Is that pain in your chest acid reflux?
Should you care? You betcha - read on!
The most common symptom of acid reflux in adults is frequent heartburn but you can have acid reflux disease without having heartburn!
Instead, your symptoms could include a dry cough,chest pain, hoarseness, or asthma. Or you might not have any symptoms at all.
Where's the Burn?
Simple heartburn - also called dyspepsia or indigestion - happens when food and stomach juices back up (reflux) into the "food pipe" or esophagus, which is the tube that leads from your throat to your stomach.
It's best described as an uncomfortable feeling focused in the abdomen, sometimes with nausea, burping and that bloated feeling. You might find that a few burps pop out too.
On the other hand, symptoms of acid reflux tend to be focused in your chest and may spread in waves upward into your throat, and even your mouth.
A typical episode of acid reflux might include a hot or burning sensation located near the heart, heavy salivation and/or regurgitation, when food and stomach juices back up into the esophagus and even the mouth.
Heartburn By Any Other Name
Everyone gets a little heartburn now and then. But when it happens daily, is extremely painful and tends to move upward, these symptoms point to serious medical condition which your doctor may diagnose as:- Acid Reflux
- Acid Reflux Disease
- Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER)
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
These terms all refer to the same condition.
Heartburn or Acid Reflux: Does It Matter Which One I Have?
Unfortunately, there is no "gold standard" or specific test for acid reflux disease, and no standardized diagnostic guidelines exist for your doctor to rely on. So, he or she may not be able to give you a straighfoward diagnosis right away.
But if your heartburn symptoms are relieved by antacids and tend to occur:
- After meals, particularly large or fatty meals
- When lying down, especially on your right side
- Upon bending over
- After consuming certain foods or beverages
- After strenuous physical activity such as running
- While you are sleeping
...you should definitely deal them with them ASAP - untreated acid reflex can lead to serious medical problems.
My favourite site for natural ways to control acid reflux is this one:
RefluxRescue.info.
Warning Signs: these symptoms can mean big trouble, so don't ignore them
For more "hot tips" on Acid Reflux, visit these recommended lenses:
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Can you have acid reflux and still have a life?
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Yes you can - but maybe not the same life you have right now. Or more accurately, maybe not exactly the same lifestyle you've been living up till now. It's a good news/bad news kind of thing. The good news is that 95 percent of people can control th...
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No Foolin' - Kids Get Acid Reflux Too
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Acid reflux disease is common in infants and children - and commonly overlooked. But as a serious medical condition, it's a very big deal. How can you tell whether your baby has this serious and sometimes painful condition? Not all babies show sympto...
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Do I Have Acid Reflux or GERD?
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Acid Reflux can happen to anyone, even infants and very young children! If you experience frequent heartburn, wake up choking on stomach fluids, have a dry cough, chest pain, hoarseness, or asthma, you may have acid reflux disease, also known as GERD...
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Remedies for Acid Reflux
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Acid reflux, also known as GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux) is treated using four common approaches ranging from simple lifestyle changes and natural remedies to drastic surgery, depending on your preferences and medical history. In addition to chang...
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Acid Reflux and Diet
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With apologies to Hamlet, the key to choosing the right diet for your acid reflux is not so much a matter of figuring out which foods you should eat, as identifying which foods and situations trigger a bout of heartburn. Pay attention to your sympto...
Did we speak to your heart(burn)? Let us know, below.
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Reply
- Sam Sam Mar 15, 2009 @ 10:30 pm
- if it happens more than 1 or 2 times a week you need to see a doctor as you may have gerd,ive had this issue for over 2 years and have done nothing about it other than taking otc meds and it hasnt helped
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Reply
- Kathee Kathee Nov 17, 2008 @ 11:16 am
- Hi Aaron,
Yikes - that sounds awful! Have you talked to a doctor about it? I'm not a medical professional, so unfortunately I have no idea what's happening. Sounds pretty wicked tho. Sounds like it could be serious too. My advice: see your doctor ASAP - and if you're willing, let us know what she or he says.
Kathee
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Reply
- Kathee Kathee Nov 17, 2008 @ 11:16 am
- Hi Aaron,
Yikes - that sounds awful! Have you talked to a doctor about it? I'm not a medical professional, so unfortunately I have no idea what's happening. Sounds pretty wicked tho. Sounds like it could be serious too. My advice: see your doctor ASAP - and if you're willing, let us know what she or he says.
Kathee
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Reply
- aaron aaron Nov 17, 2008 @ 8:55 am
- so yea the other evening i was having some heartburn, like usual lately its been bothering me once in a while, but it was weird because out of nowhere i felt a large burp comin, but when i burped, it didnt come out, it all happened in my stomach. and alottt of pain ensued, and i came close to passing out but i ended up puking my brains out instead... so if you have any answers on what might have happened to me i would appreciate it, because its almost a weekly happening and im only 21.
by Kathee
RefluxRescue.info. (more)
