A heart attack can sometimes feel like acidity, indigestion or a burning sensation in the chest or upper abdomen, making it difficult for people to immediately recognise the danger. Although acid reflux is common after heavy or spicy meals, persistent, unexplained or unusually intense discomfort should not automatically be treated as a digestive problem.

Dr Aseem Dhall, Director and Head of Cardiac Sciences at ISIC Multispeciality Hospital, explained that heart-related discomfort may resemble heartburn because the heart and digestive system share certain nerve pathways. As a result, the brain may struggle to identify the precise source of pain, causing reduced blood flow to the heart to be perceived as indigestion.

Acidity commonly produces a burning feeling behind the breastbone, a sour taste, belching or discomfort that worsens after eating or lying down. It may improve after taking an antacid. Heart-related discomfort is more likely to involve pressure, tightness, squeezing or heaviness, although symptoms vary and improvement after an antacid cannot reliably exclude a cardiac problem.

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Warning signs include discomfort that persists for several minutes, disappears and returns, or spreads to the arm, shoulder, back, neck, jaw or stomach. Shortness of breath, cold sweating, nausea, dizziness, unusual weakness or light-headedness alongside chest discomfort also require urgent attention. Some heart attacks begin gradually and may not produce severe or dramatic pain. American Heart Association guidance

People with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, a smoking history or a family history of heart disease should be particularly cautious. Older adults and women may also experience less typical symptoms, including fatigue, breathlessness, nausea or upper abdominal discomfort. Symptoms triggered by physical activity or emotional stress and relieved by rest may indicate angina and require medical evaluation.

Anyone experiencing new, severe or unexplained chest or upper-abdominal discomfort—especially when accompanied by breathing difficulty, sweating, nausea or radiating pain—should seek emergency medical assistance immediately. People should not attempt to diagnose the problem themselves or wait for an antacid to work, as delaying treatment during a heart attack can cause greater damage to the heart muscle.

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