HEART ATTACK OR INDIGESTION?
Know Your Heart

You're having chest pain and feeling sick to your stomach, do you reach for the antacids or head to the ER? Because indigestion and heart attack can have similar symptoms, it's important to listen to your body and know when to seek medical attention. In addition, it's equally important to help ER doctors diagnose your condition by being open and honest about your health history and current situation.

SORTING OUT SYMPTOMS
Heart attack symptoms are different for every person, and don't always include the crushing chest pain typically associated with a heart attack. "The typical heart attack symptoms include chest pain, numbness on the left side, jaw tightness and shortness of breath," says Venkat Devineni, MD, medical director of the cardiac catheterization lab at St. Mary Medical Center. "For women it's a completely different ball game. For years, the medical community thought women were protected from heart disease, but really women were not being diagnosed because they do not present the typical symptoms. Women tend to show symptoms such as being tired, shortness of breath and indigestion."

"Men with heart disease typically have the traditional risk factors of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and smoking," says Dr. Devineni. "Another strong correlation for heart disease with men is when the diameter of their abdomen is greater than the diameter of their hips."

Other symptoms of heart attack include feeling nauseated or breaking out in a cold sweat. The pain may radiate down your arms or migrate to your neck and shoulders.

Indigestion symptoms vary from person to person as well. Pain that's uncharacteristic may be a clue that something more serious is happening. When in doubt, get help – that way, if your condition escalates, medical professionals will be close by to provide treatment that could save your life.

BE A PARTNER IN YOUR CARE
Providing health care professionals with the right information can help them diagnose your condition sooner so you get the treatment you need.

Don't understate pain or symptoms. It doesn't help to tell others you're feeling fine when you're not. Playing down the seriousness of your pain or symptoms only makes it harder to correctly diagnose your condition.

Be proactive with your health history. You may not think to quickly volunteer information about your risk factors – smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or family history of heart disease – because of fear or guilt about poor health habits. But this information is essential in providing a bigger picture of your health so doctors can better diagnose and treat you.

Schedule a follow-up exam. Even if your chest pain doesn't escalate to a heart attack, it's still a good idea to follow up with your health care provider. Ask about ways to prevent or lower your risk for heart disease through diet, exercise, medication and/or lifestyle changes.