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Overview
Heartburn and angina symptoms are easy to confuse because they both cause chest pain. This type of pain is an automatic red flag to many people, but others tend to ignore it if they get heartburn on a regular basis. It is important to be able to distinguish between the two--and to know when to seek help.
Definitions and Distinctions
Heartburn is an extremely common health condition that about 1 in 10 people experience on a regular basis. It is caused by stomach acid working its way back up through your esophagus, causing a burning sensation. This sensation can be worsened if you eat spicy or greasy foods. Angina, on the other hand, is caused by heart disease and occurs when the heart does not get enough blood due to cold, stress or high levels of exercise. Both of these conditions cause chest pain, but obviously heartburn is not particularly dangerous as long as you do not develop ulcers, while angina can be a forerunner to a heart attack and needs to be treated immediately.
Heartburn is often brought on by spicy foods like chili.
Types
Chest pain is the major symptom of both heartburn and angina. However, the type of chest pain that you experience can help you determine what type of condition you are dealing with. For example, heartburn chest pain is generally a hot sensation and may be accompanied by a feeling of liquid coming back up your throat, as if you had just burped. You may also have a bitter taste in your mouth. With angina, on the other hand, your chest pain will probably feel more as if someone is squeezing your chest, and it may be accompanied nausea, sweating, light-headedness and fatigue.
Effects
The long-term effects of angina and heartburn are also very different. Over time, heartburn can cause chronic stomach pain and ulcers, but the general level of discomfort will probably not increase dramatically as long as you watch what you eat and take the proper medication. Angina leads to far more serious heart problems like heart attacks and can even be fatal. Over time, it becomes easier and easier to bring on angina, and the symptoms become more severe.
Misconceptions
Many people think that a heart attack or other heart problems that can lead to heart attack, like angina, are not serious unless they are accompanied by pain on the left side of the body--specifically the left arm. However, many people who have serious heart episodes never experience this pain, and women in particular almost never have this specific symptom. As a result, waiting for left-arm pain can seriously delay your getting much needed medical attention. Do not ever write off angina as heartburn simply because your arm does not hurt.
Prevention/Solution
Whether you are dealing with heartburn or angina, there are some things that you can do to alleviate, if not eliminate, your symptoms and the underlying problem. For starters, see your doctor immediately so that you can begin treating whichever problem you have. Next, you may need to adjust your diet and exercise habits. You may need to increase your stamina or alter the foods that you are eating to increase your comfort level. Finally, monitor your condition, and never write off one condition just because you have the other. For example, if your heartburn feels atypical--perhaps a little more like angina than heartburn--then you should still call your doctor even if you do not really want to. Having heartburn does not prohibit angina and vice versa.
Warning
If you suspect that you are having a heart attack or any other type of heart or cardiovascular episode, do not delay getting help. Angina can lead to heart attacks, and you need to give yourself as much time as possible to fight the issue before an actual heart attack occurs. Do not wait for the symptoms to ease or go somewhere to be alone. It could cost you your life.
