Chest pain can be a symptom of either gas or a heart attack, and ignoring it can prove fatal. People often treat mild pain as gas and become careless.

How to identify the real problem from chest pain?

People often fear a heart attack when they have chest pain, but not every chest pain is a heart attack. Gas trapped in the stomach and intestines can also cause sharp, cramp-like or burning pain in the chest, which sometimes feels like a heart attack. This pain is often caused by eating too quickly, eating spicy or fried food, and drinking carbonated drinks.

Dr. Sanjay Dwivedi explains that chest pain can be a symptom of either gas or a heart attack and ignoring it can prove fatal. People often ignore mild pain, thinking it is gas, while knowing the correct difference helps in avoiding serious consequences.

Gas pain or heart attack?

• Gas pain:   This is a digestive disorder caused by air trapped in the stomach and intestines. The symptoms are sharp, crampy or burning, which can occur anywhere between the upper abdomen and chest. It may be accompanied by bloating, burping and a feeling of heaviness in the body. The most important difference is that releasing gas, burping or changing body position often provides relief from the pain. This pain usually starts after a heavy meal or drinking carbonated drinks.
• Heart attack: This is a medical emergency in which blood flow to the heart is blocked. It causes a feeling of pressure, heaviness or tightness in the chest. This discomfort can often spread to the left arm, jaw, neck, back, and shoulder. It is accompanied by symptoms like sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness, and nausea. The pain of a heart attack does not subside with rest or changing positions, but persists continuously. This pain does not disappear for more than 10 minutes.

When to seek medical advice?

If you experience chest pain, pressure or pain spreading to the arms, jaw, neck or back, shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, or restlessness and these symptoms do not go away quickly, contact emergency services. Do not ignore mild pain, as the warning signs of a heart attack can vary from person to person.

Why does gas pain feel like a heart attack?

According to Dr. Sanjay, the nerves between your intestine and heart send signals to the same area. When gas accumulates in the left side, it puts pressure on the diaphragm. This causes pain in the chest, which may feel like a heart attack. However, if there is any doubt, it is always better to be cautious and consult a doctor.

Disclaimer: Some of the information given in the news is based on media reports. Before implementing any suggestion, please consult the concerned expert.

PC:ABPNews