Heartburn or Heart Attack? Symptoms Explained

07/29/2024

Is it a heart attack or heartburn? Learn how to tell the difference so you can be confident about your health and find relief for your symptoms.

By Steven Gorelick, MD, System Chair of the Digestive Health Institute, Nuvance Health

Experiencing chest pain can be alarming. It’s important to know whether it’s a heart attack or just heartburn. Both conditions share similar symptoms, making it hard to tell them apart. Learn the key differences between heartburn and heart attack symptoms so you can make informed decisions about your health.

Understanding heart attacks

A heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart is blocked, causing damage to the heart muscle. This is a serious medical emergency that needs immediate attention.

The most common cause of a heart attack is a blood clot in one of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart. This clot can block blood flow completely, leading to a heart attack. Other causes include plaque buildup in the arteries (atherosclerosis) and coronary artery spasms. Factors that increase the risk of a heart attack, including:

Smoking
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Obesity
Diabetes
Sedentary lifestyle
Family history of heart disease
Age

Find out more about preventive cardiology at Nuvance Health

Recognizing the signs of a heart attack is crucial. Common symptoms include chest pain or discomfort that may spread to the arm, jaw, neck or back. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, cold sweats and fatigue.

Understanding heartburn

Heartburn is common and often mistaken for a heart attack due to similar chest pain symptoms. Understanding the differences between heartburn and a heart attack is key for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Learn more about acid reflux and take a heartburn quiz.

Heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest that occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. This happens when the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, relaxes or weakens. The stomach acid irritates the esophagus lining, causing the burning sensation known as heartburn.

Common triggers for heartburn include spicy or fatty foods, citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate, coffee and alcohol. Other triggers include smoking, obesity, pregnancy, certain medications and lying down or bending over after a meal.

Symptoms of heartburn typically include a burning sensation in the chest and a sour or bitter taste in the mouth. Other symptoms may include a dry cough, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and a sensation of food being stuck in the throat.

While heartburn is common, it should not be ignored as it can sometimes indicate more severe conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or a peptic ulcer. If you experience severe or persistent symptoms, seek medical attention for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Differences between heartburn and heart attack

Heartburn and heart attacks are distinct conditions that can cause similar symptoms, leading to confusion. Understanding the differences is crucial for appropriate medical intervention. Let’s explore the symptoms, underlying causes, and when to seek medical attention for each.

Differentiating the symptoms

Heartburn: Burning sensation or discomfort in the chest, often with a sour taste in the mouth or regurgitation of stomach acid. Pain may worsen after eating or lying down and can be relieved by antacids.
Heart attack: Severe, crushing chest pain that may radiate to the arm, jaw, or back. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, and lightheadedness. Pain does not subside with antacids.

Understanding the underlying causes

Heartburn: Occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing irritation. Common triggers include specific foods, beverages or lifestyle factors like obesity or smoking.

Heart attack: Caused by a blockage in one or more coronary arteries, preventing proper blood flow to the heart muscle. Often due to atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by plaque buildup in the arteries.

When to seek medical attention for heartburn or heart attack symptoms

If you experience chest pain or discomfort, assess the severity and accompanying symptoms. Mild, occasional heartburn can usually be managed with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications. However, if you are uncertain about your symptoms or if they are severe and persistent, call 911 to get to the closest emergency department. Heart attacks can be life-threatening and require prompt intervention.

Preventing heartburn

To minimize heartburn and reduce heart attack risk, avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Both can contribute to heartburn and increase heart attack risk. Maintaining a healthy weight and managing stress are also significant.

Diet plays a crucial role in preventing both heartburn and heart attacks. A well-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins is recommended. Limiting fatty and fried foods, spicy foods, caffeine and carbonated beverages can help minimize heartburn and heart attack risk.

Lowering heart attack risk

Regular exercise is essential for overall cardiovascular health and reducing heart attack risk. Activities like brisk walking, jogging, swimming or cycling for at least 30 minutes a day can be beneficial. Managing stress through techniques like meditation, deep breathing exercises and yoga can help prevent both heartburn and heart attacks.

The bottom line: Both heartburn and heart attacks can have similar symptoms, such as chest pain. Understanding the differences and taking preventive measures is crucial. Lifestyle changes, dietary adjustments, regular exercise and stress management can help reduce the risk of both conditions.

Take action today so you can better recognize the symptoms of heartburn and heart attacks and know that there are key differences! Book Now with a Gastroenterologist

If you are experiencing chest pain or pressure, seek immediate evaluation of a doctor. While heartburn and heart attack symptoms both include chest pain, there certainly are cases where both gastrointestinal and cardiac symptoms can overlap each other and need to be evaluated by a doctor.

Heartburn or heart attack? Symptoms explained