HEARTBURN

All of us at a time or other must have felt heartburn. It is a burning sensation in the chest felt behind the breast bone or in the upper central abdomen. The pain often rises in the chest and may radiate to the neck, throat or angle of the jaw.

Heartburn is usually associated with regurgitation of gastric acid. It is the major symptom of gastro esophageal reflex disease shortly known as GERD. It may also be the symptom for heart disease but the percentage is very low in the order of 0.6% of patients reported to the hospital.

Indigestion is defined as combination of gastric pain and heartburn. Cardiac pain and esophageal pain are almost similar because they share the same nerve supply.Lest the cause of cardiac pain is overlooked first assumption should be cardiac pain and proceed by various tests to eliminate the same.

 

Functional heartburn may be associated with functional gastro intestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome. The chest pain caused by GERD has a distinct burning sensation. It occurs after eating or in the night and worsens when the person lies down.

It is also present in pregnant ladies caused by overeating. Certain spices, high fat content or high acid content may also trigger heartburn. Relief of pain after 5 to 10 minutes after administration of antacid will prove the pain to be from esophageal  origin.

Antacids such as calcium carbonate are often taken immediately to treat the patient.