The onset of sudden, sharp chest pain accompanied by a burning sensation behind your breastbone is not only extremely uncomfortable, but it can take you by surprise and cause a great deal of alarm. While your first thought may immediately jump to a heart attack, sharp chest pain is often indicative of something less serious like acid reflux, especially if you’ve just eaten a fatty or spicy meal. However, because the symptoms between acid reflux and many other chest-related conditions tend to overlap, it can be difficult to distinguish the type of pain you’re having. Let’s run through what acid reflux is, its symptoms, and how to tell the difference between it and other cardiac and non-cardiac conditions.
What Is Acid Reflux & What Causes It?
Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a chronic condition in which stomach acid flows back up into your esophagus. When this acid rises up from the stomach and into the esophagus, it irritates the lining, causing inflammation. You may have GERD if you experience symptoms of acid reflux more than twice a week for several consecutive weeks in a row.
Acid reflux is considered a digestive disorder and is a symptom caused by other conditions such as hiatal hernias, gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) dysfunction, ulcers, and gastritis. Acid reflux can also be caused by certain lifestyle risk factors like obesity, pregnancy, smoking, eating large meals & lying down afterward, snacking too close to bedtime, taking certain medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, and muscle relaxers, or eating and drinking particular foods like citrus, coffee, garlic, mint, spicy or fatty foods.
What Are Its Symptoms?
The symptoms you experience may be different from what someone else experiences and may be less or more severe. The most common symptom is heartburn, which feels like a burning sensation in your chest or discomfort that moves from your stomach to your abdomen, and up into your throat. You may also experience regurgitation of food or liquid, which causes a sour or a bitter taste in your throat. Other symptoms include:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Bad breath
- Tooth decay from the acid
- Nausea and vomiting
- Coughing, sore throat, or a hoarse voice
- A sudden increase in saliva production (water brash).
While some of these symptoms may feel similar to those of a heart attack, it’s important to keep in mind that the two conditions are unrelated.
Do These Symptoms Overlap With Heart Attacks?
The symptoms of acid reflux, namely chest pain and heartburn, can feel very similar to what you would expect from a heart attack, which is why it’s important to seek medical attention if you’re experiencing chest pain. A few of the symptoms between acid reflux and a heart attack do overlap – those being chest pain and nausea and vomiting. However, there are a few key differences between the two conditions that can help you and your doctor determine the cause of your chest pain.
How to Tell the Difference Between Acid Reflux & a Heart Attack
When trying to distinguish the difference between acid reflux and a heart attack, you can use the location of the pain, how the pain feels to you, and the accompanying symptoms to determine which condition you are experiencing.
- Location of Pain: with acid reflux, the sharp, searing pain you’re experiencing will remain localized and will not spread away from underneath the breastbone. With a heart attack, the pain will often affect other areas of the body, spreading to the arms, shoulders, back, neck, throat, jaw, and teeth. In addition to this, things like moving around, breathing, and coughing will make acid reflux worse, whereas cardiac chest pain remains stable.
- How the Pain Feels: the pain with acid reflux is sharp, searing, or feels like a burning or stabbing sensation that is just underneath the skin. With a heart attack, the pain is squeezing, heavy, full, or puts an immense amount of pressure on your chest. You may feel like your chest is tightening or aching.
- Accompanying Symptoms: with acid reflux, you will also have difficulty swallowing, bloating, belching (hiccups), bad breath, a sore throat, and an unpleasant sour taste in your mouth. With a heart attack, the accompanying symptoms are shortness of breath, dizziness (lightheadedness), numbness, pain in other areas of the body, and an irregular heartbeat.
What Else Could It Be? Cardiac & Non-Cardiac Causes of Chest Pain
Acid reflux is not the only condition that can cause chest pain. There are several other cardiac and non-cardiac conditions that can cause this symptom. Some of these include:
- Peptic ulcers
- Panic attacks
- Esophageal spasms
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Pulmonary Hypertension
Because these conditions can contain the same or very similar symptoms to acid reflux, it is important to get looked at by a doctor if your symptoms last for more than a few days/weeks.
When You Should Visit a Doctor for Acid Reflux
If you experience acid reflux more than twice a week for several weeks in a row, it’s time to visit your doctor. They will ask you about your ongoing symptoms and may perform a physical exam. In some cases, they may also recommend tests like an upper endoscopy, in which a small camera is inserted down your throat to examine your esophageal lining, or a 24-hour pH test to measure the level of acid in your esophagus.
- Are There Any Lifestyle Changes That Can Help Prevent/Reduce Acid Reflux Symptoms?
There are a few lifestyle changes you can make that may help reduce your risk of developing acid reflux or lessen the symptoms if you already have them. Try to:
- Maintain a healthy weight. Extra weight puts pressure on your stomach and can contribute to reflux.
- Avoid trigger foods. Try to stay away from consuming foods that you know will trigger your acid reflux.
- Quit smoking. Smoking relaxes the sphincter muscle and increases stomach acid production.
- Don’t lie down after eating. Give yourself at least a couple of hours after eating before lying down. This gives your food time to digest and may help prevent acid reflux.
