It's your birthday. You've just enjoyed your favorite dinner (with an extra large helping of mashed potatoes and gravy), and you’ve finished off the celebration with a super-sized piece of cake. What comes next on the menu is something you didn’t order: the worst case of heartburn and indigestion you’ve ever experienced. Or could it be something more serious?
“Sometimes it’s impossible to tell the difference between the symptoms of heartburn, angina, and heart attack,” cautioned P.K. Shah, MD, director of the Division of Cardiology and the Atherosclerosis Research Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. When in doubt, check it out, he said.
Generally we recommend that if you think you’re having a heart attack, call 9-1-1,” said Dr. Shah. “It’s the safest thing to do. We tell people to err on the side of caution and overreact instead of under react.”
Risk Factors for Heart Attack
If you have any of these risk factors for heart attack, you just might be having one. Risk factors include having diabetes, being a smoker, having high cholesterol or high blood pressure, being overweight, and having a strong family history of heart disease.
- Heart attack symptoms include the sudden onset of tightness, pressure, squeezing, burning, or discomfort in the chest, throat, neck, or either arm. You should be especially suspicious if these symptoms are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sweating, shortness of breath, or a fainting sensation, Dr. Shah warned. “That’s when a bell should ring telling you that these might be symptoms of a heart attack.
- Angina, the most common symptom of coronary heart disease, is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart muscle doesn’t get enough blood. The pain, which can also occur in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back, may also feel like indigestion. Confused?
Unfortunately, there’s no rhyme or reason when it comes to predicting the time of day or circumstances when a heart attack might occur. It could strike in the middle of the night, after a heavy meal, during or immediately after sexual activity, or after moderate or heavy physical activity.
Sometimes the symptoms of reflux or common heartburn related to indigestion can resemble those of a heart attack. If you’ve had heartburn all your life and the symptoms you’re experiencing are identical to those you’ve had before – and nothing different has occurred – chances are you’re experiencing heartburn and not a heart attack.
Take it Seriously if...
If the symptoms are something you’ve never had before and are accompanied by feeling light-headed or sweaty, then that type of heartburn should be taken more seriously, says Dr. Shah. It could signal that you’ve having a heart attack.
If you are between the ages of 45 and 50 or are about to begin a heavy exercise program, it is essential that you have a regular check-up by a doctor, he said. “Certain heart conditions can remain hidden and put people at risk for sudden death. |
