Is it heartburn or a heart attack?
A bad case of heartburn can be very similar to something much worse — a heart attack.
For heart patients, already hyper-aware of pain, the heartburn bluff can be frightening.
Heartburn and heart attack have some major symptoms in common, including chest pain, but they are entirely different problems. Heartburn is a digestive problem that can cause actual pain as stomach acids irritate the stomach lining and back up into the throat. A heart attack, meanwhile, is all about the heart and has nothing to do with the stomach.
But each does a pretty spooky imitation of the other, causing chest pain, pressure and burning.
When to suspect the heart:
* Cardiac pain and pressure radiates from the chest, arms, neck, jaw and back.
* Changing position doesn't help. Heartburn, for example, can be somewhat relieved or diminished by sitting up or standing. Heart attack pain does not respond to this.
* Cardiac episodes are usually accompanied by nausea and cold sweats.
* Shortness of breath and fatigue characterize heart attacks.
* Dizziness and lightheadedness.
Most important: When in doubt, call 911.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
