Stomach disease

Heart burn

Heart burn also known as pyrosis, cardialgia, or acid indigestion is a burning sensation in the chest, just behind the breast bone or in the epigastrium the upper central abdomen the pain often rises in the chest and may radiate to the neck, throat, or angle of the jaw. Heart burn is usually associated with the gastric reflux which is the major symptom of gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Cardiac and esophageal causes may share similar symptoms as these two structures have same nerve supply.

Cardiac disease is one of the first conditions that must be excluded in patients with unexplained chest pain given that patients with chest pain related to GERD cannot be distinguished from those with chest pain due to cardiac condition. As many as 30% of chest pain patients cannot determine their pain origin. It is estimated that 25% to 50% of these patients have evidence of abnormal GERD.

Heartburning discomfort from the chest area up to the throat. It can happen when stomach acid refluxes, or flows up, through a valve called the lower esophageal sphlincter and irritate the esophagus.

Heartburn is the symptom of acid reflux and GERD, however, not everyone with acid reflux has heartburn and not everyone with heartburn has acid reflux. The symptom of heartburn can be unusual thing such as intestinal motility problems.

Many people have different acid reflux-related heartburn triggers, but most of people have similar heartburn symptoms.

o   A burning feeling in the chest just behind the breastbone that occurred after eating and lasts a few minutes to several hours.

o   Chest pain especially after bending over, lying down, or eating

o   Burning in the throat, or hot , sour, acidic or salty-tasting fluid at the back of the throat.

o   Difficulty swallowing.

o   Feeling of food sticking in the middle of the chest .

o   Heart burn may cause chronic cough, sore throat, or chronic hoarseness.