Differentiating Heartburn Symptoms From a Heart Attack
As remarkable as it may sound, there are times when heartburn symptoms are very hard to distinguish from those of a heart attack.
When heartburn is particularly severe, a person experiencing heartburn symptoms may be filled with panic, thinking that the chest pain is already something serious.
On the other hand, mild heart attacks sometimes trigger no more than a sensation of mild pain or pressure in the general area of the chest.
Sometimes, this pain is referred to the diaphragm, giving the mistaken notion that the experience is only heartburn.
Because a heart attack is a medically serious condition, everyone should have a basic understanding of how to differentiate heartburn symptoms from a heart problem or attack.
To better distinguish between heartburn symptoms and heart attack, you need to understand the mechanism behind these two phenomena.
A heartburn is caused by stomach acids somehow travelling up the esophagus.
Because stomach acid is largely hydrochloric acid, this causes pain and a burning sensation.
On the other hand, a heart attack occurs something occurs to impede the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart.
When this happens, the heart muscle sustains damage as it basically starves to death.
Because both heart problems or attacks and heartburn manifest themselves as burning in the chest, stomach discomfort, nausea and sweating, a person in the grip of these symptoms may not be sure of what is happening.
In this case, try the following: 1.
Try to isolate where the pain has started.
Heartburn symptoms usually originate in the upper abdomen, and gradually or suddenly migrate towards the chest.
A heart problem or attack starts in the chest, and may sometimes be accompanied by pain or numbness along the left arm, shoulder, or jaw.
2.
Heartburn usually worsens when lying down or bending forward.
It could also be triggered by eating a large meal, or spicy and acidic foods.
If the pain in your chest moves upward to the back, throat and jaw, you are likely experiencing acid reflux, not a heart problem.
3.
Generally, the symptoms of a heart attack are much more intense than those of a heartburn, and the onset can be very sudden especially during exertion.
If your heart suddenly starts to beat very fast and you struggle to draw your breaths, you could be having a heart attack.
Have someone help you get to the nearest hospital so that you could get the medical attention immediately.
Persons who suffer a heart attack often recover if they get medical attention soon enough, which is why when in doubt between heartburn and heart problem, it is better to play safe and proceed promptly to the emergency room.
While heartburn is considerably less serious than a heart attack, persons who suffer from chronic heartburn symptoms should seek help as well.
Chronic heartburn can lead to certain medical conditions, such as pre-cancerous lesions of the throat.
When heartburn is particularly severe, a person experiencing heartburn symptoms may be filled with panic, thinking that the chest pain is already something serious.
On the other hand, mild heart attacks sometimes trigger no more than a sensation of mild pain or pressure in the general area of the chest.
Sometimes, this pain is referred to the diaphragm, giving the mistaken notion that the experience is only heartburn.
Because a heart attack is a medically serious condition, everyone should have a basic understanding of how to differentiate heartburn symptoms from a heart problem or attack.
To better distinguish between heartburn symptoms and heart attack, you need to understand the mechanism behind these two phenomena.
A heartburn is caused by stomach acids somehow travelling up the esophagus.
Because stomach acid is largely hydrochloric acid, this causes pain and a burning sensation.
On the other hand, a heart attack occurs something occurs to impede the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart.
When this happens, the heart muscle sustains damage as it basically starves to death.
Because both heart problems or attacks and heartburn manifest themselves as burning in the chest, stomach discomfort, nausea and sweating, a person in the grip of these symptoms may not be sure of what is happening.
In this case, try the following: 1.
Try to isolate where the pain has started.
Heartburn symptoms usually originate in the upper abdomen, and gradually or suddenly migrate towards the chest.
A heart problem or attack starts in the chest, and may sometimes be accompanied by pain or numbness along the left arm, shoulder, or jaw.
2.
Heartburn usually worsens when lying down or bending forward.
It could also be triggered by eating a large meal, or spicy and acidic foods.
If the pain in your chest moves upward to the back, throat and jaw, you are likely experiencing acid reflux, not a heart problem.
3.
Generally, the symptoms of a heart attack are much more intense than those of a heartburn, and the onset can be very sudden especially during exertion.
If your heart suddenly starts to beat very fast and you struggle to draw your breaths, you could be having a heart attack.
Have someone help you get to the nearest hospital so that you could get the medical attention immediately.
Persons who suffer a heart attack often recover if they get medical attention soon enough, which is why when in doubt between heartburn and heart problem, it is better to play safe and proceed promptly to the emergency room.
While heartburn is considerably less serious than a heart attack, persons who suffer from chronic heartburn symptoms should seek help as well.
Chronic heartburn can lead to certain medical conditions, such as pre-cancerous lesions of the throat.
