Heart Burn or Heart Attack?

Is the discomfort heartburn (acid reflux) or a heart attack? It’s a tough question, and here’s why.

Both occur frequently.

•  Heartburn: 60% of U.S. adults have at least one episode a year.
•  Heart attack: 720,000 happen every year in the U.S. (more than the entire population of Boston).

Location can be identical.

• The food pipe (esophagus) lies directly behind the heart. So both heartburn and heart pain are often felt in the same locations—lower chest, upper belly, or back.

Discomfort can be similar.

• Burning sensation is common for heartburn, and is also one of the many types of discomfort that can happen during a heart attack.

What to do?

Keep this thought tucked away—it might come in handy, and maybe save a life one day:

• Even doctors have a hard time sorting out heartburn from heart attack symptoms and often need tests to make the diagnosis. So don’t try to sort it out yourself!
• If you are experiencing a burning sensation that you’ve never had before, take it seriously and call 911! Time is of the essence—many heart attack deaths are related to delays in getting to the hospital.  Treatment for a heart attack is much more effective if started early.
• And if a heart condition is ruled out in the hospital, a search for other causes, including gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) that causes heartburn, can begin.

Lifestyle Improves Both

Whether you have been diagnosed with heartburn or heart disease, nutrition and lifestyle can make a big difference. Extra weight is a risk for both, and dropping some pounds can make a big difference. Fried food and most highly processed foods are also a problem for both your heart, and heartburn.

How Medication for GERD can Affect the Heart

Proton pump inhibitors are  powerful acid-blocking medicines frequently prescribed for GERD. One of the side effects of long-term use is a deficiency of magnesium in the bloodstream. Magnesium is needed for a host of body functions, including muscle and heart function. A severe deficiency of magnesium can trigger rhythm disturbances in the heart—some of them serious.

If you have been taking these medications for an extended time, check with your doctor to see what medication and testing options are most appropriate for you. Never change or stop medicine on your own.