Heartburn or Heart Attack?
More than five million patients go to the emergency room each year with
chest pain. While many of these patients are suffering from a heart
attack, some actually may be experiencing severe heartburn. The
pain caused during a heart attack and during a severe heartburn
episode is so difficult to distinguish that sophisticated equipment
is generally necessary to determine whether or not you are having
a heart attack. To complicate matters even more, the two problems
have many of the same symptoms and are more likely to occur in people
over forty.
Here are some possible differences between the two ailments. Note:
If you have any chest pain that lasts for more than a few minutes — or
any warning signs of a heart attack do not try to decide for yourself — seek
immediate medical attention.
Possible signs of angina or heart attack
- A feeling of fullness, tightness or dull crushing pressure or pain generally in the center of the chest
- Often occurs with activity or exertion
- Pain may spread to the shoulders, neck, arms or jaw
- Often responds quickly to nitroglycerin (unresponsiveness to nitroglycerin in the presence of angina or heart attack should be treated as a medical emergency)
- May be associated with an irregular pulse
- Often accompanied by a cold sweat and shortness of breath
- Nausea and possible vomiting
- Might experience lightheadedness, weakness or dizziness
Possible signs of heartburn
- A sharp, burning sensation just below the breastbone or ribs
- Pain generally does not radiate to the shoulders, neck, or arms, but it can
- Pain usually comes after meals
- Symptoms usually respond quickly to antacids
- Rarely accompanied by a cold sweat, shortness of breath, lightheadedness or dizziness
