Symptoms of Heartburn - How To Determine If You Are Suffering From Heartburn
Article Source: HealthSnare.com
The first step in getting effective relief for heartburn is to be able to correctly identify it's symptoms. With that said, it is important to note that heartburn or acid reflux as it is also called, is actually the result of a digestive disorder. It is not the actual disorder itself.
For example, it could be a result of Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease or GERD. It should also be mentioned that although many people will have different triggers for heartburn, the associated symptoms are usually the same for most of them.
People who are suffering from heartburn often have one or more of these common complaints. By understanding these prominent symptoms, this will help your doctor come up with the right diagnosis and the best treatment options as quickly as possible.
1. Burning sensation in the sternum or chest area - This sensation usually originates behind the chestbone and continues up to the throat. This symptom usually happens shortly after a meal and can last anywhere from a few short minutes all the way up to several hours. This is one of the most common symptoms of heartburn.
2. Sour or bitter taste in your mouth -This problem usually happens when the contents of your stomach refluxes all the way up to your esophagus. This is why a person will often get a sour or bitter taste in the back of their throat. This problem is very disturbing for a lot of people because it can affect your regular eating pattern and food digestion. Some people experience vomiting as a result of acid reflux. This can indeed make things worse.
3. Burning sensation in the throat - People who suffer from heartburn complain of burning sensation around the neck area and sometimes lower. The pain is further aggravated by swallowing. This irritation is secondary to stomach content reflux that goes up into the throat. Among the symptoms of heartburn, this is the most bothersome for the majority of people because of the burning type of pain. It can severely prevent you from eating due to painful swallowing.
4. Dysphagia or swallowing difficulty - This occurs when the food that is eaten does not pass normally through the esophagus on its way down to the stomach. The person may complain about the food is getting stuck along the throat.
Other associated symptoms are chest pressure and the feeling of choking. There are people who also complain of a burning type of pain along the chest. Dysphagia could also be a symptom of other medical conditions such as erosive esophagitis. A thorough examination by a doctor is necessary to determine the cause and come up with the right diagnosis.
If you are encountering at least one of the four symptoms presented above, it is best to seek medical help immediately. Do not try to live with the discomfort because heartburn is treatable and can be prevented. Becoming aware of the symptoms of heartburn will help you determine if you are suffering from GERD.
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Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2010 Time: 2:43 AM
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