Heartburn And Indigestion Heartburn
11.08.09
Indigestion and heartburn are considered by many to be one and the same, when in fact, they are not. The symptoms of heartburn and angina and indigestion can be similar, however, and the conditions often occur simultaneously, which can make the identification somewhat difficult.
Symptoms of Indigestion
Indigestion is often described as a feeling of fullness or discomfort while eating or after a meal. Similar to heartburn, indigestion often involves a burning sensation, although with indigestion it is typically felt more in the upper stomach area, rather than behind the breastbone. Indigestion can also involve an acidic taste in the mouth, another symptom it shares with heartburn. Bloating, abdominal pain and gas are other symptoms of indigestion.
Heartburn often accompanies indigestion, although heartburn is the leaking of stomach acids into the esophagus. Smoking, stress, alcohol consumption, certain foods, eating too fast or too much are all shared underlying causes to indigestion and heartburn.
Being pregnant brings with it its’ own problems but unfortunately, for most it can also cause heartburn and indigestion. Hormones and the added pressure on the stomach by the expanding uterus are both believed to be contributing factors to heartburn and indigestion during pregnancy.
Symptoms of Heartburn
While the causes of heartburn vary from person to person, the symptoms of heartburn are fairly consistent for most individuals. So, what does heartburn feel like? A burning sensation in the chest and even in the throat is the most common identifiable symptom of heartburn. Pain shouldn’t be mixed up with the burning sensation. You should seek medical help immediately if the pain moves through your arms and shoulders, as this can be related a heart attack~{You could be suffering a heart attack if the pain in the chest radiates to the arms and shoulders; if this is the case seek medical help immediately}~{Seek medical help immediately if the pain in the chest radiates to the arms and shoulders as you could be experiencing a heart attack}~You could be experiencing a heart attack if the pain in the chest moves to the arms and shoulders. {If this is the situation, then you should seek medical help immediately}~{Seek medical help immediately, if this is the situation}~{If this is the situation, seek medical help immediately}~Medical help should be sought if this is the situation}~If you are having pains in the chest that actually move to the arms and shoulders then you should seek medical help immediately as this can be something more serious such as a heart attack~{You could be suffering a heart attack if the pain in the chest radiates to the arms and shoulders; if this is the case seek medical help immediately}~{Seek medical help immediately if the pain in the chest radiates to the arms and shoulders as you could be experiencing a heart attack}~You could be experiencing a heart attack if the pain in the chest moves to the arms and shoulders. {If this is the situation, then you should seek medical help immediately}~{Seek medical help immediately, if this is the situation}~{If this is the situation, seek medical help immediately}~Medical help should be sought if this is the situation}.
Heartburn has other symptoms, other than the obvious, these include; acidic or salty taste in the mouth, a sore throat, a hoarse voice, a regurigation feeling and a feeling that food is stuck in the throat or chest. Heartburn symptoms usually present themselves soon after a meal and can last from a few minutes to a few hours. Often, symptoms worsen when lying down. Antacids will treat heartburn in most cases. Antacid treatment should irradicate the pain associated with heartburn and indigestion. If it does not, then medical help should be sought.
If you experience a pain that worsens along with cold sweats, dizziness and lightheadedness, then you should go immediately to your doctors as you could have other heart problems. Learning to identify the symptoms of heartburn and indigestion is important, particularly if you are at risk for developing heart conditions and of course, knowing the difference between angina heartburn symptoms. If you can recognise the difference between indigestion and heartburn then this will be better for you, as it will leave you in a position to be able to spot more serious conditions. Medical advice should be sought immeditely, if you experience unusual symptoms; sometimes these can be mistaken for indigestions and heartburn.
Tags: symptons of heartburn and angina, What does heartburn feel like