You may have experienced heartburn, but have you ever had a heart attack? Both conditions trigger pain in the chest, but they are pretty distinct. It is essential to note the differences to know when to take it to the doctor. Here, we will explain heartburn, how it differs from a heart attack, and when to have a check-up with a doctor.
What is Heartburn?
Heartburn is a burning feeling in the chest that develops after eating. Don’t worry; it has nothing to do with your heart, though. Heartburn occurs when your stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, the tube connecting your mouth to your stomach. The returned acid irritates the inner lining of the esophagus and causes a burning sensation.
Causes:
There are many different triggers of heartburn. Some of the most common causes include:
- Diet: Eating spicy food, caffeine, alcohol, and citrus fruits.
- Overeating: Consuming large meals, particularly before lying down.
- Obesity: The additional body weight pushes your stomach and forces the acid upwards.
- Smoking: Smoking dilutes the valve between your stomach and esophagus.
- Pregnancy: Changes in hormonal levels and pressure on the stomach can cause heartburn
Symptoms:
The symptoms of heartburn are usually mistaken for a heart attack, but there are some differences:
- A burning feeling in your chest or throat.
- A sour or bitter taste in your mouth.
- Heartburn that worsens with lying down or after meals.
- A problem in swallowing (in severe cases).
Diagnosis:
If you experience recurring heartburn, your physician may offer some investigations to determine acid reflux, for instance;
- Endoscopy: It is a flexible tube used to visualize your esophagus.
- pH test: It measures the acidic nature of your esophagus.
- Esophageal manometry: It tests the muscle strength in your esophagus.
Treatment:
Most times, heartburn treatment is supplemented by changing lifestyles and medication:
- Over-the-counter antacids, the stomach acid is neutralized.
- H2 blockers, which decrease stomach acid production.
- Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs), inhibit the production of acid and allow the esophagus to heal
- Changes in lifestyle, such as smaller meals, staying away from trigger foods, and not lying down
Heart Attack vs. Heartburn – What is the Difference?
It’s like a heart attack, though, and there are some significant differences between them, which can help you decide what’s going down. So let’s break it down for you:
Pain Location:
Heart Attack: The pain of a heart attack typically starts in the center or left side of the chest and can radiate to the arms, back, neck, or jaw.
Heartburn: Heartburn pain is usually in the upper chest or throat and does not spread to the rest of the body.
Type of Pain:
Heart Attack: It is described as a tightening, squeezing, or feeling of being heavy. At other times, it is like an elephant sitting on your chest.
Heartburn: Heartburn is a burning or painful sensation that sometimes begins after having food. There is also a bitter or sour taste in the mouth.
Associated Symptoms:
Myocardial Infarction: Other symptoms of myocardial infarction include shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, and nausea.
Heartburn: This disease is mostly characterized by a sour taste, bloated sensation, and sometimes painful or bothersome swallowing.
Time:
Myocardial Infarction: The chest pain of a heart attack remains for longer and does not fade away immediately. It may take more than 15 minutes or, sometimes, may continue to repeat for hours or even several hours.
Heartburn: Heartburn usually lasts a few minutes to a few hours and goes away if antacids are administered
When to See Your Doctor
You should know when to call your doctor when necessary, more so if you are not sure whether you are experiencing heartburn or a heart attack
Heart Attack:
If you experience the following symptoms, do not wait. Call emergency medical services immediately:
- Chest pain that radiates to your arms, back, neck, or jaw.
- Chest squeezing, tight, or crushing pressure.
- Shortness of breath.
- Cold sweats, nausea, or dizziness.
Heart attacks are a matter of time. Even though immediate treatment might not alter the outcome, it can help prevent long-term damage.
Heartburn:
Heartburn doesn’t feel very nice at all, but heartburn is rarely deadly. But if you get heartburn more than two times a week or if your heartburn is intense, see a doctor. You should see a doctor if:
- Heartburn happens more than twice a week.
- You have a problem swallowing.
- You have unintentional weight loss.
- Your heartburn worsens with medications you can buy without a prescription.
Chronic heartburn can lead to serious conditions, like esophagitis, inflammation of the esophagus or Barrett’s esophagus, which increases your chances of developing esophageal cancer.
Prevention and Management
Heart Attack Prevention:
Heart disease is most times preventable when lifestyle changes and management of diagnosed medical conditions are made. To decrease your likelihood of having a heart attack:
- Eat a healthy diet. Eat food prepared and rich in whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats.
- Regular exercise. Engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly.
- Quit smoking. Tobacco smoking is the most significant risk factor for heart disease.
- Manage stress. Chronic stress may lead to high blood pressure and other heart-related problems.
- Control underlying conditions: If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol, work with your doctor to keep them under control.
Heartburn Management:
You can manage heartburn by combining lifestyle modifications with medication. To prevent heartburn:
- Pay attention to food intake: Avoid trigger foods such as spicy, fatty or acidic items
- Eat smaller meals: Large meals tend to put more pressure on the stomach.
- Stay upright after meals: Wait for at least two to three hours before lying down.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Extra weight adds extra pressure on your stomach
- Avoid tight clothing: Tight belts or trousers pressure your abdomen, forcing acid up
- In severe cases, an antacid may be prescribed with H2 blockers or PPIs.
Then, it is crucial to establish the differences between a heart attack and heartburn to know the symptoms well so that timely medical care will be administered when such conditions arise. Heartburn is usually harmless and benign, but a heart attack is an emergency with life-threatening conditions, thus requiring immediate medical treatment. Doubt them whenever you want, but in case, it’s better to err and seek medical help.
It needs to be looked after and your heartburn symptoms controlled to maintain your health without putting yourself at unnecessary risk.
