Muscle pain or heart attack. How do you differentiate them and when you have to truly alarm

More and more active young people, who are proud of a healthy lifestyle – go to the gym, make a regular movement and follow a balanced diet – I still reach the doctor with chest pain that puts them on their thoughts. Although myocardial infarction is frequently associated with older age and unhealthy habits, the reality is that young people can experience symptoms that mimic a heart attack.

Chest pain: a warning signal that you should not ignore photo shutterstock

Chronic stress, excessive physical effort or metabolic imbalances can cause chest pain that does not indicate a cardiac emergency, but which can be extremely frightening. How to make the difference between a muscle pain caused by an intense workout and a real heart emergency? What are the signs that tell us we don't have to wait and seek medical help?

In this article, we will explore the differences between the two types of pain and learn when it is essential to alarm and seek the intervention of a specialist.

In an era in which the healthy lifestyle is increasingly promoted, but also more stressful, it is crucial to know how to distinguish our body and act quickly when necessary.

Signs that betray a muscle pain

Muscle pain in the chest area is often superficial, localized and touch sensitive. The area may appear slightly swollen or inflamed, and the discomfort intensifies at the movements of the trunk or arms. It is a pain that appears and disappears and, most often, does not extend to other areas of the body. Another hint? It is attenuated quickly, especially at rest.

This is the situation of patients who arrive with a panic attack on the doctor after an intense training. They mention that they feel a strong sting in the chest, but investigations usually show that it is just a muscle overload during exercises. The sweating, in such cases, is caused by the effort, not by a cardiovascular imbalance. Panic, on the other hand, is real.

How do you recognize pain of cardiac origin

The pain caused by a myocardial infarction is deep, diffuse and difficult to localize. Does not respond to the touch and does not change according to movement.

It is a pressing sensation, as a massive weight on the chest, which can radiate to the neck, back, shoulders or arms – especially on the left side.

Most of the time, it is accompanied by cold sweats, difficulty breathing, nausea, dizziness and strong anxiety, sometimes even the imminent sensation of death.

The pain that can deceive: when there is no heart attack but feels the same

Cord attacks are a sensitive and common topic in medical discussions, but there are a number of pains that can be easily confused with the symptoms of such an episode. Their correct identification of the cause is essential, especially to avoid unnecessary panic or, on the contrary, delaying a serious diagnosis.

This explains why many patients describe intense sensations of chest pain which, in the end, are not related to the heart.

Therefore, some chest pain can mimic a heart attack, without indicating a serious heart condition. Among the most common causes:

One of the most common confusion is related to gastroesophageal reflux. When the gastric juices climb into the esophagus, cause an intense burning sensation in the chest, which can mimic the pain of a heart attack, especially after copious meals or when the patient stretches. However, these symptoms are usually short -lived and can be rapidly improved with acidity drugs.

These occur due to inflammation of the joints between the ribs and the sternum. They can be accompanied by discomfort in the chest and are often aggravated by movement or palpation. However, it does not affect the heart and do not endanger life.

Equally confusing are esophageal spasms – consist of abnormal contractions of the esophagus, which can cause intense and unexpected pain, very similar to those of a heart attack. They usually appear suddenly and disappear in a few minutes.

Anxiety can trigger physical symptoms difficult to differentiate from cardiac ones: chest pain, palpitations, rapid breathing and choking. In such cases, psychological and medical evaluation is essential to exclude real heart problems.

• Diabetes and aortic dissection

Especially for women and people with diabetes, the symptoms of a heart attack can be atypical: weak or non -existent pain, abdominal discomfort, dizziness, nausea or breathing difficulties.

In addition, an aortic dissection – the rupture of the main blood vessel wall – can cause an intense and sudden chest pain, with lethal potential.

This condition occurs when a blood clot blocks a lung artery, causing severe chest pain, breathing difficulties and sometimes cough. Symptoms can resemble those of a heart attack, which is why it is often confused with it.

When to go to the doctor

However, regardless of the nature of the pain felt, when you feel prolonged discomfort in the heart or chest area, you should not wait. It is essential to address a specialist and carry out the investigations needed to exclude or confirm a possible heart attack. In case of real infarction, the hospital is the safest place for prompt and saving treatment.

And if the pain is sudden, intense, diffuse and is accompanied by other symptoms such as dizziness, cold sweating or breathing difficulties, do not hesitate. He immediately calls medical help. Better a false alarm than an ignored emergency.

Pay attention to the visible signs and signals of your body-and do not hesitate to inform your loved ones. Sometimes a simple gesture can save a life. Better control more than a regret too late.