Heart Attack vs. Heartburn - Watch WebMD Video

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Now Playing: Heartburn or Heart Attack?

Heartburn or Heart Attack?

Reviewed By: Louise Chang,

SOURCES: This Video is from the WebMD Video Archive.Medical Reference from Medstar Television. www.medstar.comAmerican Heart Association, http://www.americanheart.orgNational Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, http://www.nhlbi.nih.govAmerican College of Gastroenterology, http://www.acg.gi.org/patientinfo/gerd/index.htmlNational Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, http://digestive.niddk.nih.govNational Heartburn Alliance, http://www.heartburnalliance.org, This video is from the WebMD Video Archive.

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Narrator:

Having a heart attack was the last thing on 41-year old Ivy Fairchild's mind.

Ivy Fairchild:

I was sweating bullets, really, a bad case of the cold sweats. I was very, very disoriented and I had no sensation in my left hand or my left arm.

Narrator:

She also had severe chest pain and felt nauseous.

Ivy Fairchild:

I called my best friend, and I said could you go on the internet and check.

Narrator:

The symptoms of heartburn and a heart attack are similar. Ivy made a common mistake—denial.

LeRoy Rabbani, M.D.:

Even once patients do admit to themselves that something is seriously wrong, uh there very often is a hesitation to alert a loved one or call 9-1-1 or call their physician.

Narrator:

The signs of a heart attack can differ for men and women. For men, suffering a heart attack often causes tightness and pain in the chest that can spread to the shoulders, neck or arms, coupled with trouble breathing. While similar chest discomfort can occur in women, other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and back or jaw pain may be more likely to signal a heart attack. Heartburn is a different story.

James Giglio, M.D.:

Classically, it begins in the upper abdomen. Even though the problem is in the stomach and esophagus and doesn't have anything to do with the heart and lungs, it can create some very confusing symptoms for the patients.

Narrator:

With heartburn, a person will usually feel a burning sensation after eating or experience chest pain when bending over or lying down. It can be a symptom of gastro esophageal reflux disease, or GERD, caused when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus.

Ivy Fairchild:

I had caffeine. I had two bottles, two cans of Pepsi trying to make myself burp. The next day I went to a concert and danced in the aisles.

Narrator:

Ivy should have danced right to the ER.

James Giglio, M.D.:

The sooner we can diagnose the problem and help restore blood flow to the heart, the smaller the heart attack is likely to be.

Narrator:

Ivy had a heart attack, but is on the road to recovery. On the way, she learned an important lesson.

Ivy Fairchild:

If a woman is experiencing dizziness, loss of sensation in your left arm or your left leg, if you're disoriented and running cold sweats, regardless of your age, you should really take notice.