Gas pain or is it a heart attack? Cardiologist shares ways to spot difference between both

Gas pain and heart attacks can mimic each other due to similar symptoms. Both can cause chest discomfort, pressure, or pain. Differentiating between the two is crucial; if chest pain is severe, sudden, or accompanied by other alarming symptoms, seeking immediate medical attention is essential.

Chest pain related to the heart is felt as a painful sensation in the breast accompanied by a strangling sensation, anxiety, and occasional radiation of pain to the left arm. Cardiac induced chest pain is called angina.

Pain that radiates to one or both arms or shoulders or is precipitated by exertion strongly suggests cardiac cause. Angina typically begins gradually and reaches its maximum intensity over minutes before dissipating. It is unusual for angina to reach its maximum severity within seconds. It is characteristic that patients with angina generally prefer to rest, sit, or stop walking during episodes.

Chest discomfort while walking in the cold or uphill is suggestive of angina. Angina pain subsides rapidly by rest or nitrate pills kept beneath the tongue. Relief with nitrates does not indicate angina but is also seen with oesophagus or food pipe issues.

What does a gas pain feel like?People with food pipe or gastric problems can experience upper abdomen pain associated with nausea and chest pain. Oesophageal pain is often relieved by milk, antacids, foods, or occasionally warm liquids. Both angina and oesophageal pain may be relieved by nitroglycerin. Gallbladder related pain also termed biliary colic also closely mimics angina. Biliary pain is steady, usually lasts 2 to 4 hours, and subsides spontaneously, without any symptoms between attacks. It is generally most intense in the right upper abdominal area but may also be felt in the epigastrium or precordium. This discomfort is often referred to the scapula and may radiate around the costal margin to the back.


Patient’s age, gender and history of previous heart disease aid in diagnosis of angina. It is not out of context to p0int that angina history is not enough to differentiate cardiac from other causes of chest pain. Initial investigations to confirm the diagnosis of angina include serial ECG and high-sensitivity Troponin.

(Author: Dr. C. Raghu, Clinical Director & Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Yashoda Hospitals Hyderabad)