Difference between Gas Pain and Heart Attack

Intestinal gas commonly referred to as gas, is made up of deodorised gases viz oxygen, hydrogen, methane, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide. These gases mix up with intestinal bacteria and release flatulence from the body. It also releases through belching. Gas is an everyday phenomenon. A healthy person can release up to 21 flatulence a day. 

However, this gas can often get stuck into the left side of the colon (tube-like part of the large intestine) and result in extreme pain in the chest, which is at times believed to be a heart attack. Although, it’s just a gas pain in reality. 

Gas pain can occur due to:

1. Overeating 
2. Food poisoning 
3. Swallowing unwanted air
4. Improper diet

Major symptoms of gas pain include:

1. Belching: Passing gas through the mouth. While belching (or burping) is normal, it may be a symptom of gas pain if it happens frequently. 
2. Flatulence: Passing gas through the anus. As mentioned earlier, farting 21 times a day is normal for a human being; but an increase in number might be a sign of gas pain or gas-related problems. 
3. Abdominal Pain: Cramps or twisted feeling in the abdomen.
4. Bloating: A sense of swelling or fullness in the abdomen.
5. Distention: Enlargement of the abdomen.
6. Indigestion

A Heart Attack, or Myocardial Infarction, is a medical emergency which occurs when the heart muscle stops receiving oxygenated blood (blood rich in oxygen), due to the formation of a blood clot in the coronary artery (the artery that supplies oxygenated blood to the heart). Below is a detailed guide for the same.

The heart muscle requires oxygen for the proper function of the muscles, which they receive through the blood flow from coronary arteries. However, these arteries might become narrow due to the accumulation of fat and cholesterol (plaque). Slowly as the plaque breaks, it results in the formation of a blood clot in the arteries. 

Due to blood clotting, blood (carrying oxygen) is prevented from entering the heart muscle. As a consequence, the heart muscle gets deprived of oxygen. This crisis is referred to as Ischemia. Ischemia may damage or death a part of the heart muscle, known as a heart attack. 

A few heart attack symptoms are

1. Chest Pain: Discomfort, fullness, pressure, or pain in the left side or centre of the chest. This pain might last for a few minutes
2. Increased heartbeat
3. Heart Palpitation: Fast, pondering heart, feels like the heart is skipping a beat
4. Perspiration: Cold sweat
5. Fatigue and unexplained anxiety
6. Feeling Woozy: Fainting
7. Feeling nauseous or vomiting.
8. Pain in the left arm or both arms, including the left shoulder
9. Pain in jaw, neck, throat, back, and stomach
10. Falling short of breath with or without chest stiffness

Differences based on Symptoms, Causes and Risk Factors

Difference between Gas pain and Heart attack based on diagnosis and treatment

If the gas pain doesn’t go away even after undertaking natural remedies, and it only worsens, one should seek medical attention. A few intestinal gas symptoms indicating the necessity for medical attention include:

1. Acid reflux
2. Continuous burning sensation in the chest
3. Fever
4. Nausea and vomiting
5. Belching (burping)
6. Flatulence (farting)
7. Diarrhoea

In case of a heart attack is a life-threatening medical condition. Therefore, it’s strictly recommended to seek medical care at the earliest if any heart attack symptoms are felt. A few of the major symptoms include:

1. Increased heart rate
2. Chest pain
3. Heart palpitations
4. Anxiety
5. Cold sweat
6. Fatigue
7. Shortness of breath
8. Pain in Jaw, mouth, arms, and shoulders 

There is always confusion among people regarding gas pain in the chest versus heart attack. Nonetheless, both conditions cause pain in the chest. However, they vary on several factors and also lead to complications if not treated on time.

If you are unsure whether you are suffering gas pain in your chest or chest pain due to a heart attack, please seek medical help as soon as possible. You can also seek expert advice from the experienced doctors of HexaHealth, and that too, free of cost. Contact the experts of HexaHealth Today!