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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Do You Distinguish Between A Heart Attack And Indigestion/ Heartburn ?

How do you distinguish between a heart attack and indigestion/ heartburn ? I m aware that heartburn has nothing to do with the heart, but I have heard that the symptoms can be very similar. Studies have shown that most women don t have the classic symptoms of the elephant sitting on the chest . I m experiencing the jaw pain accompanied with tightness of the chest, but I am also experiencing alot of belching, so that s what made me think it could be indigestion.
Fri, 11 Dec 2009
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When you have a heart attack, your arm can go numb, pains, in your chest that may not be severe, pressure behind the breastbone, sweating, shortness of breath, nausea, and/or weakness or tiredness. The pain may spread to other body parts and does NOT have to be severe. Sharp, short bursts of pain in the chest are NOT usually signs of an attack. These feelings may or may not come alone. Heartburn usually feels higher up in your neck and you can feel it in your stomach a little. Take a Tums. If it doesn't go away after that, or it becomes accompanied by another symptom, call your doctor.
Note: For further follow-up it is advisable to consult an emergency medicine specialist. Click here.
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How Do You Distinguish Between A Heart Attack And Indigestion/ Heartburn ?

When you have a heart attack, your arm can go numb, pains, in your chest that may not be severe, pressure behind the breastbone, sweating, shortness of breath, nausea, and/or weakness or tiredness. The pain may spread to other body parts and does NOT have to be severe. Sharp, short bursts of pain in the chest are NOT usually signs of an attack. These feelings may or may not come alone. Heartburn usually feels higher up in your neck and you can feel it in your stomach a little. Take a Tums. If it doesn t go away after that, or it becomes accompanied by another symptom, call your doctor.