5 Common Heartburn Symptoms

The sensations of heartburn are hard to ignore and can even interfere with your normal activity. Learning the most common signs of heartburn can make you feel more comfortable when experiencing heartburn and can also help you rule out other conditions that may mimic heartburn.

It is important to note that a case of heartburn may include only the burning sensation and you may not have other symptoms such as coughing and burning in your throat. You may experience a combination of these symptoms listed below and each case of heartburn can be different. The level of severity can also vary and can be increased if you are lying down or if increased pressure is applied to the abdomen.

Chest Pain

This would be the most obvious sign of heartburn, a burning sensation in the chest. The burning sensation created by heartburn can start in the middle of the chest and move upward into the esophagus. The pain usually starts behind the ribs and breastbone. The pain caused by heartburn can be frequent, severe and constant. Because heartburn is made worse by pressure on the stomach, you may notice that bending down increases the pain caused by heartburn. Heartburn can also last as little as a few minutes to as much as several hours after eating.

Taste In Mouth

A common symptom of heartburn can be an unpleasant taste in the mouth because food and stomach acid can travel back into the esophagus. The taste can range from being hot, sour, bitter, acidic to salty tasting. A feeling as if the food is sticking in the throat may also be present. Bad breath can be present during or after heartburn because of the stomach acid that enters the mouth.

Throat Pain

Depending on the severity of the heartburn, another symptom is burning in the throat. This symptom may get worse upon swallowing. When this symptom is present, it is more likely that you will also experience an unpleasant taste in your mouth because it means that the stomach acid has traveled up the esophagus towards the throat.

Difficulty Swallowing

During heartburn, the food is not passing properly from the mouth, through the esophagus and into the stomach. Instead, a refluxed stomach occurs because the lower esophageal sphincter muscle is not shutting properly. Because of this, it may feel as if it is difficult to swallow due to a feeling of the food being stuck in the throat along with pressure in the chest. A severe or persistent case of difficulty swallowing should be addressed by a doctor.

Coughing

Heartburn can cause irritation of the throat due to a refluxed stomach. If this occurs, persistent coughing, hoarseness and sore throat may be present. The cough and hoarseness that accompanies heartburn can be chronic. Some individuals also experience a case of hiccups during an episode of heartburn, though no evidence shows that these two symptoms are linked in any way.

For the most part, heartburn is awkward and uncomfortable but does not have any lasting negative health effects. But since one of the most common symptoms of heartburn is pain in the area of the chest near the heart, it is often thought to be a heart attack. It is true that chest pain can also be a sign of a heart attack.

Heartburn can be very severe and one of the most common reasons that a person goes to an emergency room is chest pain. Because of that, it is essential to understand that it is best to call your doctor or call 911 if you are unsure of the exact cause of symptoms that you are experiencing. The symptoms of a severe case of heartburn can be so similar to that of a heart attack that medical testing is done to confirm or rule out a heart attack.

Doctor’s do stress that it is important to learn the difference between the symptoms of a regular episode of heartburn and the potential symptoms of a heart attack. If the symptoms you are experiencing are actually stemming from your heart, you may feel a sudden tightening or crushing sensation in the middle of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes. Since there are quite a  few symptoms of a heart attack, it is best to consult your doctor if you are in anyway concerned that your symptoms may be more serious than simple heartburn.

Another cause of heartburn can simply be stress. If you are experiencing heartburn on a regular basis, please consult with your health care practitioner. The general rule of thumb is that you should see your doctor if you are experiencing burning discomfort caused by heartburn more than twice a week. Heartburn is merely a symptom of another factor, whether it’s simply the food you eat, lifestyle factors or another medical condition. With proper care, heartburn can be managed and even relieved completely.