When is heartburn a heart attack

The type of chest discomfort in a heart attack is different than what is typically experienced with indigestion. People experiencing a heart attack may also experience sweating, toothache, headache, heartburn, nausea and vomiting. Many had other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, weakness, cold sweat, nausea, upset stomach or back pain.

If you think you are having a heart attack, call or have someone make the call for you immediately. Getting to an emergency room as quickly as possible is important. Chung says.

Is it heartburn from indigestion? Could it be a heart attack? If it is a heart attack, prompt medical care can be lifesaving. A heart attack is an event caused by disease in the coronary arteries. These blood vessels supply blood to the heart, keeping it alive with energy and oxygen. When coronary artery disease causes a loss of blood supply to part of the heart muscle, this is a heart attack. A heart attack can lead to the heart stopping. This is called a cardiac arrest.

Someone with cardiac arrest will not be responsive and will have no pulse. Not all heart attacks give the same symptoms. Symptoms can be mild or severe, and some people experience no symptoms at all.

The chest pain or discomfort is usually central or central-left, but it might not be. The pain may spread to other areas. It can affect one or both arms, the neck, jaw, or upper or mid-back. People who may be less likely to experience symptoms when having a heart attack include older people and those with diabetes. These people may still show other symptoms though, such as breathlessness.

Rather than the reduced supply of blood to the heart being caused by a coronary artery blockage, it is caused by vessel narrowing instead. People with angina are at greater risk of having a heart attack. Anyone who has angina should be under medical care and alert to this risk. The most common form of angina is temporary pain that goes away after rest or medication. This is called stable angina. Unstable angina raises the risk of a heart attack.

It is the sensation, usually of burning pain, caused by acid reflux. Acid reflux is the contents of the stomach splashing back up into the food pipe. Heartburn is not related to the heart in any way. The confusion comes from the location of the pain, in the chest. Regular heartburn can increase the risk of damage to the esophagus and it might signal a more serious condition, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD or cancer. Learn more about heart and vascular services at Edward-Elmhurst Health.

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To see the full site, please upgrade your browser to the most recent version of Safari, Chrome, Firefox or Internet Explorer. If you cannot upgrade your browser, you can remain on this site. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Heart attack.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Accessed Jan. Yelland MJ. Outpatient evaluation of the adult with chest pain. Rybicki FJ, et al. Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Hollander JE, et al. Evaluation of the adult with chest pain in the emergency department. Warning signs of a heart attack. American Heart Association. Kahrilas PJ. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux in adults. Biliary tract disorders, gallbladder disorders, and gallstone pancreatitis.

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