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Can Heartburn Be Something Serious?

This article does not provide aesculapian advice .

If you feel a burn sensation in your chest after a repast , you would think of pyrosis . More so , if you have had a heavy , fatty , or spicy meal . But is that the only affair ? Or could there be other causes of heartburn ? Can heartburn be something serious ?

Heartburn is one of the typical symptoms ofgastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD ) . But pyrosis can also be a symptom of other condition , some of which can be serious .

What Does Heartburn Feel Like?

Heartburn is an uncomfortable feeling behind the breastbone , with aburning sensationor sometimes even trouble . The discomfort can move upward causing incinerate in the throat.1Heartburn may also cause a sour or bitter taste perception at the back of your mouth or throat , which may also make you finger sickish . Heartburn may last for a few minutes or a few hours . It is often noted after a heavy meal or bending or lying down soon after a meal .

While occasional heartburn is common , often pass off due to some faulty dietetic or lifestyle habit , frequent pyrosis may be a case of concern . Repeated pyrosis could be due toacid ebb , which itself is a endangerment component tie in with other gastroesophageal conditions . This happen when the humbled esophageal sphincter ( LES ) becomes weak and get relaxed when not needed.2Normally , this sphincter closes the opening and does not countenance the stomach acid to enter the esophagus . However , when the LES relax when not call for , it allows the backflow of tum pane into the esophagus . The regurgitation of stomach contents and acid into the esophagus results in a burning infliction in the thorax and throat region .

Can Heartburn Be Something Serious?

Heartburn is common after a punishing meal or excessive breathing in of certain nutrient or stimulant like coffee , smoke certain medicament like anti - inflammatory drugs . It is also commonly seen during pregnancy .

However , there are other conditions too that may face with symptom like to heartburn . It is important to know the other causes of heartburn or superman reflux and the condition that may mimic heartburn . This can give an idea that heartburn can be something serious too , requiring timely medical attention .

Angina/Heart Attack

Angina , also called chest pain is make when the blood flow to the heart gets interrupted . This may deliver with symptoms similar to heartburn and perchance overleap in mild example . When discourse if heartburn can be something more serious , this condition must be sure as shooting conceive . Heartburn like symptoms occurring suddenly after sweat , strenuous activity or sometimes laboured meals may direct to suspicion of angina .

Heartburn is often accompanied by ebb of stomach message , cut pain in thorax and throat , regurgitation , and a morose gustatory perception in the mouth . Angina or eye attack may occur with the concentration of chest , sickness , heartburn , shortness of breath , dizziness , andfatigue.3Ageing , high blood line press , diabetes , high blood cholesterol , beingoverweight , andsmokingincrease the risk of aheart onrush .

Esophagitis/Gastritis

Sometimes pyrosis is not just acid ebb but can be due to something more serious in the digestive organization . Esophagitisis the inflaming of the esophageal facing whilegastritisis the inflammation of the gastric mucosal liner . These conditions are often a result of frequent superman ebb that can result in a burning pain in the chest . This could be one of the implicit in conditions that cause pyrosis . Esophagitis and gastritis can be caused due to ingestion of sure chemicals or substance that harm the mucosal liner . The precondition often worsens on taking painkillers , certain food for thought items , or due to allergic reactions . Proper diagnosing and appropriate handling can help assure the symptoms and shrink heartburn .

Gall Bladder Disease

bitterness stonesare the commonestgall bladder diseasebut they rarely show any symptoms . In most display case , gallstones present with complaints when a gemstone stymie the bile duct or an discriminating condition likecholecystitis . The symptoms include pain in the essence or right upper part of the stomach , sometimes also the correct articulatio humeri blade and cauterise in the chest and throat . It may be companion bynauseaandvomiting . The pain may be dull or sharp and often comes after a meal . When deliberate if pyrosis could be something serious , gall stones are one of the conditions to be evaluated . The treatment used for bitter reflux may not allow any relief or may relieve some symptoms but if the pain persists , a thorough valuation is take .

Hiatus Hernia

Ahiatus herniaoccurs when some part of the breadbasket bulges through the diaphragm towards the bureau cavity . This can result in acid ebb leave in symptom likechest pain , burning painwith nausea . This too is one of the conditions that may cause heartburn but can be something more serious and needs well-timed evaluation and discourse . acrid reflux discourse may aid to some extent , along with diet and life style modifications . However , in stern case , surgery may be advised .

Stomach Ulcer

Stomach ulceration occur when the gastric mucosal lining develop sore that are painful and make great difficulty . It may cause acidulous reflux , pyrosis , burning pain in the breast and throat , gnawing pain in the tummy , usually related to food intake . sealed foods or medicine like pain killers may worsen the pain while some foods may offer relief . Antacids may offer temporary relief but as the stomach ulcers are mostly cause due to Helicobacter pylorus , antibiotics may be needed . A stomach ulceration is one of the serious circumstance that pyrosis can be related to and take to be treated in metre to keep complications .

Esophageal Cancer

Although rare , heartburn can also be due to something serious like esophageal cancer . reprize and frequent acid reflux or heartburn , burning pain in the throat , puking of intellectual nourishment and weewee causing botheration and a sour taste sensation in the throat , pain behind the sternum can be some of the foretoken that involve attention . Alcohol and smoking can worsen heartburn and also increase the peril of cancer .

Costochondritis

Costochondritisis the redness of the cartilage around the ribs and the breastbone . This can take place due to injury , infection , inflammatory shape , bone , and joint trouble . The symptom admit pain around the chest area with burning pain behind and around the sternum . These may appear as pyrosis and may often be overlooked .

Anxiety/Stress

Anxietyandstressor sometimespanic attackscan present with symptoms similar to heartburn . While anxiousness can not make acid reflux , it can exasperate an existing trouble . Some hoi polloi also have both caustic reflux and anxiousness making the situation even more complicated . However , if the condition does not ameliorate with acid reflux discussion , it may be an meter reading that anxiety is resulting in symptom like pyrosis . liberalization therapy , exercise , and counsel can aid relieve anxiety and tenseness .

Gastroparesis

Gastroparesisis a slow movement of the food for thought through the belly , which can mimic heartburn . This can be due to unlawful functioning of the heart , as a nerve complication of ill controlled diabetes or other causal agent . This circumstance may present symptoms like pyrosis but needs to be properly diagnosed and treated .

Warning Signs That Heartburn Can Be Something Serious

Heartburn stimulate due to occasional acid reflux may get better with the necessary dieting and lifestyle changes and with some medications . However , if it occurs often it may be a cause of concern , as it could be due to a serious underlying gastric problem . Also , sometimes pyrosis can be a planetary house of something serious or a condition that ask immediate medical help .

Some of the word of advice signs that heartburn can be something serious include the following

People having heartburn due to acid ebb - related atmospheric condition often respond well to treatment with antacids along with lifestyle change . Avoiding certain eccentric of food , limitingalcohol , quitting smokingis advised . Other modus vivendi measures like obviate lie down soon after exhaust , raising the head when sleeping , and maintain an ideal system of weights can avail assuage the symptoms .

However , if you do not see any improvement in symptoms or experience other complaint or warning signs it is best to consult your doctor immediately .

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