Chest Pain After Lunch? Here’s How to Tell If It’s Heartburn or a Heart Attack.

Heart attack symptoms may feel like heartburn. Educate yourself by knowing the difference.

You’ve just finished a hearty meal. You’re chatting with a colleague when suddenly —you feel a tight discomfort in your chest. Your mind starts racing:

“Is this just indigestion… or am I having a heart attack?”

It’s a terrifying thought. And yet, this scenario happens more often than you think, not just in clinics, but at home, at work, even during meetings.

The good news? If you know what to look for, you can tell the difference—and possibly save a life. Let’s break it down.

🔥 Heartburn vs. ❤️ Heart Attack: Know the Difference

Heartburn: The I-ate-too-much kind of pain

• Feels like a burning sensation in the chest or throat

• Often occurs after meals, especially spicy or greasy ones

• Worsens when lying down or bending over

• May be accompanied by a sour taste in the mouth

It’s uncomfortable—but not dangerous (though very annoying during meetings!).

Heart Attack: The emergency you can’t ignore

• Feels like tightness, pressure, or squeezing in the chest

• Pain can radiate to the left arm, jaw, neck, or back

• Often comes with cold sweat, shortness of breath, nausea

• Doesn’t get better when you rest, sit, or change positions

If any of this sounds familiar, don’t second-guess—get medical help immediately.

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🧠 Here’s What Most People Get Wrong

Many delay action thinking,

“It’s probably just gas.”

“I don’t want to be dramatic.”

“Let’s wait a while.”

But when it comes to a heart attack, minutes can mean the difference between life and death. Every second counts.

That’s why trained first aiders are taught to assess and act fast. Because hesitation kills.

🚑 In a Real Emergency, Would You Know What to Do?

If someone near you complains of:

• Crushing chest pain

• Dizziness

• Cold sweat

• Trouble breathing

You don’t wait. You call 995, help them rest in a sitting position, and monitor them closely until help arrives.

If they collapse and stop breathing? Start CPR immediately.

This kind of confidence only comes from proper training—and it’s exactly what we teach in our certified courses.

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🏥 Be Ready. Be the One Who Knows What to Do.

Our Occupational First Aid Course isn’t just about checking boxes for compliance—it’s about saving lives at the workplace, in malls, at home, and anywhere emergencies happen.

In this 3-day MOM-recognised course, you’ll learn:

• How to perform CPR and use an AED

• How to manage heart attacks, choking, strokes, and shock

• How to confidently respond in real-world emergencies

✅ WSQ-accredited

✅ SkillsFuture and company funding available

✅ Certificate valid for 2 years

🙌 Final Thought: When in Doubt, Act

Still unsure if it’s heartburn or a heart attack?

Always treat it like a heart attack until proven otherwise.

It’s better to overreact than regret inaction.

👉 Click here to enrol in the Occupational First Aid Course now and be the reason someone gets to go home safe.