Signs of Heartburn

Answer 1

Heartburn is a problem that effects a wide range of individuals throughout the world. Since heartburn symptoms are often painful, annoying and can lead to serious problems if they persist beyond a reasonable amount of time, it is important to understand the symptoms and when to seek medical attention.

Common Symptoms

One of the common symptoms associated with heartburn is the burning pain in the chest. This usually occurs behind the breastbone and can come as a burning feeling or chest pain. If it comes as chest pain, it is often most noticeable while bending over, lying down or eating.

Burning in the back of the throat is another common sign of heartburn. This is due to the stomach acid coming back up into the esophagus and creating a feeling of burning pain. It will also cause an acidic taste in the mouth. If heartburn occurs regularly, this sensation can lead to chronic sore throats.

Difficulty swallowing or the feeling of something stuck in the throat is another common sign of heartburn. The difficulty often arises due to the feeling of pain or that annoying feeling of something stuck in the throat.

Seeking Medical Attention

In many cases, it might be necessary to seek medical attention when suffering from chronic heartburn. Since heartburn can develop into gastro esophageal reflux disease, it is important to mentions the symptoms to a doctor before it can cause scarring and major damage to the esophagus and throat.

Severe cases of heartburn are sometimes mistaken for a heart attack due to the similarities in symptoms. Though some individuals might mistake heartburn for a heart attack, it is always best to seek immediate medical attention if the symptoms seem to indicate that a heart attack is the problem. Any time chest pain becomes severe, spreads through the shoulders, neck and arms or causes dizziness, men and women should seek immediate medical attention. These might be signs of a heart attack rather than heartburn.

For most people, heartburn is an occasional problem. Understanding when that occasional annoyance has become more serious can help determine if medication is needed to handle the problem.