My dad who is 53, has a high blood pressure and cholesterol level has been getting heart burns every night for about two weeks now. And because of his lethargic self he does not want to go to the doctors about it just yet. His father suffered from two heart attacks just before he passed away. My dads never had this before but has had a high blood pressure for quite some time now. I'm wondering could this be a sign of a heart attack?Please & thank you.
Olivia - Heart burn doesnt have anything to do with the heart its self. Its what hes eating thats giving him heart burn. The signs of a heart attack include chest pain and left arm pain shortness of breath. My mom had a heart attack this is how i know. Dont be worried at all about the heart burn tho. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the heart. Hope this helps
ReplyDeletewakka wakka wakka - The answer is yes and no. If it's heartburn, it's not related to the heart. But heartburn and chest pain from coronary vascular problems can feel similar. If you are concerned, he would have to go to the doctor to get some tests. However, not all pain from coronary problems are from heart attacks, but something called stable angina, precursors to heart attacks. Therefore, ordinary tests may not reveal the problem. There are more intense testing, such as stress testing, and then coronary angiography. One thing that goes against it being a heart problem is that you're saying it happens every night.
ReplyDeleteAgain, the answer is yes and no and the only way to know is to have him go to the doctor. If he refuses, though, you can't make him take the tests without consent.
PS. For those saying it is definately no, a significant number of heart attacks don't have the "classic" set of symptoms. That is why it is hard to determine whether a patient having a chest "discomfort" or other vague symptoms is having heart problems. Heart attacks also vary in severity, from totally unnoticed (such as in diabetics and women), to massive events resulting in literally drop dead sudden death. As to going to the ER, it would be a good idea to get him to his primary care doctor. Unless the pain becomes different or there are new symptoms. If you do take him to the ER, it would be most useful during an episode of pain, because that would be the best time to detect heart problems with the tests done in the ER.
Caitlin98 - It's not likely this is a heart attack - heart attacks are sudden and he would have been either hospitalized or gone by this point, so don't worry too much. If he's a little overweight odds are that's caused him to get acid reflux (he doesn't have to be overweight to have it, it just raises the chances).
ReplyDeleteAsk him to try some over the counter Omeprazole (acid reflux medicine) and see if it goes away after a couple weeks. If not, go to the doctor with him.
PS. Keep an eye on him, though it sounds like he already has someone watching over him :) He's lucky to have that.
joanne - Yes it could be. It is called angina . This happens when the heart is not getting enough oxygen. This could be a forewarning. With his family history and his own, it is not something to ignore.
ReplyDeleteMy brother just had a heart attack. He is 53. He walks regularly, eats good, has no high blood pressure-but he smokes, is in a high stress job and his bad cholesterol was mildly elevated.
Please try and convince your father to at least go and get it checked. In the ER tonight would be good place to start.
No0598245 - I don't know but here are the Symptoms of Heart Attacks
ReplyDeletehttp://www.heart-attack-symptoms.com/
Mrs H - Probably not but he really should get to a doctor or
ReplyDeleteat least call. Maybe you could call without telling him
and see what the doctor says. Just tell the doctor to
not tell him you called. There shouldn't be a problem
with that because he wouldn't be betraying your father
Spot - I can answer this one for you Barbie Doll.....cuz I'm 57 and been in the same situation as your dad (except my cholesterol level is way down)
ReplyDeleteI have high blood pressure and did have a heart attack at age 39....I've also had a few mini strokes.
2 months ago I had very bad heart burn, chest pain and all the symptoms of another heart attack coming on.....went to the ER, they ran all the tests and discovered I had Acid Reflux. Gave me some meds for that and I now feel 100% better.
Not saying your dad has the same but it sure sounds like it.
Theo c - convince him to take a low dose aspirin every day and have him get a check up
ReplyDeletepoppy1 - Hi Barbara,
ReplyDeleteSounds like Dad has a bad case of Heart-Burn..If your worry about Dad and his heart,have Dad make an appointment to see his doctor..
