Symptoms Of Heart Attack And Heartburn: What's The Difference?

Because of the similarities they share, people are often confused as to whether what they are going through is a heart attack or a mere case of heartburn. Suddenly, there is a gripping and painful sensation on the chest region and it feels like one would collapse at any moment. The experience comes with a certain amount of panic for those suffering from high blood pressure and heart disease, which are the major causes of heart attack. But before we look deeper into the similarities and differences between the symptoms of heart disease and heartburn, let’s take a little peep into the prevalence of high blood pressure and heart disease in Africa.

The Prevalence Of High Blood Pressure In Africa

High blood pressure (hypertension) and cardiovascular disease are major, rapidly growing health crises in Africa, with the continent experiencing the world's

highest prevalence of hypertension at roughly 46% of adults aged 25+. Cardiovascular diseases are the second leading cause of death, with over 1.6 million

deaths annually. Estimates generally range between 20–46% of the adult population, with some studies showing up to 50% in certain populations (e.g., South Africa). Urban areas report higher prevalence (approximately . 32.9%) compared to rural areas (26.3%), largely driven by lifestyle changes. Roughly 48% of women and 34% of men in Africa are affected by hypertension, with the disease shifting to younger populations in recent times.

What Is Heart Attack?

A heart attack (myocardial infarction) is a life-threatening medical emergency occurring when blood flow—carrying essential oxygen—is suddenly blocked to a part of the heart muscle, usually by a clot in a narrowed coronary artery. Without immediate treatment to restore flow, this causes the muscle tissue to begin to die. Common symptoms include chest pain or discomfort (squeezing, pressure), shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, and pain in the arm, neck, or jaw. 

Heart attacks are primarily caused by high blood pressure or heart disease. Heart disease describes a variety of issues that can affect your heart. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type. CAD, also known as coronary heart disease, can make your arteries narrow and lead to a heart attack. Heart disease can also affect your heart muscle, valves or electrical system. The symptoms you have and the treatments you get depend on the type of heart disease you have.

When your heart isn’t working well, it has trouble sending enough blood, oxygen and nutrients to your body. In a way, your heart delivers the fuel that keeps your body running. If your heart can’t deliver that fuel, it affects everything your body’s systems do.

Lifestyle changes and consumption of natural foods like nuts, fruits and vegetables can keep your heart healthy and lower your chances of getting heart disease.

What Is Heartburn?

Heartburn is a painful, burning sensation in the chest behind the breastbone, often accompanied by a bitter taste in the throat, caused by stomach acid flowing back up into the esophagus (acid reflux). It is typically triggered by eating, lying down, or bending over. While common, frequent, or severe symptoms may indicate a more serious condition like GERD. 

There is usually a burning pain on the chest (often after eating or at night), a sour or acidic taste, and sometimes difficulty swallowing or a hoarse voice.

Heartburn is often caused by a weakened lower esophageal sphincter allowing acid to rise

. Common triggers include eating large meals, fatty/fried foods, caffeine, chocolate, citrus, tomato sauce, mint, alcohol, and smoking

Similarities And Differences Between Heart Disease And Heartburn

Heartburn and heart disease (including heart attacks) both cause chest discomfort, making them difficult to distinguish. Heartburn feels like a burning sensation behind the breastbone, often after eating or lying down. Heart disease/attack, however, typically feels like pressure, squeezing, tightness, or pain that may spread to the arms, neck, or jaw. 

The similarities between these two health conditions include: both can cause pain in the chest area; both are often felt behind the breastbone even though heartburn sometimes is felt more in the middle of the chest than on the breastbones; both can be accompanied by nausea or dizziness. 

The differences are as follow: heartburn is a sharp, burning sensation while  heart attack is pressure, tightness, squeezing, or heaviness; heartburn often occurs after eating, or when lying down/bending over while  heart attack pain often occurs during physical exertion or stress; heartburn may cause a sour or bitter taste in the mouth while  heart attack may cause shortness of breath, cold sweats, or pain radiating to the jaw, neck, back, or left arm.

