Severe Heartburn Symptoms

Heartburn, which also goes by the medical name pyrosis (Greek for burning), is a condition that is caused by the back flow of stomach acids into the esophagus (food pipe). The symptoms that accompany heart burn range from mild to severe. Here are a few of the severe heartburn symptoms.

Burning Pain

• Severe heartburn is accompanied by a painful, burning sensation in the chest, just behind the sternum (breast bone). This pain can be severe enough to be mistaken for a heart attack.

Throat Irritation

• Severe heartburn may be characterized by sore throat and chronic coughing, resulting from acid-induced irritation of the throat. When the larynx is also affected, hoarseness of the voice results.

Sour Taste

• The backwash of stomach acids up the esophagus to the neck and throat area leaves behind a lingering sour, acidic taste.

Regurgitation

• The stomach contents are often regurgitated into the mouth, flooding the patient's mouth with stomach acids and undigested food. This symptom often manifests shortly after eating food.

Choking

• Severe heartburn is often characterized by chocking episodes and difficulty swallowing.

Wheezing

• When regurgitated stomach acids enter the wind pipe, the person will experience asthma-like symptoms such as wheezing.