HOW CAN I DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN HEART PAIN (RELATED TO HEART DISEASE) AND HEART BURN?

History helps.  Heart disease pain (angina) more typically occurs with activity/exertion, is a tightness associated with shortness of breath and reduced exercise tolerance.  Heartburn is typically a burning ache that comes on with rest or aggravated when recumbent, with symptoms made worse by eating.  Symptom relief might occur with antacids.  That said either condition might occur atypically.

POSTED BY:  Steven Ajluni, MD