- Sleep with your head elevated. Raising the head of your bed may help gravity keep stomach acid from refluxing into your esophagus.
- Wear loose-fitting clothes. Tight clothing, especially around your waist, can put pressure on your stomach and contribute to acid reflux.
There are also a few different over-the-counter (OTC) medications you can take to help relieve your acid reflux symptoms. These include antacids which neutralize the stomach acid (Tums/Rolaids), H-blockers which decrease the amount of stomach acid you produce (Zantac/Pepcid), and proton pump inhibitors which irreversibly block an enzyme called H+/K+ ATPase which controls acid production in your stomach (Nexium/Aciphex).
Contact In-Quest Medical Research if you are looking to participate in finding new solutions for treating Acid Reflux or other conditions listed in our clinical trials. Fill out a form or call us directly at (770) 903-0148.
Kuanza kwa maumivu ya kifua ya ghafla na mkali, ikifuatiwa na hisia ya kuchoma nyuma ya kifua chako, sio tu ni ya kusikitisha sana, lakini inaweza kukushangaza na kusababisha wasiwasi mkubwa. Wakati wazo lako la kwanza linaweza kuruka mara moja kwa mshtuko wa moyo, maumivu makali ya kifua mara nyingi ni dalili ya kitu kidogo mbaya kama reflux asidi, hasa kama umekula chakula mafuta au vikali. Hata hivyo, kwa sababu dalili kati ya reflux asidi na hali nyingine nyingi kifua kuhusiana na kuingiliana, inaweza kuwa vigumu kutofautisha aina ya maumivu wewe ni kuwa. Hebu tuchunguze reflux ya asidi ni nini, dalili zake, na jinsi ya kujua tofauti kati yake na hali nyingine za moyo na zisizo za moyo. Reflux ya Asidi Ni Nini na Ni Nini Kinachosababisha? Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) ni ugonjwa wa kawaida ambao huathiri mfumo wa tumbo na damu. Asidi hiyo inapopanda kutoka tumboni na kuingia kwenye utumbo wa tumbo, huchochea utando wa tumbo, na kusababisha uvimbe. GERD inaweza kutokea ikiwa dalili za reflux ya asidi zinatokea mara mbili kwa wiki kwa wiki kadhaa mfululizo. Asidi reflux ni ugonjwa wa mfumo wa kumeng'enya chakula unaosababishwa na hali kama vile hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) dysfunction, ulcer, na gastritis. Asidi reflux inaweza pia kusababishwa na baadhi ya maisha hatari mambo kama vile unene, ujauzito, kuvuta sigara, kula chakula kikubwa na kulala chini baada ya, kula chakula kidogo karibu sana na kulala, kuchukua dawa fulani kama vile aspirin, ibuprofen, na misuli relaxants, au kula na kunywa vyakula maalum kama vile citrus, kahawa, vitunguu, mint, vyakula spicy au mafuta. Dalili Zake Ni Zipi? Dalili zako zinaweza kuwa tofauti na zile za mtu mwingine na zinaweza kuwa kali zaidi au chini. Dalili ya kawaida ni kuchoma moyo, ambayo ni kama hisia ya kuchoma kwenye kifua au usumbufu ambao unasafiri kutoka tumbo hadi tumbo na hadi kwenye koo. Unaweza pia kupata regurgitation ya chakula au kioevu, ambayo husababisha ladha ya chumvi au uchungu katika koo lako. Dalili nyingine ni pamoja na: - Ugumu wa kumeza - Harufu mbaya ya pumzi - Kuharibika kwa meno kutokana na asidi - Kutoweza kula na kutapika - Kikohozi, maumivu ya koo, au sauti ya kelele - Ongezeko la ghafula la utokezaji wa mate (mwagaji wa maji). Ingawa baadhi ya dalili hizi zinaweza kuhisi sawa na zile za mshtuko wa moyo, ni muhimu kukumbuka kwamba hali hizo mbili hazihusiani. Je, Dalili Hizi Hupatana na Matatizo ya Moyo? Dalili za reflux ya asidi, yaani maumivu ya kifua na kuchoma moyo, inaweza kuhisi sawa na kile unachotarajia kutoka kwa mshtuko wa moyo, na ndiyo sababu ni muhimu kutafuta matibabu ikiwa unapata maumivu ya kifua. Baadhi ya dalili kati ya reflux ya asidi na mshtuko wa moyo huingiliana - zile ambazo ni maumivu ya kifua na kichefuchefu na kutapika. Hata hivyo, kuna tofauti kadhaa kati ya hali hizi mbili ambazo zinaweza kukusaidia na daktari wako kuamua sababu ya maumivu ya kifua. Jinsi ya kutofautisha kati ya Acid Reflux na Mshtuko wa Moyo: Wakati wa kujaribu kutofautisha kati ya Acid