Next time you get upper abdominal pain, don’t neglect it. It could be a heart attack. Ten to 12 per cent of patients who experience pain in the lower part of the heart (Inferior Wall MI-Myocardial Infarction) will hardly realise they have a heart attack, as the symptoms resemble that of peptic ulcer or gastritis or even cervical spondylitis They stay at home and prefer self-medication. But some may die, said Dr. I.B. Vijayalakshmi, cardiologist at Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology.
Vomiting and sweating is common in both heart attack and gastritis. But chest pain in heart attack will radiate to the upper abdomen and never below the umbilical cord. It may spread to the neck. Some may mistake it for the cervical spondylitis. "If a patient complains of upper abdominal pain, ECG must be done," said Dr. V.S. Prakash, cardiologist, M S Ramaiah Medical College and Hospital.
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