Question: I am a 62-year-old female who suffers from acid reflux and treats it daily. Lately I have been getting severe pain in my throat that moves quickly into my ears and chest. The attacks usually last about 20 minutes and happen once or twice a week. I have high blood pressure and take daily medication for that as well. I do not smoke or drink. Could this be a sign of heart attack or am I over-reacting?

Dr. Hibberd's Answer:

You are not over-reacting. Chest discomfort that radiates to or from your neck should always be aggressively evaluated. This evaluation must include a complete cardiac evaluation, since patients with acid reflux may also have concealed cardiac disease that may be more difficult to detect due to their reflux symptoms. I completely agree with you, especially since you are on reflux treatment and have noticed new symptoms. Bear in mind that there are several other common reasons, not necessarily cardiac, so once you exclude cardiac disease, investigate until the cause is found and the symptoms resolved.