Patna: A senior physician has cautioned the public against ignoring chest pain during the winter months, saying confusion with gastric discomfort often leads to dangerous delays in treatment.
Dr Diwakar Tejaswi, medical director and senior physician with the public health organisation PAHAL (Public Awareness for a Healthful Approach for Living), said colder weather is associated with a higher risk of heart attacks, making early recognition of symptoms critical.
Speaking on Friday, Dr Tejaswi said many people mistake cardiac pain for gas or acidity, particularly in winter, when digestive discomfort is common. “This confusion can delay timely medical care, and in some cases prove fatal,” he said.
According to Dr Tejaswi, gas-related pain is typically experienced as a burning or stinging sensation that may worsen after meals and can be partially relieved by belching or vomiting. By contrast, heart attack pain is more often described as pressure, heaviness or tightness in the chest, and may radiate to the left arm, shoulder, neck, jaw or back.
Such pain may also be accompanied by cold sweats, shortness of breath, restlessness, nausea or dizziness. Any chest pain associated with unusual changes in blood pressure or pulse should not be dismissed as a minor problem, he added.
Dr said the incidence of heart attacks rises significantly during colder months and urged people to act immediately if a cardiac event is suspected. Delays in seeking care, he warned, reduce the chances of survival.
“Chest pain in winter should never be ignored as ‘just gas’,” he said, adding that timely identification and prompt treatment remain the most effective ways to save lives.
