1. Heartburn Defined
Heartburn occurs when the tiny muscle (the lower esophageal sphincter or LES) that keeps stomach contents from coming up the esophagus relaxes or stops functioning properly. This allows the stomach contents to rise into the esophagus, causing chest pain. Eating spicy foods, overeating and general poor health can contribute to the incidence of heartburn. Since the pain of heartburn can be overwhelming, confusing it with a heart attack is common.
2. Learn the Causes of Heart Attacks
A heart attack usually starts with coronary artery disease or after the arteries that provide blood to the heart narrow and stop blood from flowing properly. Plaques form in these arteries and if the coronary artery disease isn't treated, the plaques can rupture. This forms a blood clot, stopping the blood from flowing through the artery and a heart attack occurs.
3. Think About the Pain
If the pain stays mostly in your chest cavity and doesn't rotate into the neck, shoulders, jaw or arms, it's probably heartburn. Heartburn usually feels like a sharp burning sensation below the breastbone or in the ribs, and it usually comes after eating. The condition may become worse after lying down. It may radiate into the throat or there may be a bitter or sour taste at the back of the throat. A heart attack usually feels like a tightness, a crushing or a fullness in the center of the chest and may happen after overexertion.
4. Review Other Symptoms
If you're trying to distinguish between heartburn and heart attack look at the other symptoms you're experiencing. Heart attacks usually present with a rapid or irregular pulse, a cold sweat, shortness of breath, weakness, anxiety, dizziness or a lightheaded feeling. Other symptoms may include nausea and vomiting. Heartburn usually goes away once you pop an antacid. Heart attacks won't respond to antacids, and symptoms will last 30 minutes or longer. Heart attacks do respond quickly to nitroglycerin which you'd get from medical professional if you suspect a heart attack. Heartburn doesn't usually come with other symptoms.
5. Understand the Bottom Line
If you have chest pain that lasts longer than a few minutes, is severe or combined with any other symptoms, call 911 or contact medical help immediately. You must get treatment within 2 hours of the heart attack for it to be effective.
