Heartburn or Heart Attack

What does it feel like?

Heartburn: a burning pain in the centre of your chest, as if you’ve drunk a bottle of vinegar. It can worsen with swallowing and leaves a bitter taste in your mouth (a bit like watching England win the Ashes). Heart Attack: “You’ll be short of breath,” says Dr Michael Peters, the author of BMA Home Doctor. And have a tight pain that radiates outwards. “Heartburn won’t reach beyond your chest. If the pain lasts over 10 minutes, call 000.”

When does it happen?

Heartburn: heartburn will usually strike around 15-30 minutes after eating, although sometimes it can take longer to hit. “If it’s worse when you’re lying down or bending over, you can be pretty sure it’s heartburn,” says Peters. Heart Attack: “Heart attacks can happen any time, even while asleep,” says Peters. One risk factor for a heart attack is gum disease. So protect your heart with regular tooth-brushing, especially before you go to bed, to reduce plaque build-up in your arteries.

Worst case scenario?

Heartburn: if it’s a one-off you’re in the clear, but “regular heartburn can be a symptom of gastroesophagul reflux disease, which can lead to ulcers,” warns Dr Kevin Whelan, nutritional scientist at King’s College, London. Heart Attack: every 12.5 minutes an Australian man dies from a heart attack – one in three of them before reaching hospital. “Half of deaths occur within four hours of the first symptoms, so if you’re in any doubt, ring an ambulance,” says Whelan.

Best Treatment?

Heartburn: regular antacids can work short-term, but also lead to “rebound” acid reflux. Instead, Whelan suggests taking Gaviscon Dual Action Liquid. This sits on your stomach contents and stops the acid coming back up. Heart Attack: while waiting for the ambulance down a soluble aspirin. “This gets into your system twice as fast as a pill and thins your blood, potentially dislodging the blockage that has caused the attack,” says Whelan.

Advance Strategy?

Heartburn: if you find heartburn often strikes at night or first thing in the morning, try raising the head of your bed 8-12 centimetres or using an extra pillow. “It’s often a simple matter of gravity forcing the acid up,” says Peters. Heart Attack: a recent study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found low fitness levels are the single biggest heart attack indicator – ahead of smoking, age and weight. So get sweating and then toast your dawn run with cholesterol-lowering high-fibre cereal.