When There's Chest Pain
Call 112 / 108 immediately for chest pain that is severe, lasts more than a few minutes, or comes with breathlessness, sweating, nausea, or pain spreading to the arm, neck or jaw. Don't wait it out, and don't drive to hospital yourself if an ambulance is available.
⚠️ "It's probably just gas" is how people lose the time that matters most
Acidity and heartburn are common, and most chest discomfort really is that. But this is exactly why heart attacks get missed — the two can feel similar, antacids can even bring brief relief from both, and "it's probably just acidity" is one of the most common things people say to themselves right before a heart attack turns serious.
More likely just acidity
- Burning, rises after eating or lying down
- Eases clearly with antacid, within 15-30 min
- No sweating, breathlessness, or spreading pain
Treat as the heart
- Pressure, tightness or squeezing — not just burning
- Sweating, nausea, breathlessness, or dizziness with it
- Spreads to arm, neck, jaw, back or stomach
- Comes with exertion, or doesn't fully go away
In older adults and diabetics especially, a heart attack can happen with no chest pain at all — just unusual fatigue, breathlessness, or a vague sense that something is wrong. If you genuinely can't tell which this is, that's normal — treat it as the heart and call. Being wrong about acidity costs an antacid; being wrong about a heart attack costs time you can't get back.
"If you feel tightness or heaviness in your chest, or the pain spreads to your arm or jaw, or you feel sweaty or sick with it — call [family member] straight away, even if you think it's just gas. Taking an antacid and feeling a bit better doesn't mean it wasn't your heart. It's always fine to call and be wrong. It's not fine to wait and find out too late."
Agree on this now: any chest discomfort gets a same-day call to family, even if it passed, even if antacids "worked." A parent who mentions it after the fact, once it's already resolved, is far more useful to know about than one who never mentions it at all.
Warning signs of a possible heart attack
- Chest pressure, tightness, heaviness or squeezing — not always sharp pain.
- Pain spreading to the left arm, both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea, light-headedness.
- In older adults and women, symptoms can be subtle — unusual fatigue or breathlessness alone can matter.
While waiting for the ambulance
- Have them stop all activity and sit or rest in a comfortable position, leaning back.
- Loosen tight clothing; keep them calm and reassured.
- Follow the emergency dispatcher's instructions about any medication — don't give anything on your own guess.
- Gather their medicines list, known heart conditions, and ID for the hospital.
People lose precious time talking themselves out of it — "it's probably gas/acidity." With heart attacks, acting early saves heart muscle and lives. It is always better to call and be reassured than to wait and be wrong.
General information only, not medical advice. In any emergency, call 112 / 108 and follow the dispatcher's instructions.