Chest Pain
While heartburn is a symptom that causes pain in the chest area, people might also be facing actual chest pain. The body reacts to heartburn, and the muscles around the chest feel sympathetic pain. The medical term for it is noncardiac chest pain (NCCP). Most of it focuses on the area around a person’s breastbone. While some might confuse it with a heart attack, the critical difference is that it does not spread. A heart attack will apply its pain to nearby areas like the arms, shoulders, back, or neck. If this doesn’t happen and the pain stays in the same place, there is nothing to worry about a heart attack.
There is also a difference in how people feel the pain. Heart attacks are crushing and overwhelming when it comes to pain. The feeling is like having a significant hand squeeze the body. NCCP is sharper and tender. People might feel a bit of a shock, but they won’t keel over because of it. They might even get some relief by simply standing or sitting up straight.
