Are You Experiencing Heartburn or a Heart Attack?

The approaching holiday season is the time a year when food becomes the center of focus, often leading to an overindulgence that can cause indigestion and heartburn. But because heartburn and a heart attack can both cause chest pain, it is easy to confuse these two conditions. (Actually, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart, but is named so because the pain you feel is in close proximity to the heart.)

Also, people who are at risk for heart attacks (those over age 40, for example) are often the same ones who are most likely to experience heartburn. If you experience chest pain, to be safe, seek medical attention immediately. Waiting to see if chest pain is due to heartburn could prove fatal, as much of the damage of a heart attack occurs in the first hour. Of the millions of people each year that show up in emergency rooms with concerns that their chest pain is due to a heart attack, only about 10 percent are actually suffering from heartburn.

According to the Johns Hopkins Digestive Disorders White Paper, in general, you can tell the difference between heartburn and a heart attack by the following symptoms:

Heartburn

A burning feeling behind the breastbone or ribs that may travel into the neck and throat.

• A bitter or acidic taste in the mouth associated with acid regurgitation.

• The pain typically occurs one to four hours after a meal and may subside somewhat within a few minutes of antacid treatment.

• Belching or difficulty swallowing.

• Symptoms can be brought on or exacerbated by lying down or bending over.

• Symptoms are rarely accompanied by a cold sweat.

Heart Attack

A feeling of pain, squeezing, fullness or pressure in the center of the chest that lasts longer than a few minutes.

• Pain radiating into the shoulder, arm or jaw, particularly on the left side of the body.

• Chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath, a cold sweat, nausea, fainting, dizziness, paleness or lightheadedness.

• Palpitations or an increase in heart rate.

• Fatigue, weakness or anxiety of unknown cause.