Q: Can acid reflux be mistaken, in a healthy 43-year-old man, who does not smoke or drink. He was not overweight but had chest pains. After waiting for 3 weeks for blood tests, he died of a massive heart attack, with both main arteries to his heart blocked. He was put on acid reflux pills. No blood work was done except for diabetes.

A:Though smoking, drinking and obesity predispose to acid reflux, it is not necessary that it cannot happen in the absence of these factors. Also, symptoms of severe acid reflux very closely mimic those of heart attack and can often be confused with each other. However, if symptoms are not relieved with standard antacid therapy; or if there are other associated symptoms, then ischaemic heart disease must also be seriously considered in the diagnosis.