Heartburn – What Does It Feel Like?
Heartburn – what does it feel llike? Heartburn, medically termed pyrosis, is an unpleasant condition. Other factors can determine whether or not it is heartburn you are suffering from, although the main feeling is a burning sensation in the chest. The most common location for heartburn pain is just below the sternum, or breastbone. People who suffer from heartburn which is said to be one in five of us, will experience heartburn at least once a week.
Heartburn is caused by the lower esophageal sphincter not functioning properly. Normally this sphincter is responsible for keeping the contents of the stomach contained in the stomach and separated from the esophagus. The burning painful sensation in the chest is created by the malfunction of the sphincter. This is due to the fact that the acidic contents of the stomach can travel up the esophagus.
Heartburn – how long does it last? Sufferers of heartburn will find that episodes can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. You will also find that the pain gets worse if you lie down. When eating it can feel like food gets stuck in the chest making it difficult to swallow. A sour or acidic tasting fluid in the back of the throat may be experienced as the burning sensation travels through the body.
While this painful, burning sensation is an annoyance, for most people it is never more than that. However, in some cases, frequent heartburn can lead to further complications. Gastroesophageal Reflux disease (GERD) is the medical term used for frequent sufferers of heartburn, this can result, over a long period of time into ulcers or even worse esophageal cancer.
Smoking is a big contributing factor to heartburn, but lifestyle conditions can also play a big part. The likelihood of heartburn can be increased through obesity and pregnancy as they both put extra pressure on the stomach. Similarly, tight belts, along with tight-fitting clothes can cause added pressure. Stress seems to contribute to heartburn and certain medications are known to increase the frequency of heartburn.
Those who have never had a medical diagnosis of the condition may wonder what does heartburn feel like.Angina, in addition, to other medical conditions can be mistaken for heartburn. Changing your diet and lifestyle can relieve those suffering from heartburn substantially as food is a contributing factor. Elimination of the pain should be done, at least on an acute basis by the antacids. If they don’t eliminate the paint totally it should at least lessen it. Symptoms of more serious heart conditions can be experienced. If this is the case you should see seek medical advice immediately, especially if the pain radiates down your arms or to your shoulders.