Heartburn burns after eating or lying down, brings up food or bitter fluid, and eases with antacids. Heart attack is crushing or squeezing central chest pain that may spread to arm, neck, jaw, or back, with sweating, sickness, or breathlessness - not tied to meals or position.
The company matters most: chest discomfort plus sweating, breathlessness, or spread is the heart cluster. Women, older people, and diabetics often get quieter versions - breathlessness, nausea, exhaustion. The rule: any doubt means call emergency services; chew an aspirin while waiting if not allergic. An antacid fixing it in minutes is reassuring, not proof. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text - but chest pain with doubt means call emergency services first.
What to do
Common questions
How do you tell heartburn from a heart attack?
The confusion is understandable - even the NHS lists feeling like you have indigestion among heart attack symptoms. The patterns differ in weight and company. Heartburn: a burning feeling in the chest that starts after eating or when lying down or bending over, often with food or bitter-tasting fluid coming up, feeling full and bloated - and it eases with antacids. Heart attack: a crushing or squeezing pain, pressure, or tightness in the centre of the chest that may spread to the arm (classically left, but either), neck, jaw, stomach, or back, arriving with sweating, feeling sick, shortness of breath, or light-headedness - and NOT clearly tied to meals or position. The company the pain keeps matters most: chest discomfort plus sweating, breathlessness, or spread beyond the chest is the heart attack cluster. Women, older people, and diabetics more often get quieter versions - breathlessness, nausea, exhaustion - without dramatic pain. The rule that saves lives: if there is any doubt, treat it as a heart attack and call emergency services. Chewing an aspirin while waiting is standard advice if you are not allergic. An antacid that fixes it in minutes is reassuring, not proof. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, that can talk you through the checklist - but chest pain with doubt means call emergency services first.