Heart attack or heartburn

The symptoms of a heart attack and heartburn are so similar that they have strong potential to misguide anyone experiencing the health hazards.

The symptoms of both afflictions do have a tendency to confuse and result in something serious. Heart attack is a serious condition that requires prompt medical intervention while heartburn can also be treated at home.

Heart attack should never be ignored and one should rush to the hospital as soon as possible. Heartburn could be treated simply by taking some antacids.

In the meanwhile, it is important to distinguish between both the conditions so that problems
could be precluded.

Distinguishing between heartburn and heart attack is very complicated because the nerves in the stomach and heart do not clearly signal to the brain where the pain originates. This creates a big problem because  patients who have a heart attack often either have no
symptoms or have minor symptoms that are difficult to identify correctly.

This difficulty is experienced by a wide number of people and face negative consequences.

Gastrointestinal problems such as gastro-esophageal reflux, ulcers and pancreatitis can all cause chest pain and other symptoms similar to those of a heart attack or angina, an overwhelming type of chest pain caused by decreased blood flow to the heart.

If the symptoms are related to the digestive system, the pain worsens when changing position, particularly when lying down or bending over. In addition, the pain is more acute, especially after eating a fatty or spicy meal.

Depending on heart and stomach conditions, people may experience different symptoms but there are some indications that can help to differentiate. If it is a heart attack, other symptoms are often associated, such as sweating, nausea, dizziness, irregular pulse and difficult breathing.

This pathology is manifested by severe oppression, burning or pressure in the chest.
These symptoms should be quickly observed and action taken accordingly.

To distinguish between heart attack and heartburn, each individual’s personal risk factors must also be taken into account. Specifically, risk factors related to heart attack are diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and the presence of heart disease in the family history.

In addition, the length of time for which the symptom is prolonged must be taken into consideration: angina lasts between 5 and 10 minutes on average a heart attack is slightly longer while acid reflux can last hours.

 

Certain categories of people are more likely to experience unusual heart attack symptoms. Women may experience symptoms such as generalised tiredness and nausea while elderly people may experience shortness of breath, general malaise or a feeling of fainting.

Consulting a doctor or going to the emergency room in a timely manner is vital when one has symptoms whose cause one cannot identify: excessive sweating, pale colouring, fainting, general weakness and chest tightness are all symptoms that can be related to serious illnesses for which one needs to take prompt action.

Taking due cognizance of these factors can certainly save lives.