Christus St. John Hospital sheds lights on heartburn, heart attacks

Christus St. John Hospital is sharing information designed to help people understand the difference between heartburn and a heart attack.

According to a press release from the hospital, while there is a huge difference, the feel very much the same, so it’s important to know when to take an antacid and when to seek medical care.

You should always seek medical care if you are experiencing any unfamiliar chest pain or tightness, but according to the release, Christus St. John Hospital offers guidance in recognition of Cardiac Awareness Month.

The most common characteristics of heartburn are:

It usually occurs after eating or while lying down or bending. It can be brief or last several hours. You will notice a burning sensation in your chest that may start in your upper abdomen and radiate all the way to your neck. You may even experience a sour taste in your mouth due to the back up of stomach acid into the esophagus.

According to the release, the symptoms of a heart attack vary, which makes it hard to know whether a heart attack is the cause of discomfort or something else. The hospital says t it’s possible to experience a heart attack or cardiac arrest without chest pain, so don’t rule it out if you have other heart attack sings but no chest pain.

Common heart attack symptoms include uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back; pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach; shortness of breath before or along with chest pain; chest discomfort accompanied by a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness; fullness, indigestion or choking feeling (this can be easily confused with heartburn); and rapid or irregular heartbeat.

If you experience any of the above symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.

The most common symptom of a heart attack in both men and women is chest pressure or discomfort. Women are more likely to experience the other symptoms, like back or jaw pain, shortness of breath and nausea.

For more information, visit www.christusstjohn.org.