Your Friend,
poppy1
Kasey - if you see him clench his fist randomly he might be and high blood pressure and high cholesterol could lead to a heart attack. you should probably keep a watch on him since there's a history of heart attacks in his family.
ReplyDeletebarbara - Certainly it could, especially given the history. Despite some of the answers you have gotten, not even doctors will say yes or no without a 12 lead ECG. Most of them want lab work as well, because ECG changes don't always show up right away.
ReplyDeleteIt's very common for people to try to deny that something may be wrong. All you can do is keep letting him know you're worried and that you love him-maybe for your sake he will finally agree to get a check up.
mayank shreshtha - feeling of heart burns are actually sign of gastritis. heart attack has a signs like chest heaviness, sweating, severe pain on chest, arms, shoulders, jaw line; the pain is aggravated on walking or moving n might be relieved on rest. but as u said ur father has high cholesterol leven n high blood pressure since quite some time, he might have blockage in his coronary arteries. this needs to be treated by undergoing coronary angiogram and if needed, the blocks can be opened using stents at the same time. if not taken this problem seriouly n visit a doctor, he might have heart attack as u even have a family history. so u have to convince him to visit doctor as soon as possible.
ReplyDeletevon - No, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart, its indigestion!!! If you are concerned about the risks of a heart attack, u need to go to the ER or local doc. He would need and ECG and bloods done to confrim.
ReplyDeletecherrybomb - You better make an appointment to see the doctor, so that the doctor will diagnose what's the cause and get the lab work done and the doctor will educate what's going on and follow the doctors order that's only I can say alright.
ReplyDeleteBrigette - Angina is a symptom of coronary heart disease rather than a disease in its own right. It can also be caused by high blood pressure but is usually felt as a sharp pain in the chest following physical exertion. Which this dos not indicate. Dietary factors are often causes of heart burn, eating the wrong foods, high fatty intake, he has to change his diet to a low calorie intake. Heart disease is often contributed to dietary intake and smoking are major causes.
ReplyDeleteHe needs to go on a diet to lower cholesterol it sound like his diet is a contributing factor. Certain foods cause heart burn such as high calorie foods, fatty foods, salt intake should be reduced and eat more high protein rich foods, like turkey and beef and avoid sausages, pork chops, fried foods, pastry, salami, visible fat on any meat,lard and cream. Help yourself to these cottage cheese, eggs, ham, steamed fish, fruits, veges, boiled potatoes, tomatoes and in moderation wine and spirits. We are what we eat and try replacing cooking in oil with margarine. Heart burn is caused when our body has problems digesting what we eat. It is not a sign of a heart attack. It is the liver merely having problems getting rid of the toxins in our body, so a healthy diet and alcohol should be consumed in moderation.
New bird - Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux. As 53 is nearly in old age( above 60 is consider old aged man), so it is normal for a person to has a weak lower esophagus splinter(LES) smooth muscle. Thus, heartburn is due to acid irritation of stomach content. It is usually occur at night. Cholesterol level high may indicate that your father has a high fat content of food. There has many causes that induced contraction of LES(mean open the 'valve' ) such as the fat.As you said, the high cholesterol level only occur recently, is also indication of high fat content of food.
ReplyDeleteI want to ask, are heartburn or pain over pericardium. If, heartburn, usually is no sign of heart attack, but pain is may a sign of heart attack. As it is a referred pain due to actual pain in heart. So, high cholesterol level in blood may indicate rupture of white streak along blood vessel and released out the cholesterol pool. And, rupture substance may be an embolism to block at coronary artery and can cut off blood supply to cardiac cell and may cause of pain. The rupture can be cause by high blood pressure.
Heart attack or no, your father should seek doctor examination. Prolonged of acid reflux and or sign of heart attack are no good to us. Hope that it is just acid reflux.
DrIG - WE are not doctors. Yo father should see a doctor as soon as possible./
ReplyDelete