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Gastrocardiac Symptoms: Heart or Stomach?
Why reflux and upper abdominal symptoms can resemble cardiac pain - and when the heart must be assessed first.
Physician-reviewed patient informationOverview
The oesophagus, stomach and heart are anatomically close, so reflux, distension and autonomic responses may produce chest pressure, upper abdominal discomfort or awareness of the heartbeat.
However, coronary ischaemia can also present with nausea, indigestion or upper abdominal pressure. New, exertional, pressure-like or persistent symptoms should be assessed for urgent cardiac causes before being attributed to the stomach.
History, examination, ECG and selected blood tests or imaging are interpreted together; symptom location alone is not a safe diagnostic test.
This article provides general information and does not replace examination, diagnosis or an individual treatment plan.