Last week, a young man, about 25 years old, came to my clinic. His name is Roshan. Roshan came in complaining of stomach pain, discomfort after eating, and frequent heartburn.
"Doctor Priya, I think I have severe gastritis. I've taken antacid tablets from the pharmacy, but there's no relief. Even though I've controlled my diet, I still have stomach pain," Roshan said, looking a little tired.
As I talked to Roshan further, I realized that this was not just a case of gastritis. I told Roshan to get an ECG (Electrocardiogram) test done immediately.
Why did I do that? Because, although many people think that inflammation in the chest or upper abdomen is normal gastritis, it can actually be a primary symptom of a heart attack . Roshan's ECG test showed dangerous changes in his heart. If we had ignored him as normal gastritis, his life could have been in danger today.
๐จ Red Flags that require immediate emergency treatment
If the following dangerous symptoms occur, do not ignore the possibility of gastritis and immediately go to the nearest hospital for emergency medical treatment:
- A severe, heavy, squeezing, or squeezing pain in the center or left side of the chest.
- Pain radiating from the chest to the left arm, shoulder, neck, jaw, or back.
- Feeling cold and sweating profusely for no apparent reason (without exercise or heat).
- Shortness of breath and chest pain, along with fainting or dizziness.
๐ค Confusion: Why do the symptoms of a heart attack feel like gastritis?
Many people confuse gastritis and a heart attack because the symptoms can be very similar. Young people, especially, never think about the possibility of having a heart attack.
Gastritis is an inflammation (swelling) of the inner wall of the stomach, and the following symptoms are usually seen:
- Burning and discomfort in the upper stomach (often after eating).
- Bloating and feeling full soon after eating.
- Acid reflux and sour taste in the mouth .
- In severe cases, vomiting (sometimes with blood) and black stools (due to bleeding in the stomach).
But even in a heart attack, the lower wall of the heart can be affected, causing symptoms similar to gastritis, such as upper stomach inflammation, indigestion, and nausea. Not every heart attack is so severe that you feel like you're clutching your chest and falling to the ground, as shown in the movies. Sometimes, you just feel a general feeling of indigestion.
How do you differentiate between a heart attack and gastritis?
Here are some things you can do to help you understand the difference between these two diseases:
1. Direction of pain spread:
Gastritis pain is usually limited to the upper abdomen, but heart attack pain can spread from the chest to the shoulder, left arm, neck, and jaw.
2. Difficulty breathing:
Gastritis rarely causes shortness of breath, but a heart attack can cause severe shortness of breath because the blood supply to the lungs and body is impaired.
3. Relief from medications:
When stomach pain occurs, gastritis patients get quick relief by drinking antacids or liquids. However, antacids do not provide any relief from heart attack pain.
4. Feeling cold and sweating:
Patients with normal gastritis do not sweat or feel faint. However, when the heart function is impaired, the body becomes cold, sweats profusely, and feels lifeless.
Do's & Don'ts
| โ๏ธ Things to do (Do) | โ Don'ts |
|---|---|
| If you experience any unusual burning in your chest or upper abdomen, do not keep it a secret and immediately see a doctor for an ECG test. | When you experience a strange chest pain that you've never experienced before, don't waste time treating it yourself, thinking it's just normal indigestion. |
| If someone in your family has heart disease or if you suffer from high blood pressure, be more careful about chest pains. | Don't just keep taking antacids and avoid medical tests when you have a heartburn. |
| If symptoms of a heart attack appear, have the patient chew and swallow a 300mg aspirin tablet (until they can see a doctor). | Do not allow a symptomatic patient to drive to the hospital alone. |
โ Some other questions you may have (FAQ)
Can a heart attack only cause stomach pain? โผ
Yes, especially for diabetics, women, and older adults, heart attack symptoms may include upper abdominal pain, nausea, or indigestion instead of chest pain. This is also called a silent heart attack.
Can an ECG test detect a heart attack 100% of the time? โผ
Most heart attacks can be diagnosed immediately with an ECG test. However, in some cases, a blood test (Troponin Test) or Echocardiogram (Echo) test is also needed to accurately confirm the condition of the heart.
Are young people really at risk of heart attacks? โผ
Yes, due to today's busy lifestyle, poor eating habits, stress, and smoking, the incidence of heart attacks has increased even among young people between the ages of 20 and 30.
Why is aspirin given for chest pain? โผ
Aspirin prevents blood clotting, prevents a blood clot that has formed in a blood vessel in the heart from further enlarging, and minimizes damage to the heart muscle.
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