Is It a Case of Severe Heartburn or Heart Attack?
Every year, millions of people rushed to the emergency room complaining of severe chest pain as the main symptom. Since many medical conditions can cause chest pain, even doctors will be hard-pressed to diagnose if the patient is suffering from severe heartburn or heart attack in the first few minutes of assessment. We can only imagine the number of people who mistakenly thought that their chest pain was just heartburn instead of a heart attack and, thus, refused to seek immediate medical assistance.
Indeed, even the most basic knowledge to differentiate between an average episode of heartburn and the first stage of a heart attack will mean the difference between life and death for the individual. Read on and you may be able to save a life perhaps even your own life.
Common Symptoms of Heartburn
Depending on the intensity of the heartburn episode, its symptoms can range from mild discomfort in the abdomen to severe pain on the chest. Severe heartburn takes its toll on the individual through a combination of the following symptoms:
• Burning sensation just below and behind the breastbone that can last for hours at a time and starts just after eating a full meal
• Severe chest pain that manifests itself when eating, lying down or bending over
• Burning sensation at the back of the throat that feels like a hot, sour and acidic fluid rising up
• Difficulty in swallowing manly because the throat feels constricted and pained from the acid
• Occasional cough, hoarseness and sore throat
Doctors often only need these symptoms to diagnose severe heartburn. Special tests may be ordered to determine underlying medical conditions that may also be causing heartburn in your case.
Common Signs of a Heart Attack
And then there’s the case of a heart attack. It is characterized by the following symptoms a few of which are in common with severe cases of heartburn:
• A sensation of fullness and tightness coupled with a dull pain in the center of the chest. It feels like a belt is being slowly tightened around the chest
• Sudden pain or pressure in the chest that worsens with time. You may feel the pain spreading from the chest to the shoulders, neck, jaw and arms.
• Dizziness, shortness of breath, and possible lightheadedness
• Breaking out in cold sweat
If you feel these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention for your life is in immediate danger. You are not experiencing severe heartburn.
Heartburn Mistaken for Heart Attack
From the abovementioned discussion, you can see that chest pain is the common denominator between a heart attack and heartburn. If you feel that you are experiencing a heart attack, let someone drive you to the emergency room.
But don’t get your panties all up in a bunch by thinking that you are having a heart attack because that will only worsen your symptoms. Try to remain calm as much as possible. You may also just be mistaking your heartburn with a heart attack
In the end, severe heartburn and heart attacks is a matter of life and death in more ways than one. You should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Is It a Case of Severe Heartburn or Heart Attack?