If you lie down after a meal, it can feel even worse. If you have any of the following symptoms after a meal, you may have heartburn, acid reflux or GERD:.
Symptoms of severe heartburn and those of a heart attack can often overlap, but you can usually tell you have heartburn if you experience a burning sensation in your upper abdomen and chest, accompanied by a sour taste in your mouth.
The most common and similar symptom of heartburn and a heart attack is the chest pain or discomfort. Other symptoms that may be a more likely indication of heart attack vs.
With heartburn, you may feel like food is coming up into your mouth. Some common side effects include:. Your doctor may refer you to a gastroenterologist who can evaluate the severity of your symptoms. To determine if your case is mild, or has potentially damaged your esophagus, there are three common tests your doctor may request:.
You will likely be able to take sedatives when you have tests that involve inserting a tube into your nose. These help keep you calm. Treatment for heartburn depends on how mild or severe it is. Treatment for more severe heartburn, such as acid reflux or GERD, involves medicines to reduce acid in your stomach. Your doctor may also recommend losing weight, drinking less alcohol and stopping smoking. In extreme cases, you might need surgery to tighten part of your esophagus. Heartburn is a common symptom of acid reflux, a condition where some of the stomach contents travel back up into the esophagus, or food pipe.
It creates a burning pain in the lower chest. Persistent acid reflux that happens more than twice per week is what experts call gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD. A person will feel heartburn when stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus, the pipe that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.
Heartburn is a symptom of GERD. The American College of Gastroenterology estimate that more than 15 million people in the United States experience heartburn symptoms every day. It is common for people to experience occasional heartburn, and it is rarely a significant cause for concern. However, a doctor may diagnose recurrent acid reflux as GERD. This condition can have a serious impact on health, and it can indicate other underlying health issues.
People of all ages may develop GERD. Some of the most common causes include obesity and smoking. The most frequent symptom of acid reflux or heartburn is a feeling of warmth, heat, or burning in the chest and throat. This is due to the stomach acid flowing back up into the esophagus. Other symptoms include :. If a person experiences acid reflux symptoms often, they should consult a doctor, who may refer them to a gastroenterologist — a specialist in gut medicine — for further investigation.
Using some lifestyle and behavioral tips can help prevent or reduce heartburn. Suggestions include :. The OWH suggest some diet and lifestyle changes that may help relieve the symptoms. These include:. A heart attack is when the arteries connected to the heart become blocked. If the stomach slips through this opening, it can cause severe heartburn, in addition to chest or abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, or shortness of breath.
If you find that it is difficult or painful to swallow in addition to suffering from heartburn, you may have esophagitis. Esophagitis is inflammation of esophageal tissue, that is often caused by GERD.
If esophagitis is suspected, your doctor may order an endoscopy to assess the damage to your esophageal lining. Nausea and vomiting may be signs of GERD, hiatal hernia, or esophagitis. Extreme nausea or vomiting may also be a sign of a serious medical emergency — a heart attack. If you experience severe chest pain or pressure, especially in combination with pain in the jaw, neck, or back, nausea and vomiting, or difficulty breathing, seek medical help immediately.
You may be having a heart attack. Heartburn is a common annoyance that is usually harmless, but it could be a sign of a bigger medical problem. If you have constant heartburn or its interfering with your daily life, contact your doctor to discuss treatment options or request further testing.
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