The scariest symptom that can be mistaken for heartburn is chest pain caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart that can turn into a heart attack. Women especially often have atypical symptoms of a heart attack, such as nausea or back pain, so it’s very important to not dismiss symptoms as “heartburn” when they’re not responding to standard treatments. If you’re not sure, it’s always better to seek immediate medical attention.
Heartburn is so common, you may think of it as no big deal compared with other medical issues. But the consequences of inadequately treated heartburn as well as of a mistaken diagnosis can be serious. If you’ve had long-standing heartburn symptoms, get the right treatment, and you don’t have to suffer endlessly.