abdomen.
Heartburn usually occurs after eating or while lying down or bending over. It can even wake you up from sleep, especially if you have eaten within two hours of going to bed.
In some cases, you may experience a sour taste in your mouth, especially when you are lying down. You may also feel a small amount of your stomach contents rising up into the back of your throat.
Heart attack
A heart attack is when the blood flow through a major artery or arteries in your heart is insufficient. As a result, areas of your heart do not receive enough blood and oxygen.
When you have a heart attack you may experience something similar to what you feel when, after standing still, you start sprinting. After a few seconds of running, your lungs are likely to feel as if they are burning and your chest feels tight. The feeling eventually lessens when you slow your pace or your heart rate reduces.
However, if you have a heart attack, your heart cannot work to increase the blood flow. The result may be chest pain but other symptoms occur too.
Different arteries in the heart supply blood to different areas of the heart. Sometimes, heart attack symptoms can vary because of the area of the heart that is affected.
The typical heart attack involves a sudden crushing chest pain and difficulty breathing, often brought on by vigorous physical activity.
However, many heart attacks do not happen that way. The signs and symptoms of a heart attack vary from person to person. Heartburn itself can accompany other symptoms of a heart attack.
Typical heart attack signs and symptoms include pressure, tightness and pain or a squeezing or aching sensation in your chest or arms that may spread to your neck, jaw or back. You may also experience nausea, indigestion, heartburn or abdominal pain.
Other symptoms include shortness of breath, a cold sweat, fatigue, light-headedness or sudden dizziness.
The most common symptom of a heart attack for both men and women is chest pain or discomfort. However, women are more likely than men to experience some of the other symptoms, such as jaw or back pain, shortness of breath and nausea or vomiting.
Heart problems are more common among people who have high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol. Smoking and being overweight are other risk factors that also increase your chances of suffering a heart attack.
Angina
Angina, which also involves chest pains, is a symptom of heart disease. It provides a warning of heart disease which may or may not lead ultimately to a heart attack. It indicates that your heart is not receiving sufficient blood and is in danger of becoming damaged.
A heart attack occurs when the narrowing of arteries is severe or an artery has become blocked, leading to damage to the heart muscle.
Common symptoms
While chest pain is a symptom of both heartburn and a heart attack, the areas in and around the chest affected by pain and the pain sensations themselves are slightly different.
Heartburn typically includes a burning sensation that starts in the upper part of the stomach and radiates to the chest.
Your daily diet can contribute to chronic pain from heartburns. You may, for example, have eaten a big meal and feel a burning sensation in your chest. This will most likely be heartburn but there is still a chance the chest pain may be caused by angina or a heart attack.
A heart attack typically includes an uncomfortable sensation in the centre or left side of the chest that is sometimes described as pressure, squeezing or a fullness.
Both a heart attack and heartburn have additional symptoms, which may include pain that usually takes place after eating, pain that comes on suddenly, shortness of breath, a burning sensation in your throat, feeling weak or faint and discomfort in one or both shoulders.
Other causes of chest pain
Heart attacks and heartburn are not the only causes of chest pain but they are two of the most common.
Other potential symptoms include anxiety attacks. Severe bouts of anxiety can cause panicked feelings that may make you feel as if your heart is racing. Other symptoms of an anxiety attack include shortness of breath and intense fear.
Some people may experience an oesophageal muscle spasm. If this occurs, you can have pain and discomfort, such as chest pain.
Gallbladder pain can also be felt in the chest. Your gallbladder is responsible for releasing bile that the body uses to digest fats. It can become blocked or diseased with gallstones, causing symptoms that include pain in the shoulders, arms and neck as well as nausea and vomiting.
Pleurisy can also cause chest pain. This condition is an inflammation of the tissues in the chest wall, often due to intense coughing or inflammation from an infection.
Conclusion
While a key symptom of both a heart attack and heartburn is chest pain, there are other symptoms that can help differentiate between the two conditions. It is therefore always better to be cautious and seek professional medical advice if you suspect a heart attack, even if it may turn out that what you have is heartburn.
The information in this article is provided as a public service by the Cimas iGo wellness programme, which is designed to promote good health. it is provided for general information only and should not be construed as medical advice. Readers should consult their doctor or clinic on any matter related to their health or the treatment of any health problem. — igo@cimas. co.zw or whatsapp 0772 161 829 or phone 024-2773 0663