Are You Really Having a Heart Attack or Is It Just Heartburn?
Heartburn or heart attack? Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common clinical problem affecting approximately one-third of the population in the United States according to the American Gastroenterological Association. It's also a common cause of non-cardiac chest pain. It's important to distinguish between heart attack vs heartburn since the management and treatment plans are different.
Heartburn is a common symptom of GERD which occurs when food and beverages from the stomach back up into the esophagus. Symptoms of heartburn include a burning sensation in the chest, behind the breast bone or in the throat. However, it's important to note that heartburn can also be caused by other conditions such as acid indigestion, gastritis and peptic ulcer disease.
According to the CDC, a heart attack happens when part of the heart muscle doesn’t get a sufficient amount of blood. The main cause of a heart attack is coronary artery disease (CAD). With heart attacks, individuals will often feel discomfort in the center or left side of the chest that persists for more than a few minutes. It may also go away and come back.
How to Tell the Difference Between the Two
There is no actual identifiable test available at home to tell the difference, but here are some examples that might help individuals to differentiate between the two, and lean toward acid reflux when having an episode of chest pain.
- Clearing the throat constantly (chronic dry cough) or having hoarseness
- If there’s no history of heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or family history of heart disease, then it’s unlikely one is having a heart attack.
- Difficulty swallowing or experiencing pain when swallowing food
- Pain happens after eating and is worse at night, especially when lying in bed
- Sensation of a lump in the throat
- New or worsening asthma
- Frequently taking medication for heartburn
- Chronic nausea and vomiting
Conditions That Heighten the Risk of GERD
There are conditions that can increase the risk of GERD, and they include the following:
- Hiatal hernia
- Delayed stomach emptying
- Connective tissue disorders
- Genetic disorders
Tips to Decrease Symptoms of Acid Reflex
The following tips will help to decrease the symptoms of acid reflux or stop the reflex together:
- Stop smoking
- Decrease alcohol and caffeine intake
- Eat small meals and have dinner earlier instead of waiting right before going to bed
- Avoid certain foods (triggers) such as fatty or fried foods
- Reduce or stop taking medications like Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Motrin, or Naproxen
- Elevate the head of the bed at night
- Add fruits and vegetables to the diet
- Weight loss
- Use supplements with high pH like Balance7
- Medication from over-the-counter to prescription
- If the symptoms persist over a few months, individuals will need to see their healthcare providers, so they can be referred to a gastroenterologist.
Je, Kwa Kweli Unapata Mshtuko wa Moyo au Ni Mchochota wa Moyo Tu? Mvuto wa moyo au mshtuko wa moyo? Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) ni ugonjwa wa kawaida unaoathiri karibu theluthi moja ya watu nchini Marekani kulingana na Shirika la Gastroenterolojia la Marekani. Pia ni kisababishi cha kawaida cha maumivu ya kifua yasiyo ya moyo. Ni muhimu kutofautisha kati ya mshtuko wa moyo na kuchomwa na moyo kwa kuwa mipango ya usimamizi na matibabu ni tofauti. GERD ni dalili ya kawaida ya ugonjwa wa moyo, ambayo hutokea wakati chakula na vinywaji kutoka tumbo kurudi nyuma katika esophagus. Dalili za kuchomwa na moyo hutia ndani hisia ya kuchoma kifuani, nyuma ya mfupa wa kifua au kwenye koo. Hata hivyo, ni muhimu kutambua kwamba maumivu ya moyo pia yanaweza kusababishwa na hali nyingine kama vile acid indigestion, gastritis na ugonjwa wa ulcer peptic. Kulingana na CDC, mshtuko wa moyo hutokea wakati sehemu ya misuli ya moyo haipati kiasi cha kutosha cha damu. Sababu kuu ya mshtuko wa moyo ni ugonjwa wa mishipa ya moyo (CAD). Wakati wa mshtuko wa moyo, watu wengi wanahisi usumbufu katikati au upande wa kushoto wa kifua ambao huendelea kwa zaidi ya dakika chache. Huenda pia ikaondoka na kurudi. Kuna tofauti kati ya hizi mbili, hakuna mtihani halisi wa kutambua unaopatikana nyumbani, lakini hapa kuna mifano ambayo inaweza kusaidia watu tofauti kati ya mbili, na kuelekeza kuelekea reflux ya asidi wakati wa kipindi cha maumivu ya kifua. - Kufuta koo daima (kikohozi kavu ya kudumu) au kuwa na hoarseness - Kama hakuna historia ya ugonjwa wa moyo, kisukari, cholesterol ya juu, shinikizo la damu la juu, au historia ya familia ya ugonjwa wa moyo, basi ni uwezekano mdogo mtu ana mshtuko wa moyo. - Matatizo ya kula au maumivu wakati wa kula chakula - maumivu hutokea baada ya kula na ni mbaya zaidi usiku, hasa wakati wa kulala kitandani - Matatizo ya urithi - Ushauri wa kupunguza dalili za reflux ya asidi - Asthma mpya au mbaya zaidi - Mara nyingi kuchukua dawa kwa ajili ya maumivu ya moyo - Hatari ya kichefuchefu na kutapika - Hali ambazo zinaweza kuongeza hatari ya GERD - Kuna hali ambazo zinaweza kuongeza hatari ya GERD, na ni pamoja na zifuatazo: - Kinywa cha kiche - Kuchukua chakula fulani (kama vile mafuta au vipande) - Kama vile dawa za kupunguza au kupunguza - Reduce au kuacha kutumia dawa za kulevya - Kama vile Ibuprofen au Elevator.