Heart Burn or Heart Attack?

Описание: Despite its name, health experts say heart burn has nothing to do with your heart. However, the symptoms are similar to those of a heart attack.

Cardiovascular care specialist with Lee Memorial Health System, Melissa Benson, says chest pains, dizziness, and shortness of breath, are some of the symptoms a person might experience if they’re having a heart attack. Patients will often prolong treating these symptoms assuming they are caused only by heartburn. “Most people will try to treat a heart attack with food, like milk because they're trying to treat the acid reflux feeling.”

Benson says heartburn is caused by acid creating a spasm in the esophagus. That feeling can cause chest pain mimicking the symptoms of a heart attack. There are a few ways to tell the difference between having heartburn and having a heart attack. Benson says, the symptoms of heartburn will pass in time, but the symptoms of a heart attack will only get worse.

During a heart attack the chest pain will typically spread to your back and neck. “Generally, like what you see on TV. The grasping of the chest, the shortness of breath, sweating, jaw pain, arm pain, it could be one or both arms, and some complaints of dizziness” said Benson.

Experts recommend when in doubt, go to the hospital. There, your doctor can examine your heart to determine what is causing the pain.

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Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

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