Heartburn or heart attack?

by Larry D. Jones, MPH, Health Director

May 18, 2009

You’ve gone out to eat with friends and your eyes were bigger than your stomach. You get home and you have pain. Is it heartburn? Maybe, but it could be a heart attack. Knowing the difference could be a matter of life and death.

Heartburn is a symptom. It usually occurs after eating or while lying down and often occurs when you bend over. Heartburn is a burning sensation in your chest that starts in your upper abdomen and radiates to your neck. The burning can be brief or can continue for a few hours. Sometimes acid backs up in the esophagus and will leave a bad taste in your mouth. This often occurs when lying down.

Persistent heartburn can indicate a more serious problem. Acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease, often known as GERD, is a chronic regurgitation of acid from your stomach. Long-term GERD can lead to Barrett’s esophagus in which the color and composition of the lower esophagus changes because of repeated acid exposure from the stomach. This condition can lead to cancer of the esophagus.

Heartburn is not the only digestive symptom that causes chest pain. Muscle spasms of the esophagus and pain from the gallbladder can also cause chest pain.

The pain experienced from heartburn and a heart attack are different. A heart attack has warning signs:

· Pressure, tightening, squeezing or crushing feeling in the middle of the chest that lasts longer than a few minutes;

· Pain that spreads to the back, neck, jaw, shoulders, or arms;

· Chest discomfort with a shortness of breath;

· Dizziness, sweating, or nausea; or

· Pressure or tightness of the chest during physical activity.

Occasional episodes of heartburn are common, but if you experience heartburn regularly, seek medical help. If you experience chest pain that is different from your normal heartburn pain, seek medical attention right away. As with all chronic disease, proper diagnosis and prompt treatment can save your life.