Acid reflux or heart attack?
Posted on August 13, 2010
Filed Under Conditions and Diseases
If you have not suffered from acid reflux before, you may be surprised at how painful the condition can actually be. The most common symptom of acid reflux is heartburn, which causes a painful burning sensation in the chest. This chest pain can be frightening, and can make people worry if it is an acid reflux or heart attack symptom. There are some key differences between the two, and knowing what they are may save you from an unnecessary hospital visit.
Chest pain is one of the most common reasons people go the emergency room. This makes sense when you consider how many Americans are at risk for heart disease. However, symptoms do differ between heartburn and heart failure. Knowing the symptoms will help you identify whether you are experiencing acid reflux or heart attack. Heartburn causes a sharp, burning sensation, usually located just under the ribs or breastbone. Usually the pain does not radiate, but it can also affect the neck, back, and shoulders. Symptoms usually respond quickly to treatment with over-the-counter antacids. Also, heartburn will typically occur after meals, when lying on the back, and sometimes while exercising or when experiencing anxiety.
A heart attack can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, and usually a cold sweat. The chest pain is usually sudden and is quick to intensify. Rather than a burning sensation, a heart attack causes a feeling of fullness or pressure in the chest- some compare it to having a belt tightened around the chest. The pain can also radiate to the jaw or the arms.
Determining whether you are suffering from acid reflux or heart attack symptoms can be difficult- even doctors can confuse the two. It does not help that other medical conditions (such as age and weight) can cause both reflux and heart difficulties. If you are unsure what is causing your chest pain, you should seek medical attention. There are some cases where only the most sophisticated medical tests and equipment can determine what is causing your chest pain. It is better to go to the emergency room and get sent home for gastrointestinal problems than do nothing and endure a heart attack.
