Acid Reflux

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Author:
Jessica Deets

Chest pain can be a very scary, serious issue. If you are one of many Americans at risk for heart disease, it can be even more frightening. But sometimes chest pain isn't heart related, it is a digestive issue.
Heartburn, or it's more serious cousin acid reflux, affects millions of people everyday. The symptoms of both heart problems and acid reflux are very similar, but the treatment is obviously very different. It's easy to mistake one for the other because the esophagus is located behind the heart in the chest cavity.
Identifying the real problem when you have chest pain is very important. Here's a few things to look out for. But remember, when in doubt see your health care provider.

1. Burning in the throat due to stomach acid. This is an extension of the heartburn pain caused by acid reflux. Pain caused by stomach acid regurgitating into the esophagus and mouth is due to acid reflux, not heart problems.
2. Chest pain that begins or increases with exercise is more likely due to a heart problem. Acid reflux symptoms don't change with physical exertion. The heart experiences stress during physical exercise that can manifest potential problems within.
3. Coughing, wheezing, breathing problems, acid regurgitation, bitterness in the mouth: these are all signs of acid reflux disease. The acid entering the esophagus is to blame for each of these symptoms, some of which can be very pronounced. Pregnant women seem to be prone to heartburn during the last two trimesters where a growing fetus crowds the space the stomach normally occupies. For these women, and others in high risk groups, understanding their propensity to heartburn is also important. For example, some pregnant women with chest pain find themselves in the hospital thinking they are having heart attacks, when in fact they are having very serious acid reflux. Again, knowing you are susceptible to acid reflux can help you identify the cause of your symptoms.
4. Numbness or tingling in the arm or arms can be a symptom of a heart attack, and is generally not a symptom of acid reflux. Obviously these symptoms are serious and should be treated immediately by a health care professional.
5. Increased pain after meals is usually a symptom of acid reflux disease. Overeating or bending over after eating can exacerbate the problems, which are not heart related. The extra acid a stomach releases to digest food is to blame for the increased discomfort after meals. While these acids are effective in helping the digestive process, they can be very detrimental for those who suffer from acid reflux disease.

Acid reflux disease and heart disease do share some of the same symptoms, but with careful attention and the help of a health care professional, you can determine which of these issues is causing your chest pain.

About the author:
With either of these conditions, treatment options are not only available, but are necessary to prevent more serious health problems. Our website has the latest news on acid reflux and our blog features news and info. You can see it at this website www.Acidrefluxnews.com

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Acid Reflux... Treatment Options for GERD/Acid Reflux One of the best ways to deal with acid reflux disorder is by making lifestyle changes. The foods that you consume can have a real affect on your acid reflux symptoms. There are foods that you can incorporate into your diet to relieve acid reflux pain. One of the great remedies is a tea made from anise, peppermint, and lavender. The combination is soothing, reducing the acidic content of your stomach. The mixture can be made with a bit of honey to make it a bit tastier. Anise helps your digestion while peppermint calms heartburn and gas. Lavender is a soothing body aid that also reduces stomach acid. Certain fruits also help with acid reflux because of enzymes that aid digestion. Try adding a papaya or a pineapple to each meal. Papaya helps aid in digestion and pineapple reduces inflammation, and the high enzyme content can help stop acid reflux. For people that don’t care for pineapple or papayas, chicory root is a great alternative. Boil it in water, allow it to cool, and drink it as a soothing tea. Another way to ward off acid reflux symptoms is to eat more salad. Incorporating a salad into your daily meal plan is a great way to reduce the painful symptoms of acid reflux. Best of all, salads are healthy, containing nutrients your body needs to flourish. Other lifestyle changes that can help you get rid of acid reflux pain include limiting your coffee and alcohol consumption. If you are a smoker, breaking the habit could cut down on acid reflux symptoms. Make sure to sleep with your upper body elevated. Often, sleeping at an angle that works in conjunction with gravity allows your stomach acids to properly travel to your stomach right where they belong. Over the counter medications are available to help with acid reflux symptoms. You need not look...