How do you differentiate heart burn from chest pain?

when i do walking on tread mill some times i feel like heart pain, but i could not able to differentiate is it due to bloked vains or due to food that i ate. i use to run on treadmill with 5 mph, breathing through nose only to have good heart to face the difficulty, but since last two years i just cant run due to my ACHILLES TENDON INJURY, now i got some repaired my accilles tendon injury but due to long time i did not run, it gives me pain in chest, but i could not find out what is the cause.and i dont want see doctor as they do trial and error.

Hi my name is chris and I have been an EMT for 5 years. Chest Pain due to an acute cardiac event is normally decribed as "pressure" like pain. Often times patients describe the pain radiating to their left shoulder and sometimes down their left arm. Shortness of breath, pale cool, clammy skin can also acompany a MI. It should also be noted that many people have heart attacks and dont experience any of theses symptoms. You also want to consider your risk factors. Over age 45? Do you Smoke? Overweight? Any family history of heart disease? If you answered yes to atleast 2 of these questions you are considered a high risk factor by the American Heart Association. My Opinion, based on only what you have told me its probably is just heart burn but i would stongly recomend you see a doctor just to be safe. I know it would be scary finding out that you could possibly have problems with your heart but if you get it diagnosed early enough you could stop or possibly reverse any damage to your heart and you could live a longer healthy and happier life.

Do not hesitate to have your heart and arteries tested to rule out serious pain. I too get chest pain when I walk, caused by heart burn. It take prescription Zantac twice a day to solve the problem. You can buy non-prescription Zantac however and try it out. Take one before walking. But, do not wait to have your cardiovascular system checked out by a doctor.

ask your doctor

Pain May Be Difficult to Distinguish

It鈥檚 not unusual for people to mistake symptoms of heart disease (such as angina and even a heart attack) for heartburn. Similarly, many people go to the emergency room each year out of fear that they鈥檙e having a heart attack, only to find out they have severe heartburn. The pain experienced during a heart attack and during a severe heartburn episode can be very difficult to distinguish. In fact, it often takes sophisticated medical testing to make the determination.

In addition to producing some similar symptoms, both heartburn and heart attacks are more likely to occur in people over the age of 40. Here are some possible differences between the two conditions.
Possible Signs of Heartburn
A sharp, burning sensation below the breastbone or ribs
Burning sensation may move up toward the throat
Pain usually doesn鈥檛 radiate to the shoulders, arms, or neck, although it can
Pain often occurs after eating, particularly when lying down
Pain that increases when bending over, lying down, exercising, or lifting heavy objects
Bitter or sour taste at the back of the throat
Symptoms tend to respond quickly to antacids
Possible Signs of Angina or Heart Attack

A feeling of uncomfortable fullness, pressure, squeezing, tightness or pain in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back
Pain or discomfort that spreads to one or both arms, the back, stomach, neck, or jaw
Pain often responds quickly to nitroglycerin
Shortness of breath
Other symptoms such as:
Breaking out in a cold sweat
Nausea
Lightheadedness
Fainting
Palpitations (feeling a rapid heart beat)
Other Causes of Chest Pain

Please note: if you have any chest pain, or any warning signs of a heart attack, seek immediate medical attention. Do not try to decide for yourself.

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