Knowing the Difference Between Heartburn and Heart Attack

When a person has heartburn, they experience a burning sensation below or behind the breastbone from stomach acid that moves up into the esophagus, causing irritation and discomfort. Heartburn sufferers usually take either antacids or H-2-receptor blockers, such as Zantac, Pepcid and Tagamet, to get relief from their symptoms. However, many people are not completely sure if they are simply experiencing heartburn or something more serious, like a heart attack. For those who have been diagnosed with heart disease and also have heartburn, it is difficult to determine whether they should see a doctor or just take a heartburn medication for their symptoms. Patients with frequent heartburn should consult a doctor to make sure that is what is really occurring, find what is causing the problem and rule other heart-related problems. Since heartburn and heart trouble such as a heart attack can have similar symptoms, it can be tricky to tell one from the other. It may be helpful for a person to pay attention to their pattern of heartburn and figure out what foods or other factors cause symptoms. Knowing what triggers their heartburn will help them rule out other causes for the symptoms they are experiencing. People that experience heartburn and have not consumed any of the foods that normally cause their symptoms should be seen by a doctor to exclude heart problems as the cause of what they are feeling.

Another way a person can know when heartburn is the cause of that burning sensation is by paying attention to when they experience heartburn. In most cases, heartburn sufferers are affected 30 to 45 minutes after eating a meal or after consuming specific foods or drinks. So, if something that feels like heartburn occurs around these times, that is probably all it is. If heartburn becomes severe enough to interfere with a person’s quality of life, they should seek medical treatment for their symptoms. If a person experiences difficulty or pain when swallowing, loss of appetite, or throws up blood, they should see a doctor immediately, since these symptoms can be indicative of esophageal damage or cancer. For those who have no past history of heartburn and begin experiencing heartburn for the first time, an evaluation by a doctor should take place to rule out other problems, especially if that person has high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a family history of heart problems, diabetes, or smokes cigarettes. A doctor should also be seen if heartburn is experienced during exercise or physical exertion, comes with other symptoms such as arm pain or shortness of breath, or if severe heartburn does not lessen or go away after taking medication. If you or a loved one has experienced a delay in diagnosis or treatment of a serious heart problem, please call or e-mail the personal injury attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. We serve clients with Brooklyn medical malpractice, Bronx medical malpractice, Manhattan medical malpractice, Queens medical malpractice and Long Island medical malpractice cases. We also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net