How can you distinguish between a heartburn or chest pain from a mild heart attack?

This entry was posted on Friday, December 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am and is filed under Acid Reflux Symptom. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

3 Responses to “How can you distinguish between a heartburn or chest pain from a mild heart attack?”

  1. "Katwoman" Says:

    Marvin Ham

    heartburn and chest pain and heart attack can all feel the same except with a heart attack you tend to have more pain in your heart you will know if you are having one also chest pains you will mostly feel in your lung area.
    acid reflux is in the middle of your chest and you will feel it in your throat also.

  2. ckm1956 Says:

    Jeremy Enoch

    It’s difficult for doctors, it’s impossible for non-doctors. The problem is that heart attacks can present in many ways.

    Anyone who has worked in emergency medicine has probably had the heart attack victim who’s waited too long because “it was just gas.”

    As an example of odd symptoms, there was one woman I treated that came to the ED because she couldn’t stop belching. Big acute heart attack.

  3. rosieC Says:

    Paul Zapata

    Symptoms of a heart attack can occur in any combination, and range from mild to severe.

    intense pressure or crushing pain in the chest that may extend into the arms, neck or back
    moderate chest pain, tightness, pressure or vague discomfort
    feeling faint, dizzy or weak
    difficulty breathing

    How would you know if it’s your heart?
    It can be difficult or even impossible to tell what’s causing chest pain. Be on the lookout for these heart-related warning signs:

    Sudden pressure, tightening, squeezing or crushing pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes
    Pain spreading to the back, neck, jaw, shoulders or arms — especially the left arm
    Chest discomfort accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness or nausea
    Pressure or tightness in the chest during physical activity or when you’re under emotional stress
    a feeling of severe indigestion that doesn’t go away after taking an antacid
    a feeling of impending doom – anxiety and sweating.