Can acid reflux mimic a heart attack?
Heartburn can closely mimic a heart attack. While a heart attack is often announced by pressure or pain in the chest, that’s not always true. Says Dr. Wilson, “Atypical heart attack symptoms are especially common in women and diabetics.”
What does a reflux attack feel like?
It usually feels like a burning chest pain that starts behind your breastbone and moves upward to your neck and throat. Many people say it feels like food is coming back into the mouth, leaving an acid or bitter taste. The burning, pressure, or pain of heartburn can last as long as 2 hours.
How do you know if its heart or acid reflux?
The main difference between symptoms is that: Heartburn tends to be worse after eating and when lying down, but a heart attack can happen after a meal, too. Heartburn can be relieved by drugs that reduce acid levels in the stomach. Heartburn does not cause more general symptoms, such as breathlessness.
Can trapped gas feel like a heart attack?
The sensation of gas pain can be worrying, as it may be difficult to tell apart from heart-related pains, such as those of a heart attack. Gas that gathers in the stomach or left part of the colon can feel like heart-related pain.
Can you be having a heart attack for days?
Timing/duration: Heart attack pain can be intermittent or continuous. Heart attack symptoms can last for a few minutes to a few hours. If you have had chest pain continuously for several days, weeks or months, then it is unlikely to be caused by a heart attack.
Is my chest pain acid reflux?
Signs more typical of heartburn include: You have a sharp, burning feeling just below your breastbone or ribs. The chest pain can be accompanied by an acidic taste in your mouth, regurgitation of food, or a burning in your throat. Pain generally doesn’t spread to your shoulders, neck, or arms, but it can.
Why does acid reflux make my chest hurt?
Esophageal spasms are the tightening of the muscles around the food tube. They happen when acid reflux or other medical issues cause damage within the esophagus. In turn, these spasms can cause pain in your throat and the upper area of your chest as well.
Can acid reflux lead to a heart attack?
In some people, these symptoms can feel like a pressure sensation.”. Dr. Desai continues, “While a pounding heart is not a typical symptom, sometimes patients with acid reflux can become anxious that another issue, such as a heart attack, is occurring, which can lead to a pounding heart sensation.
Does heart attack always come with chest pain?
Although it’s uncommon, not everyone who’s having a heart attack has chest pain . Women may experience shortness of breath, fatigue, sudden weakness that feels like the flu. Diabetics Diabetes A metabolic disorder in which the body has high sugar levels for prolonged periods of time. and the elderly may feel unwell, dizzy or weak. They may be short of breath. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of men and women.
What are the signs of severe heartburn?
Symptoms of Severe heartburn. The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Severe heartburn includes the 7 symptoms listed below: Difficulty in swallowing. Pain when swallowing. Vomiting. Persistent hoarseness. Throat pain. Coughing.
Is acid reflux a sign of heart trouble?
While heartburn is not always a sign of acid reflux, if other symptoms are also evident, reflux could be the cause. Sometimes pain in the chest is an indicator that stomach acid is entering the esophagus, though it can also indicate heart problems, and in some cases, acid reflux or heartburn and heart issues are mistaken for one another.