If you have other cardiac symptoms and antacids aren’t working, it’s time to call emergency services
It’s frustrating, but true: The main symptoms of a heart attack and heartburn can be nearly indistinguishable — so much so that emergency responders often have to run tests to determine which condition you’re experiencing.
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If healthcare professionals can’t always tell the difference between a life-changing medical event and a bad case of acid indigestion, how can you? Interventional cardiologist Laura Young, MD, shares some tips — and stresses that it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Both severe heartburn and heart attacks cause chest pain. But since the esophagus (where you feel heartburn) is so close to the heart, it’s often difficult for people to tell where their pain is coming from.
It can be even harder to tell the difference if you have a preexisting medical condition, like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), that causes frequent bouts of acid indigestion.
Dr. Young says these are some of the best ways to distinguish between heartburn and a heart attack:
Chest pain can present in many different — and unexpected — ways, depending on what’s causing it.
When you think of a heart attack, you may picture a person clutching their chest in agony. But Dr. Young says it isn’t always that dramatic — especially for women or people with diabetes.
Chest pain from a heart attack can feel like:
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With heartburn, the name says it all. The chest pain you get feels like:
If you aren’t sure whether the pain in your chest is coming from your esophagus or your heart, zoom out and focus on any other physical sensations you’re experiencing. That should help you better distinguish between heartburn and a heart attack.
According to Dr. Young, the following symptoms suggest you may be having a heart attack, not severe heartburn:
Meanwhile, common signs that point to heartburn include:
One of the key differences between heartburn and a heart attack is the fact that a heart attack won’t stop when you take medicine — including aspirin.
When you have a heart attack, it’s because one of the coronary arteries that provide blood to your heart is fully or partially blocked. That blockage is obstructing the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart. And there’s nothing in your medicine cabinet that will resolve it.
“Your symptoms will continue until that blockage is cleared,” Dr. Young clarifies.
Heartburn, on the other hand, should respond to medication like antacids.
“It’s important for a doctor to rule out a heart attack if heartburn medications like proton pump inhibitors or over-the-counter antacids aren’t relieving your symptoms,” Dr. Young urges.
If you’re not sure whether you’re having a heart attack or a nasty bout of heartburn, it can be helpful to put your symptoms in context. Ask yourself these questions:
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Act fast and err on the side of caution if there’s a chance something could be happening to your heart. As cardiologists sometimes say, “time is muscle.” So, don’t take more than a few minutes to decide to pick up the phone.
“Ignoring your symptoms, or trying to wait them out, is the worst thing you can do,” Dr. Young says. “Call 911 and get checked by a medical professional. If you’re having a heart attack, acting fast is key to stopping the damage and preventing long-term health effects.”
If you think you’re having a heart attack:
Dr. Young has one last reminder: It’s OK to be wrong. If you can’t tell whether you’re having a heart attack or heartburn, seeking help is the right choice.
“We don’t want you to have a heart attack,” Dr. Young says. “And we won’t be upset if it turns out you actually had a bad case of heartburn. It’s hard to tell them apart sometimes, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry.”
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