In India, the most dangerous sentence is:
“Gas hoga… thoda Eno le lo.”
This one sentence has killed thousands.
Every day we see patients arriving late because they thought chest burning or upper stomach pain was just acidity.
By the time they reach the hospital, their artery is already blocked, and heart muscle is dying.
✅ Why heart attack feels like “gas”
The heart and stomach share nerve pathways.
So when the heart is in danger, the brain sometimes confuses it with acidity or indigestion.
✅ Symptoms of a heart attack that look like gastric problem
• Burning chest pain
• Heaviness after food
• Upper stomach discomfort
• Vomiting or nausea
• Sudden burping
• Pain going to back or jaw
• Sweating without reason
• Restlessness
People keep taking Eno, Gelusil, antacids…
But the real problem is a blocked artery.
✅ ACC/AHA guideline-based rule:
If chest burning or upper abdominal pain lasts >10–15 minutes
→ Do ECG + Troponin
Not antacid.
Not home remedy.
Not wait-and-watch.
❗ Common delay mistakes
• “Acidity toh roj hota hai”
• “Thoda dard hai, so jayenge theek ho jayega”
• “Doctor ke paas time nahi hai”
• “Age only 35–40, heart attack kaise?”
No pain does NOT mean no heart attack.
Young age does NOT mean safe heart.
✅ Who is at higher risk of confusing heart pain with acidity?
• Diabetics
• Smokers
• Overweight/obese
• High cholesterol
• Family history of heart disease
• People with uncontrolled BP
✅ One simple rule for families in India
If chest burning is new, severe, or associated with sweating, breathlessness, ghabrahat, jaw/back pain →
Treat as heart attack unless proven otherwise.
Early ECG saves life.
Delay kills silently.
💔 Many patients are brought dead because they spent hours treating “gas.”
Acidity will not kill you.
A blocked artery will.
Know the difference.
Share the truth.
— Dr. Devraj Kumar
Senior Cardiac Surgeon
(CABG | Valve Surgery | Total Arterial Revascularization)
