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Signs of Heart Burn

According to the Mayo Clinic, heartburn is caused when stomach acid backs up into your esophagus. If your lower esophageal sphincter doesn't relax adequately to allow food and drink to flow into your stomach, heartburn occurs. Different foods can trigger heartburn. The list includes fatty and fried foods, alcohol, tomatos, juice, chocolate and coffee among others. However, different foods trigger heartburn in different people, so you need to be attentive to your diet to discover which foods to avoid.

  1. Signs of Heartburn

    • The primary sign of heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest, usually after eating. The chest pain can also occur at night and is worse when lying down or bending over. Webmd.com lists the following additional symptoms: difficulty swallowing; feeling of food stuck in the chest or throat; chronic cough, sore throat or hoarseness; and burning in the throat.

    Heartburn and Signs of Heart Attack

    • Signs of heartburn are sometimes mistaken for signs of a heart attack. WebMD.com lists heart attack signs as: feeling of fullness, tightness or pain in the center of the chest; sudden chest pain or pressure that worsens; pain in shoulders, neck, jaw or arms; shortness of breath; cold sweat; lightheadedness or dizziness and pain that quickly responds to nitroglycerin. Any of these symptoms call for immediate medical assistance.

    Treatment With Over The Counter Drugs

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, occasional heartburn is not necessarily a problem and can be treated with lifestyle changes such as attending to your diet and cutting back on food and drink that trigger heartburn in you. Over the counter medications may also be enough to alleviate the problem. Antacids neutralize stomach acid. Typically these drugs contain magnesium, aluminum or sodium bicarbonate. Well-known products in this category include Maalox, Mylanta, Gelusil, Rolaids and Tums. Other drugs such as Pepcid or Zanatac 75 reduce acid production. They aren't as fast-acting as antacids, but they provide longer relief. Finally, drugs such as Prevacid help by blocking acid production and thus allow damaged esophageal tissue to heal.

    When To See a Doctor

    • The Mayo Clinic advises seeing a doctor if the pain occurs more than twice a week, if you have difficulty swallowing or if the pain persists despite the use of over the counter medications. Even if over the counter drugs provide relief, if you are using them frequently, it is wise to consult your physician.

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