Heart attack symptoms can be manifested by some known ailments, such as pain in the chest and neck, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. But these are not the only symptoms of heart problems. You may also experience stomach complaints while having a heart attack.
Cardiology Specialist Prof. Dr. Zekeriya Nurkalem gave important information about the relationship between heart attack and stomach:
STOMACHE ACHE
“During a heart attack, besides chest, jaw and neck pain, a person may also experience stomach pain. The pain in the stomach is initially sharp and irregular. It is usually in the upper abdomen. In vascular occlusions feeding the posterior face of the heart, pain may start from this region. Over time, the pain becomes more intense and constant. Stomach pain, which indicates poor heart health, is usually felt around the upper left side of the stomach.
NAUSEA
Posterior vascular occlusion of the heart causes parasympathetic nerve effects in the abdomen, leading to digestive system problems. In addition to nausea, there are indigestion, burning, heartburn and gas increase due to the increase in stomach acidity; begins to function with difficulty. In addition, some severe heart attacks cause indigestion by disrupting the nutrition of the gastrointestinal system. This may be the first finding in the patient. It cannot digest food or get the necessary nutrients from them and begins to produce more and more acid that is used during digestion. The presence of excess acid in the stomach leads to erosion in the walls of the organs, which causes nausea. If the problem is not noticed on time, it leads to ulcer formation. In fact, the main problem here is the lack of nutrition of the heart and the increase in stress hormones.
Diarrhea and vomiting
When intestinal arteries become clogged or blocked, it causes diarrhea and vomiting. The blockage often causes a sharp stomach ache after a meal. This is also called intestinal angina in medical language. Mild cramps appear near the abdominal cavity and radiate to the back. If there is occlusion in more than one vessel or if the occlusion develops suddenly, a part of the small or large intestine becomes immobile, which requires urgent intervention.
Abdominal pain caused by heart problems can lead to loss of appetite and weight loss after a while.
indigestion or belching
Extreme indigestion, heartburn, or burping can also be a sign of a heart attack or heart-related problems. Since the stomach, esophagus and heart are side by side, it is normal to experience such a problem. In addition, since the posterior veins of the heart are close to the parasympathetic nerve, it may cause decreased pulse, hiccups, belching and indigestion. Indigestion and belching are more common in women who have had a heart attack than in men, and in the elderly compared to young people. Therefore, these symptoms should not be ignored as they indicate some serious problems.
If you experience stomach problems along with other obvious signs of a heart attack, seek medical attention immediately. It is necessary not to take refuge in excuses such as ‘I ate touched’ and to care about early medical help. Especially those with diabetes and blood pressure disease, those with a family history of heart disease, and those with a history of previous heart stent and surgery would be better to take these symptoms into consideration.”