Comparison of Misconception of Heart Attack Pain with Heart Burn How Common Is It

Noman Pervez; Muhammad Afzal; Fazal Ur Rehman; Abdul Ghaffar Khan; Muhammad Hashim; Syed Abdul Bari; Rawindar Kumar; Sana Ullah kakar

doi:10.70749/ijbr.v3i1.471

Authors

Noman Pervez Department of Cardiology, Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.
Muhammad Afzal Department of Cardiology, Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.
Fazal Ur Rehman Department of Cardiology, Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.
Abdul Ghaffar Khan Department of Cardiology, Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.
Muhammad Hashim Department of Cardiology, Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.
Syed Abdul Bari Department of Cardiology, Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.
Rawindar Kumar National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases NICVD, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Sana Ullah kakar Balochistan Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences BIPBS, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i1.471

Keywords:

Heart Attack, Heart Burn, Gastric Reflux Disease, Misconception

Abstract

Background: The public often misunderstands the difference between a heart attack (myocardial infarction, MI) and heartburn. Heartburn, which is frequently brought on by acid reflux, commonly manifests as a burning ache in the chest, whereas myocardial infarction is characterized by sudden chest discomfort and additional symptoms like palpitations. Particularly among those with limited healthcare literacy, confusion between these two disorders can result in misdiagnosis, increased health risks, and delayed treatment. Methods: At a tertiary care hospital in Quetta, 200 volunteers from various socioeconomic levels (upper, middle, and lower) were enrolled in a cross-sectional descriptive study. The study gathered information on symptom interpretation, healthcare-seeking behaviour, and associated characteristics such belching, nausea, and the location of chest pain through semi-structured interviews and self-administered questionnaires. Thematic analysis was used to examine the data. Results: The findings showed that a considerable number of people confused MI pain for heartburn, with those from lower socioeconomic classes being most affected (50.5%). Symptoms that were frequently misconstrued included nausea (17.5%), chest discomfort (22%), and epigastric pain (36%). On the other hand, the most often identified MI symptoms were shortness of breath (24.5%) and chest discomfort (28%). Conclusion: In conclusion, many people confuse heart attacks with heartburn, particularly those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds who have less access to healthcare and less literacy. To improve early identification of myocardial infarction and lower health problems, this study emphasizes the significance of enhancing public awareness and health education.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Dimache, M., Turcan, E., & Nătase, M. (2010). [Noncardiac chest pain and gastroesophageal reflux disease]. PubMed, 114(2), 342–348.

Jafri, N., Jafri, W., Yakoob, javed, Islam, M., Manzoor, S., Jalil, A., & Hashmi, faraz. (2005). Perception of gastroesophageal reflux disease in urban population in Pakistan. PubMed, 15(9), 532–534.

American Heart Association. (2020). Heart Attack Symptoms. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/symptoms-of-a-heart-attack

Aro, P., Ronkainen, J., Storskrubb, T., et al. (2012). Gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and health care utilization: A population-based study in Finland. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 47(3), 267-275.

Bösner, S., Haasenritter, J., Becker, A., Hani, M. A., Keller, H., Sönnichsen, A. C., Karatolios, K., Schaefer, J. R., Baum, E., & Donner-Banzhoff, N. (2009). Heartburn or angina? Differentiating gastrointestinal disease in primary care patients presenting with chest pain: a cross sectional diagnostic study. International Archives of Medicine, 2(1), 40. https://doi.org/10.1186/1755-7682-2-40

El-Serag, H. B., Sweet, S., Winchester, C. C., & Dent, J. (2014). Update on the epidemiology of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a systematic review. Gut, 63(6), 871–880. https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2012-304269

Eslick, G. D., Jones, M. P., & Talley, N. J. (2003). Non‐cardiac chest pain: Prevalence, risk factors, impact and consulting — a population‐based study. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 17(9), 1115-1124. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2036.2003.01557.x

Hui, C. M., Padala, S. K., Lavelle, M., Torosoff, M. T., Zhu, X. C., & Sidhu, M. S. (2015). Acute coronary syndrome: An unusual consequence of GERD. Case Reports in Cardiology, 2015, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/939641

Kato, H., Ishii, T., Akimoto, T., Urita, Y., & Sugimoto, M. (2009). Prevalence of linked angina and gastroesophageal reflux disease in general practice. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 15(14), 1764. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.15.1764

Lee, T. (2006). Ask the doctor. I'm worried that someday I will confuse my heartburn with my angina or a heart attack and end up in the emergency room for nothing. How do I tell the difference?. Harvard Heart Letter: From Harvard Medical School, 16(7), 8-8. https://europepmc.org/article/med/19663034

Mata, J., Frank, R., & Gigerenzer, G. (2012). Symptom recognition of heart attack and stroke in nine European countries: A representative survey. Health Expectations, 17(3), 376-387. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1369-7625.2011.00764.x

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2012). Heartburn or chest pain: when is it heart attack? Florida: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER); 2012.

McSweeney, J. C., Anderson, N. J., & Arslanian-Engoren, C. (2010). Gender differences in heart attack symptoms: A systematic review. Journal of Women's Health, 19(4), 731-740.

Mehta, A. J., De Caestecker, J. S., Camm, A. J., & Northfield, T. C. (1996). Castro-oesophageal reflux in patients with coronary artery disease: How common is it and does it matter? European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 8(10), 973-978. https://doi.org/10.1097/00042737-199610000-00007

Moro, D. (2019). Confronting the Obvious: An Epistemological Examination of the Evidence Informing Evidence-Based Medicine. Journal of Integrative Research & Reflection, 2(2), 70–80. https://doi.org/10.15353/jirr.v2.1575

Olafsdottir, L. B. (2012). Irritable bowel syndrome: Physicians’ awareness and patients’ experience. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 18(28), 3715. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v18.i28.3715

Simons-Linares, C. R. (2019). Behind the Case. ACG Case Reports Journal, 6(11), e00282. https://doi.org/10.14309/crj.0000000000000282

Simpson, F. G., Kay, J., & Aber, C. P. (1984). Chest pain--indigestion or impending heart attack? Postgraduate Medical Journal, 60(703), 338–340. https://doi.org/10.1136/pgmj.60.703.338

Sodeman, W. A., & Sodeman, T. C. (2005). Gastro-Intestinal Diseases. In: Sodeman WA, Sodeman TC, editors. Instructions for Geriatric Patients. 1. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106: Elsevier Saunders; 01-6.

Souney, P. F, & Zimmermann, A. E. (2013). Peptic Ulcer Disease and Related Acid-Associated Disorders, Chapter 44, Comprehensive Pharmacy Review for NAPLEX. 8th ed. Shargel L, Mutnick AH, Souney PF, Swanson LN, editors. Philadelphia, PA 19103, United States of America: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 886-929.

Tullmann, D. F., & Dracup, K. (2005). Knowledge of Heart Attack Symptoms in Older Men and Women at Risk for Acute Myocardial Infarction. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, 25(1), 33–39. https://doi.org/10.1097/00008483-200501000-00008

Wikipedia Contributors. (2019, October 24). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Williams, R. A., Tsui, J., Morris, M., et al. (2014). Public understanding of heart attack symptoms and heartburn. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 29(3), 209-216.