Reflux na Mshtuko wa Moyo, unaweza kutumia eneo la maumivu, jinsi maumivu yanavyoonekana kwako, na dalili zinazohusiana ili kuamua ni hali gani unayo. - Mahali pa maumivu: kwa reflux ya asidi, maumivu makali, yenye kuchoma unayoyapata yatabaki mahali fulani na hayatatawanyika kutoka chini ya mfupa wa kifua. Wakati wa mshtuko wa moyo, maumivu huenea kwenye sehemu nyingine za mwili, kama vile mikono, mabega, mgongo, shingo, koo, taya, na meno. Kwa kuongezea, mambo kama vile kusonga, kupumua, na kikohozi yatazidisha reflux ya asidi, ilhali maumivu ya kifua ya moyo hubaki thabiti. - Jinsi maumivu yanavyohisi: maumivu na reflux ya asidi ni makali, kuchoma, au huhisi kama hisia ya kuchoma au kuchacha ambayo iko chini ya ngozi. Wakati wa mshtuko wa moyo, maumivu ni makali, makali, au huweka shinikizo kubwa kwenye kifua chako. Unaweza kuhisi kama kifua chako kinazidi kukaza au kinaumiza. - Dalili za kuandamana: na reflux ya asidi, utakuwa pia na ugumu wa kumeza, bloating, burping (hiccups), pumzi mbaya, maumivu ya koo, na ladha mbaya ya chumvi kinywani mwako. Matatizo ya moyo ni pamoja na kukosa pumzi, kizunguzungu, kuzimia, maumivu katika sehemu nyingine za mwili, na kugonga kwa moyo kwa njia isiyo ya kawaida. Ingekuwa nini kingine? Kwa sababu ya maumivu ya kifua, reflux ya asidi sio tu hali ambayo inaweza kusababisha maumivu ya kifua. Kuna hali nyingine kadhaa za moyo na zisizo za moyo ambazo zinaweza kusababisha dalili hii. Baadhi ya dalili hizi ni pamoja na: - ulcer ya tumbo - panic attacks - spasms ya esophageal - hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - pulmonary hypertension - kwa sababu hali hizi zinaweza kuwa na dalili sawa au sawa na reflux ya asidi, ni muhimu kupata kuangalia na daktari kama dalili zako kudumu kwa zaidi ya siku chache au wiki. Wakati unapaswa kutembelea daktari kwa reflux ya asidi Ikiwa unapata reflux ya asidi zaidi ya mara mbili kwa wiki kwa wiki kadhaa mfululizo, ni wakati wa kutembelea daktari wako. Watauliza kuhusu dalili zako za sasa na wanaweza kufanya uchunguzi wa kimwili. Katika baadhi ya kesi, wanaweza pia kupendekeza vipimo kama vile upper endoscopy, ambapo kamera ndogo ni kuingizwa chini ya koo yako kuchunguza esophageal lining yako, au mtihani wa saa 24 pH kupima kiwango cha asidi katika esophagus yako. - Je, kuna mabadiliko yoyote ya mtindo wa maisha yanayoweza kusaidia kuzuia au kupunguza dalili za reflux ya asidi? Kuna mabadiliko ya maisha ambayo unaweza kufanya ambayo yanaweza kusaidia kupunguza hatari ya kupata reflux ya asidi au kupunguza dalili ikiwa tayari una dalili. Jaribu: - Kudumisha uzito mzuri. Uzito wa ziada huweka shinikizo kwenye tumbo lako na waweza kuchangia reflux. - Epuka vyakula vinavyochochea. Jaribu kuepuka kula vyakula ambavyo unajua vinaweza kusababisha reflux yako ya asidi. - Acha kuvuta sigara. Kuvuta sigareti huondoa misuli ya kiwiko na kuongeza utengenezaji wa asidi ya tumbo. - Usilala chini baada ya kula. Jipe angalau saa chache baada ya kula kabla ya kulala. Hii inatoa chakula chako wakati wa kumeng'enya na inaweza kusaidia kuzuia reflux ya asidi. - Kulala ukiwa na kichwa kilichoinuliwa. Kuinua kichwa cha kitanda chako kunaweza kusaidia nguvu ya uvutano kuzuia asidi ya tumbo isiingie kwenye utumbo wako. - Vaa mavazi yenye kufaa. Mavazi yenye nguvu, hasa kwenye kiuno, yanaweza kuathiri tumbo na kusababisha kuvuja kwa asidi. Kuna pia dawa kadhaa za over-the-counter (OTC) ambazo unaweza kuchukua ili kusaidia kupunguza dalili za reflux yako ya asidi. Antacids ni pamoja na antiacids ambayo neutralize asidi ya tumbo (Tums), H-blocker ambayo kupunguza kiasi cha asidi ya tumbo (Zantac) na protoni pampu inhibitors ambayo irreversibly kuzuia enzyme aitwaye H + K + ATPase ambayo inasimamia asidi ya tumbo (NexaAcip). Wasiliana na InQuest Medical Research ikiwa unatafuta kushiriki katika kupata suluhisho mpya za kutibu Acid Reflux au hali zingine zilizoorodheshwa katika majaribio yetu ya kliniki. Jaza fomu au piga simu moja kwa moja kwa 0800 0147