False heart attack - disease that may mimic a myocardial infarction
Sometimes, some signs experienced by an individual may mimic a heart attack. I will enumerate in this article the main symptoms that may create the impression of a heart attack, and are considered to be false alarms.
- Gastric disorders
Indigestion and reflux esophagitis, hiatus hernia and spasms, acute gastritis. - Disorders related to gallbladder.
- Lung infections:
Pneumonia, pleurisy, etc. These are associated in all cases with fever, chills and are caused by bacteria that attack the lung or the pleura. - Pericarditis
This is the inflammation of the heart's coat - pericardium. The pain is sharp and usually worsens when lying down and improves for a few minutes sitting up. - Chest wall pain
Related to muscular pain, ribs, intercostal nerves. - Left or right arm pain, tingling, numbness
Not related to heart condition, but to a recent brisk walk. This is a symptom experienced by many heart sufferers, and it increases when the arm is rested over the back of a chair for a few minutes. This pain is caused by pressure on the nerves. This pain is not increasing at fast walking or other efforts, so it is not related to cardiovascular system. This can be used in the differential diagnosis with a cardiac pain.
Even if there's a big number of people every day looking for medical attention due to chest pain, only half of these cases prove to be heart attacks. The other half are usually chest wall pains, gallbladder pains, angina pains or due to unknown causes. In all these cases, an ECG will in most of cases elucidate if there's a real or false heart attack.
Anyway, even if you experience a false heart attack and is the best choice to seek medical attention as fast as possible. The denial and refuse to call the ambulance, waiting too long in hope that the pan will subside is the worst thing you can do in such situations. In such situations a simple electrocardiogram (ECG) test may exactly say if it is a heart attack or just a false alarm.
You might be interested in:
- Pain in heart angina
- The pain in heart attack - location, irradiation and common signs
- Signs of a Heart Attack
- Nature of the pain in Heart Attack
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