Heartburn or Heart Attack? - How to Tell the Difference

Every year emergency rooms are flooded with people experiencing chest pain who believe they are having a heart attack. It is estimated that this encompasses more than five million people on an annual basis. Trying to determine whether a person is having a heart attack or a severe episode of heartburn is not always easy simply by taking note of the symptoms, as they can be strikingly similar in nature. Often medical tests are necessary to make a proper diagnosis. Another striking similarity is that both heart attacks and severe heartburn are more likely to take place in individuals who are over the age of 40. Let's take a closer look at the possible signs of having a heart attack as well as the possible signs of suffering from a severe episode of heartburn.

If a person is having a heart attack (also referred to as angina) he is likely to feel a tightness in the chest area, or a dull crushing pressure or even a shooting pain that begins in the middle of the chest and radiates outward. Some people report a feeling of fullness around their abdominal area when they are about to have a heart attack. The chest pain may very quickly spread to the shoulders, the neck, the arms and often times, the jaw area.

The possible signs of a heart attack continue, as an irregular pulse is common in heart attack victims as is nausea and vomiting, as well as shortness of breath. Heart attack victims often experience dizziness, weakness in their limbs and/or a feeling of lightheadedness. Heart attacks most often take place when or right after a person has been very physically active or has exert himself or herself a great deal. When an individual responds to being given nitroglycerin right away then it is more than likely that he is having a heart attack. If a person appears to be having a heart attack but does not respond well to nitroglycerin then it should still be treated as if it is a medical emergency.

One of the first signs of a severe heartburn episode is a sharp, burning feeling that occurs just beneath the breastbone or the ribs. The pain will gradually get worse and then level off into an uncomfortable dull ache. Most of the time the pain caused by heartburn does not move around and stays in one place, unlike a heart attack. Pain does not often move to the shoulders, the neck area or the arms but in some cases it can. Some heartburn sufferers experience pain from the condition in the middle of their backs.

Heartburn sufferers do not suffer the problem when their stomachs are empty but usually do so after consuming a large meal, or any meal at all fro that matter if it contained fatty or fried foods, or a lot of caffeine. Alcohol consumption can also trigger a heartburn episode as can cigarette smoking. Whether heartburn is mild, moderate or severe it generally responds very well and very quickly to the taking of antacids. In the case of severe heartburn one may not be enough to bring relief. Unlike heart attacks, it is rare for a heartburn sufferer to become nauseas, vomit, break out in a cold sweat, develop shortness of breath, become lightheaded or dizziness or feel weak.