Answer
It's very possible to mistake heart pain (or angina) for heartburn. Trying to tell the difference can be very hard, even for trained professionals in the Emergency Department!However, heart pain usually feels like a pressure or squeezing, or tightness in the middle of the chest. It sometimes radiates into the neck, jaw or shoulders. It is often associated with nausea, shortness of breath and sweating. Heart pain usually comes on with exertion and gets better with rest.
Heartburn (or GERD-Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disorder) causes a burning feeling in the chest and esophagus. Heartburn usually occurs before ot after eating or in the morning. It's worse when a patient lies down to rest. Sometimes, it goes away with an antacid and it is not associated with exercise.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of overlap between the two problems.
If the pain is severe, or you are scared for your safety, you should probably go to the emergency room to be checked.
The sooner a patient presents with a heart attack, the better their outcome will be. Emergency Departments today have excellent tests to determine if a patient's chest pain is cardiac in nature. If you suspect you are having a heart attack, call 911. In the emergency room, we can rule out most heart problems in less than 6 hours. Your chances of surviving a heart attack are much greater the sooner you receive diagnosis and treatment.
Ask GoodHealth.com is intended for consumer education only. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care provider with questions regarding your personal health or medical condition.
