​What can be mistaken for heart attack? Know about diseases that mimic heart diseases​

Heart attacks kill close to 18 million people in the world. This is considered to be one of the deadliest non-communicable diseases. While it is rightly said that chest pain should not be ignored and the heart should be tested, it should also be known that one should stay calm until the cause of the chest pain is identified. In this article, different types of chest pain, which mimic heart diseases, have been discussed.


(Please note, consult a doctor to ascertain the reason of your heart problem)

Heartburn or pain caused due to excessive digestive acid in the stomach mimics the chest pain experienced due to heart attack. This usually occurs after one lies down or goes to sleep immediately after eating. It is characterized by a sour taste in the mouth. In some cases, the person experiences regurgitation in which the content of the stomach comes back to the throat.

Sometimes a pain in the heart or a stabbing pain towards the left side of the chest can be due to a strained chest muscle. A musculoskeletal injury can mimic chest pain which is strong enough to mimic a heart disease.

Chest pain due to anxiety and other emotional stress can confuse someone. Sometimes extreme stress triggers a pain in the chest which looks similar to the pain induced by a heart attack.

In Costochondritis, the cartilage that joins a rib to the breastbone causes pain due to inflammation. The patients often experience chest pains and lack of correct diagnosis might scare them of having heart attacks.

In pericarditis there is inflammation in the tissues that surround the heart. More than 80% of the pericarditis is caused by viruses and the rest by bacterial infection, though the occurrence of these infections is rare. One of the typical signs of pericarditis is stabbing chest pain.

Medically known as pancreatitis, the inflammation of the pancreas causes a deep pain. Acute pancreatitis can affect the breathing and cause fast and shallow breathing in the individual which can be confused as a heart attack.

Just because the chest pain is not related to the heart, it does not mean you should ignore it. If it is not heart, it can be something else. Pay attention to the abnormalities in the body which occur in the form of pains, swellings, etc. Consult a doctor at the earliest so that the progress of the disease is checked early.

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