subject: Know The Common Symptoms of Heartburn [print this page] Heartburn, medically known as pyrosis, is a normal body phenomena and most of the time does not pose any serious threat to the health. Contradictory to its name, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart. The name simply describes one of the common symptoms of heartburn which is the burning feeling or sensation on the chest just beneath the breastbone. Heartburn may also be a symptom of a disease called gastro esophageal reflux disease or GERD. The acid reflux of this disease may be the cause of heartburn being its symptom.
To better understand the symptoms of heartburn, it is best to be informed about the process of acid reflux. There are times when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle loosens or opens unexpectedly. This muscle is the "lid" of the stomach. It keeps food bolus and gastric acids from escaping from the confines of the stomach but once in a while, it malfunctions and causes slip ups that lead to the escape of these acids.
When hydrochloric acid from the stomach escapes the LES muscle, it moves up to the esophagus and burns the linings. This causes the pain or discomfort of heartburn.
Symptoms of heartburn include:
Burning sensation in the chest - This burning sensation in the chest beneath the breastbone or sternum usually occurs after eating. Eating a large meal also often triggers this and lying or bending down often aggravates the symptom. The feeling may last for several minutes and may extend to a few hours in some cases.
Burning feeling in the neck or throat - Though the burning sensation of heartburn usually settles in the chest, it may sometimes rise up to the throat and cause discomfort there. When gastric acid shoots high up to the throat, pain may occur and may worsen by swallowing.
Sour or bitter taste in the mouth - The bitter or sour taste from the back of the mouth is called waterbash and is associated with the stomach acids shooting up from the esophagus. When these acids reach the throat, the bitterness of the acid is tasted. Prolonged and frequent reflux that reaches the mouth may also cause wearing of the teeth enamel and decay.
Difficulty swallowing food and liquids - Acids that reached the throat may damage the throat lining and cause pain and difficulty in swallowing foods. Sometimes, even intake of liquids is painful and uncomfortable.
Chronic cough - If acid reflux reaches the voice box or the larynx, it may cause coughing. The wearing of the lining of the throat may even lead to chronic cough, hoarseness and sore throat.
Asthma-like symptoms - Some symptoms of heartburn mimic asthma symptoms such as difficulty breathing, wheezing and coughing.
Different people have different symptoms of heartburn. Not all of the symptoms above may manifest at one time. Though it is not usually harmful, alleviation and prevention is still important to avoid lasting effects of the damage brought by acid reflex to the upper digestive tract.
Once heartburn occurs more frequently and the symptoms turn grave, it is best to consult a physician to diagnose underlying conditions such as the aforementioned GERD.
