5 Simple Signs to Tell if it is Acid Reflux orHeart Pain
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. Butsometimes chest pain isn't heart related, it is a digestive issue. Heartburn, or it's more serious cousin acid reflux, affects millions of peopleeveryday. The symptoms of both heart problems and acid reflux are very similar, but the treatment is obviously verydifferent. It's easy to mistake one for the other because the esophagus is located behind the heart in the chestcavity. Identifying the real problem when you have chest pain is very important. Here's a few things tolook out for. But remember, when in doubt see your health care provider. 1. Burning in the throat due to stomach acid. This is anextension of the heartburn pain caused by acid reflux. Pain caused by stomach acid regurgitating into the esophagusand mouth is due to acid reflux, not heart problems. 2. Chest pain that begins or increases with exercise is morelikely due to a heart problem. Acid reflux symptoms don't change with physical exertion. The heart experiencesstress 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 blamefor each of these symptoms, some of which can be very pronounced. Pregnant women seem to be prone to heartburnduring the last two trimesters where a growing fetus crowds the space the stomach normally occupies. For thesewomen, 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 infact they are having very serious acid reflux. Again, knowing you are susceptible to acid reflux can help youidentify the cause of your symptoms. 4. Numbness or tingling in the arm or arms can be a symptom of aheart attack, and is generally not a symptom of acid reflux. Obviously these symptoms are serious and should betreated immediately by a health care professional. 5. Increased pain after meals is usually a symptom of acidreflux 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 theseacids are effective in helping the digestive process, they can be very detrimental for those who suffer from acidreflux disease. Acid reflux disease and heart disease do share some of the samesymptoms, but with careful attention and the help of a health care professional, you can determine which of theseissues is causing your chest pain. About the author:
With either of these conditions, treatment options are not only available, but are necessary to prevent moreserious health problems. Our website has the latest news on acid reflux and our blog features news and info. Youcan see it at this website www.Acidrefluxnews.com Written by: Jessica Deets |