In an event of chest pain, it's easy to blur the line between heartburn (acid reflux) and heart attack. Both can onset chest pain, and the former can sometimes mimic the latter, making the distinction quite daunting. A heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction, is a significant medical crisis that results from the obstruction or diminished blood supply to the heart muscle.

Chest pain due to heart attack doesn't necessarily mean you clutch your chest in agony, like a scene straight out of a Hollywood drama. If you're suddenly wrecked with chest pain, coupled with nausea and/or shoulder discomfort, ring the emergency bells ASAP.

The fine print of distinguishing heartburn from a heart attack is not only complicated but also necessary as timely emergency medical care can be the difference between life and death in the case of the latter. Be informed, stay alert. If the symptoms suggest a heart attack, waste no time in racing to the ER.

Heart attack symptoms can burst onto the scene without any head's up, but there can also be early red flags. One of these SOS bullets is angina, signifying a transient decrease in heart's blood supply. This brings about chest pain and pressure, in repetitive bouts.

Symptoms of heart attack can also mimic acid reflux to a degree. Yet, heart disease is the silent, deadly villain in the U.S, especially among women. While women are likely to overlook their symptoms, thinking it's a trivial case of acid reflux, symptoms of heart attack can show differently than men.

The common heart attack symptom in women is chest pain, centered in the neck, arm, or back. Women can also exhibit tiredness, breathing difficulty, nausea/vomiting, or pain in the back or jaw.

Heartburn is triggered when the lower esophageal sphincter, a group of muscles at the bottom end of the esophagus, weakens, causing stomach contents to reflux into the esophagus (gastroesophageal reflux). Repeated or robust acid reflux can escalate into gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Understanding the dichotomy between heartburn and heart attack is key to acting promptly. Medications targeting heartburn may relieve symptoms. Acid-reflux symptoms can also be mitigated by an upright posture or standing up after meals.

Drinking water, herbal teas, and water-rich foods such as cucumbers, celery, and watermelon may dilute the stomach acid causing the reflux. On the flip side, heartburn can debut post a heavy or spicy meal. The locus of pain can be another key differential between heartburn and heart attack. Heart attack related pain often radiates beyond the chest, while heartburn pain is confined to the chest and throat.

Another telltale sign of a heart attack is breathlessness and sweaty, clammy skin. Heartburn seldom exhibits these symptoms. Abdominal bloating and belching after a heavy or spicy meal are commonly tied to chronic acid reflux, not a heart attack. If chest pain or related symptoms puzzle you, don't hesitate to dial 911. Better safe than sorry.

Chest pain, an early sign of heart attack, can be confused with indigestion, GERD, or plain acid reflux. Symptoms might differ for men and women. Always treat chest pain as a possible sign of heart attack and seek emergency assistance promptly. Don't let fear of embarrassment stop you from contacting ER.