Chest pain is often confusing — it could be something as simple as gas or as serious as a heart attack. Knowing how to tell the difference can save your life. Here are 7 ways to identify whether your chest pain is due to gas or a heart attack:
1. Nature of Pain
- Gas pain: Feels like sharp, stabbing, or cramping discomfort in the chest or upper abdomen. It may move around or get better after burping or passing gas.
- Heart attack: Feels like heavy pressure, squeezing, or burning in the center or left side of the chest. It doesn’t go away with rest or burping.
2. Pain Radiation
- Gas: Usually stays in the stomach area or chest and doesn’t spread.
- Heart attack: Pain can radiate to the left arm, shoulder, neck, jaw, or back.
3. Associated Symptoms
- Gas: May include bloating, burping, or indigestion.
- Heart attack: Often accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, dizziness, or extreme fatigue.
4. Onset and Duration
- Gas: Comes suddenly after eating heavy, spicy, or carbonated foods and may last a short time.
- Heart attack: Pain can build up gradually or come suddenly and lasts more than 10 minutes, not relieved by rest.
5. Response to Movement or Rest
- Gas: May improve after walking, burping, or changing posture.
- Heart attack: Pain remains even when you rest or change position.
6. Trigger Factors
- Gas: Triggered by overeating, lying down right after meals, or consuming gas-producing foods.
- Heart attack: Can occur after physical exertion, emotional stress, or even at rest.
7. Relief After Medication
- Gas: Usually improves after taking antacids or gas-relief tablets.
- Heart attack: No relief from digestive medicines — in fact, delay in treatment can be life-threatening.
⚠️ When to Seek Immediate Help:
If your chest pain is severe, lasts more than 10 minutes, or comes with breathlessness, sweating, or nausea — call emergency services immediately.
