5 simple signs to tell if it's acid reflux or heart pain

5 simple signs to tell if it's acid reflux or heart pain

Chest pain can be a very scary, serious problem. If you're one of many Americans at risk for heart disease, this can be even scarier. But sometimes chest pain has nothing to do with the heart and is instead a digestive problem.

Heartburn, or it is severe acid reflux, affects millions of people every day. The symptoms of heart problems and acid reflux are very similar, but the treatment is obviously very different. It's easy to confuse one for the other because the esophagus is located behind the heart in the chest cavity.

It is very important to recognize the real problem when you have chest pain. Here are a few things to look out for. But remember to consult your doctor if in doubt.

1. Burning in throat due to stomach acid. This is an extension of the heartburn pain caused by acid reflux. Pain caused by regurgitation of stomach acid 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 to be due to a heart problem. Acid reflux symptoms do not change with physical exertion. The heart experiences stress during physical exertion, which can manifest potential problems within.

3. Coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, acid reflux, bitterness in the mouth: all of these are signs of reflux disease. The acid that enters the esophagus is responsible for each of these symptoms, some of which can be very pronounced. Pregnant women seem to be prone to heartburn in the last two trimesters, when a growing fetus takes up the space that the stomach normally occupies. It is also important for these women and others in high-risk groups to understand their propensity for heartburn. For example, some pregnant women find themselves in the hospital with chest pains and think they are having a heart attack, when in fact they have very severe acid reflux. Again, knowing that you are susceptible to acid reflux can help you identify the cause of your symptoms.

4. Numbness or tingling in the arm or arms may 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 by a doctor immediately.

5. Increased pain after meals is usually a symptom of acid reflux disease. Overeating or bending over after eating can worsen problems not related to the heart. The extra acid that a stomach releases when digesting food is responsible for increased discomfort after meals. While these acids are effective in aiding the digestive process, they can be very harmful to those suffering from reflux disease.

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

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