There has been at least one doctor who couldn’t tell the difference between heart disease and indigestion. A family member with three stents already installed in his coronary arteries saw her. It was a new doctor, and she called it wrong. He ended up going back to his old doctor and had another stent put in.
This story goes to show everyone that it is easy to get the answer wrong. It’s easy and could be deadly. Here are a few things that may help you figure out which is which. Bear in mind that not all heart attacks will allow a lot of time for this effort; if you think you’re having a heart attack, call 911.
Symptoms
Does anything else hurt? Heart attacks have a range of symptoms; it’s not all chest pain. The jaw, neck, shoulders and arms can also hurt during a heart attack. So can the upper back. I know of one person whose only symptom was a burning sensation in his throat and esophagus.
Are you nauseated? While this could be a sign of indigestion, other symptoms can point to heart attack.
Did the antacid tablet help? That tends to be the first thing we reach for when indigestion sets in. If the problem is your heart, that tablet isn’t likely to help.
Do you feel pressure? Chest pressure may be the only symptom some people have. It’s easy to ignore, especially if you’re busy.
How’s the breathing? Shortness of breath is often a symptom of heart attacks and rarely a symptom of indigestion.
Risks
Loss of Capacity: During a heart attack, part of the heart muscle can actually die. This makes it have to work harder even under light exercise.
Death: If enough of the heart dies, it can no longer function. As it’s the motor that runs the body, that means we die. A heart transplant could prevent this, but the waiting list is long and it is unlikely to happen during any one person’s heart attack.
What to Do
Call 911/go to the ER: Paramedics can begin treatment before you hit the ER, so that is the best call to make…especially if you’re the one having the heart attack. Driving is not an option at that point. If you’re near the ER and someone can get you there faster than paramedics can get to you, it may be a better option.
Take an Aspirin: Studies show that people having a heart attack do better if they take an aspirin as soon as they realize what’s happening. Unless instructed by your doctor or the 911 operator, don’t take anything else. If you’re at risk for a heart attack, your doctor may prescribe nitroglycerin, which you can take along with the aspirin.
Stay Still: Moving around is going to make your heart work harder, which it does not need at this point in time. If you are conscious, don’t move around a lot. This is an important piece of information as there is a hoax e-mail going around stating that you should not lay down. Untrue! Lying down is the best thing you can do.
CPR: It’s a good idea if everyone learns CPR. It saves lives. Chances are good that it will take more than six minutes for paramedics to get to you. That’s about how long it takes before brain damage/death occur.
Heart disease and heart attacks are the number one killers of both men and women in the U.S. Knowing what to do could help reduce those numbers greatly.
