Can You Tell If It’s a Heart Attack or Just Heartburn?

Distinguishing between them is nearly impossible. That's why you need to seek medical care.

Published: February 18, 2019

Type or quality of symptoms: Heartburn is often a true burning sensation that may start in the abdomen and radiate to the back of the throat. Sometimes it presents as a sharp pain. Classic angina is typically characterized by a sense of pressure, squeezing or tightness in the chest that may radiate to the arm or jaw. Overlap: A heart attack occurring on the back of the heart may produce symptoms just below the ribs and be mistaken for heartburn.