Chest pain can be scary. The little discomfort in chest can scare people, they have thoughts like, “Am I having a heart attack?” It can be tricky to differentiate between cardiac chest pain to gastric chest pain, because both symptoms are quite similar.

But some key differences in their symptoms can help distinguish between the two.

Cardiac Chest Pain (related to the heart):

Cardiac chest pain, also known as angina, is chest discomfort caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle (myocardium). This typically happens when the heart’s arteries (coronary arteries) are narrowed or blocked, a condition known as coronary artery disease.

This is often felt as a tightness, pressure, squeezing, or heavy ache in the center or left side of the chest. The pain may radiate to the left arm, shoulder, neck, jaw, or back. It is usually likened as, ” a elephant sitting on the chest”.

This is frequently brought on or worsened by physical exertion, emotional stress, or cold temperatures. It is usually relieved by rest or medication like nitroglycerin. Other than chest pain, it includes shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, lightheadedness, and a rapid or irregular heartbeat.  Episodes are typically brief, lasting for a few minutes. This occasionally appears and disappear but never goes away.

Gastric Chest Pain (related to the digestive system:

Gastric chest pain refers to chest discomfort that originates from problems within the digestive system, particularly the esophagus, stomach, or gallbladder. It can sometimes mimic the symptoms of cardiac chest pain, leading to confusion. It can be felt anywhere in the chest, often described as a burning sensation, sharp pain, or a feeling of fullness. It might be located behind the breastbone.

This is often related to eating, especially large or fatty meals, lying down after eating, or certain foods that trigger heartburn or acid reflux. It may be relieved by antacids, belching, or changing body position. This may include a sour taste in the mouth, difficulty swallowing, a feeling of food coming back up (regurgitation), bloating, or abdominal pain.

It can last for longer periods, sometimes hours. It certainly is uncomfortable but not life threatening.

When to seek medical help?

If you are having chest pain, and unsure about the cause, it is always recommended to consult an expert. Don’t self diagnoe chest pain, as delay can be life threatening.