FazTimes Media: It looked like a scene from a Bollywood movie. Anil Kapoor's character in the movie Dil Dhadakne Do gets a sudden chest pain at a party for their wedding anniversary. His family takes him to the hospital because they think he may be very sick. However, it turned out that he just had a lot of gas. The movie makers meant for this scene to be funny, but in real life, mistaking gas pain for a heart attack can be terrible.

Many people in India have experienced chest pain and mistakenly believed it was just indigestion. Some people have gone to the doctor thinking they had a stomachache, only to find out they were having a heart attack.

Doctors told Al Jazeera that not being able to tell the difference between these signs can be very dangerous.

Why does this take place?

A heart expert at Ananthapuri Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, Dr Anand Marthanda Pillai, says this happens because the nerves that control the heart and stomach are linked. In other words, the pain from both can feel a lot alike.

Heart pain is usually in the chest, but it can also be in the arms, neck, head, or back. "Gas pain can be sharp and localised, but it can look like heart pain," says Dr. Pillai.

How to Tell the Differences

However, only a doctor can say for sure. Here are some signs that may help you figure out how you feel:

Start and How Long It Lasts: The pain of a heart attack usually comes on slowly and lasts for days. It might feel tight or heavy. The pain of gas comes on quickly and is very sharp. It goes away when you burp or pass gas.
Other Signs: It's more likely that your chest pain is caused by your heart if you're also sweating, short of breath, feeling sick, dizzy, or having pain in your left arm or mouth.
What Makes It Happen: Some foods, eating too much, or sitting down right after eating can cause gas pain. You can have heart pain even when you're not doing much.

Afterwards, the gas pain might feel better if you move around, take antacids, or turn around. Usually, heart attack signs get worse or stay the same over time.

How risky is it to guess? According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), heart disease kills millions of people every year and is the leading cause of death in India. People, especially younger individuals who believe they are too healthy to experience heart problems, often overlook the early signs of a heart attack.

Here is what Dr Pillai says: "If you're not sure, treat it like a heart emergency." Time matters a lot. Delaying medical help can cause significant and long-lasting damage.

Nearby stories highlighted the associated risks.

In Kerala last year, a 42-year-old shop owner experienced chest pain after having dinner. He was reluctant to visit the hospital, as he attributed his chest pain to the spicy food he had consumed. He had a major heart attack in the morning. They told him that he might not have had so much heart damage if he had gone to the hospital sooner. These stories show that our bodies often send us signs that we should pay attention to.

The best medicine is to maintain good health.

Heart health can help prevent problems with both your heart and stomach, according to experts. This means that you should get regular exercise, eat a balanced diet, avoid excessive greasy and spicy food, manage stress, and visit the doctor for frequent check-ups, especially if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of heart disease.

Last Word

When films end, people might laugh and feel better; however, in real life, there are no second chances. Heart attacks and gas issues can present similar symptoms, but making assumptions is too risky. Whenever you are unsure about chest pain, it is best to be safe and see a doctor right away.

Someone once told me, "You can be mistaken about gas, but you can't be mistaken about your heart."

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