  

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Zimbabwean Children Facing Silent Health Crisis From The Consumption Of Instant Noodles And Zapnax Snacks

Article By Michael Gwarisa

While they may be convenient and easy to prepare for your little ones, flavoured snacks, foods and beverages contain high sugar, salt and or unhealthy fats that can increase the risk of becoming overweight or obese, and of related chronic diseases later in life.

Data from the 2024 Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) show that Zimbabwe recorded obesity levels of 5.2% in Infants and Young Children (IYC) owing to consumption of unhealthy foods.

 According to the study, unhealthy snack food and beverage consumption in Zimbabwe has been associated with a higher risk of nutrient inadequacy, and lower length-for-age among one-year-olds. Food preferences that begin early in life track into later childhood and adolescence and such practices, if continued throughout adolescence and adulthood, can increase the risk of becoming overweight or obese, and of related chronic diseases later in life.

Speaking in an interview with HealthTimes of Zimbabwe , Chj Chikanda, a Nutritionist with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) said though it is trendy to feed children flavoured foods, it was unhealthy.

“No, these foods are not safe. Though very convenient and time saving, they pose significant health risks. Some of the food colouring and flavouring have been associated with hyperactivity in children. Some have been found to trigger allergies and worsening of asthma. Some lead to stomach irritation and cramps,” said Chikanda.

She added that there is increased risk of chronic diseases like hypertension, type-2 diabetes and cancer when these flavoured foods are frequently consumed over a long period of time.

“These are responsible for about 74% of global deaths and disability, not to mention increased healthcare costs and reduced quality of life. In addition, when mostly consumed without proper meals, these foods can also result in gastric problems including peptic ulcers (sores that develop in the lining of stomach or upper part of small intestine). If sub-optimally treated these can result in internal bleeding as slow blood loss resulting in anaemia, or as severe blood loss that requires blood transfusion and hospitalization.”

In Zimbabwe, a wide variety of artificially flavoured foods being consumed. These include relish or gravy mixes added to sauces usually labelled beef or chicken flavoured. Instant or two-minute noodles, flavoured snacks/chips, candy, sugar sweetened beverages including soft drinks, flavoured milks and cordials have become preferred quick fix solutions to hunger or cravings. Some processed meats such as sausages and hot dogs being sold at formal and informal food outlets with chips/French fries are not healthy.

“Let me try to simplify as much as possible. So some of these flavours, let me give an example of beef meat flavoured corn snacks. Whilst chewing and savoring the yummy beefy taste, signals are sent to the stomach that one has consumed meat, resulting in gastric acids being secreted to digest the meat. But alas!! It’s not meat but a lightweight snack yet acid will still be released, what happens now? The acids with nothing else to digest will pass away time by going for your stomach linings “the collateral damage,” said Chikanda.

The 2025 Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) survey highlights the urgency of tackling unhealthy diets among children. Although Zimbabwe has set targets to reduce childhood overweight, the survey warns that  dietary shifts toward ultra processed foods threaten these gains. ZimLAC categorises overweight prevalence as very low when it is below 2.5 percent, low between 2.5 and below 5 percent, medium between 5 and below 10 percent

, high between 10 and below 15 percent, and very high at 15 percent or above. Public health analysts say sustained consumption of high salt, high fat and low nutrient snacks could push more communities into the higher risk categories.

“In my experience, pre-school and younger school aged children enjoy consuming flavoured snacks, sherbet, and candy that paint the tongue and mouth (Peer pressure greatly involved). If you want to see what I am talking about give a 4 year old a dollar pocket money and observe what they will buy (they will most likely consume it where their counterparts are playing.)

However, in Zimbabwe it seems consuming flavoured foods and snacks is not only an infant problem as other older groups also prefer the foods owing to their convenience.

School going children (day-scholars) have these food packed in their lunch boxes by caregivers and when they get pocket money they almost always purchase these snacks from vendors or tuck-shops within their school vicinities. On the other hand, boarders carry cartons of these snacks to school as tuck. University students renting outside campus residence also largely consume these snacks to avoid cooking, whilst their campus residing counterparts snack on the same in between meals. Some grown-ups staying alone also consume some of these foods for convenience purposes.

Culled from HealthTimes  HealthTimes  

 

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