BY DAWN REED

Several years ago, I started having chest pains-not terrible, but consistent. It concerned me, but I kept it to myself. 

Just before that, totally unsolicited, my pharmacist friend mentioned that heart disease is a leading cause of death in women over 50. Yay. I was over 50.

After a few weeks of chest pain, tingling began in my arm. Together, they were classic signs of a heart attack. I could no longer put it off; it was time to do something.

My beloved rushed me to the ER. We were both trying not to overthink the situation. After much testing and a night in the hospital, they found that it was not my heart at all. I had GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), which is similar to acid reflux.

I wasn’t having a heart attack and was so thankful! After digesting the news, I realized I’d had heartburn for over 30 years but never addressed it. Pepto Bismol became a staple in my life in 1981.