[Click! Health] 'Indigestion?' If You Feel Persistent Chest Tightness, Suspect Heart Health Issues

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Myocardial infarction has been known to mainly occur in middle-aged and older adults, but recently, the age of onset has been gradually decreasing, with an increasing number of patients in their 20s and 30s.

Myocardial infarction refers to a condition where the blood vessels that deliver oxygen and nutrients to the heart become blocked, causing damage or necrosis to the heart muscle tissue and cells. Major symptoms include ▲ chest pain and shortness of breath ▲ a feeling of pressure and tightness in the chest ▲ general pain in the center of the chest rather than a specific area. Rarely, symptoms such as ▲ pain on the left or right side of the chest or abdominal area ▲ a sensation of choking in the neck ▲ dizziness ▲ difficulty urinating ▲ pain in the arms or face may also occur.

However, in addition to these typical symptoms, many patients also experience atypical symptoms such as 'heartburn' or 'feeling indigestion,' so caution is needed. Dr. Kim Kyung-soo, a cardiologist at Gangnam Bedro Hospital, stated, “About 20-30% of myocardial infarction patients complain of indigestion symptoms such as 'heartburn,' 'chest burning,' or 'feeling indigestion.'” He explained, “The heart and stomach are located close to each other above and below the diaphragm, so if there is a problem with the coronary arteries responsible for the lower part of the heart, it can also affect the stomach. This is why myocardial infarction can be mistaken for indigestion or stomach upset. There are even painless myocardial infarctions with no symptoms at all, so regular check-ups are essential.”

Treatment for myocardial infarction includes stent (metal mesh) insertion. This procedure involves widening the blocked blood vessel with balloon angioplasty and inserting a stent metal mesh to support it. Alternatively, coronary artery bypass surgery may be performed by grafting blood vessels from the leg or breast area to the blocked heart vessels. However, these surgical treatments are complex and time-consuming, so they are used as a last resort.

Director Kyungsoo Kim, Department of Cardiology, Gangnam Bedro Hospital
[Photo by Gangnam Bedro Hospital]

Dr. Kim Kyung-soo emphasized, “The success of heart disease treatment depends on securing the golden time, but even when abnormal symptoms continue in the heart, they are often mistaken for simple indigestion, causing patients to miss the treatment window. For elderly people over 60, it is important to manage risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and smoking, and to undergo regular heart check-ups to prevent the worst-case scenario.”