Chest Burning and Acid Reflux: What it Means

Chest pains can be scary even if they are very minor pains; common sense tells us that we should not feel pain in this area. Sometimes chest burning and acid reflux go together and can be confused as related to heart disease. The first thing that separates the two is the sensation you feel. When you have chest pains related to heart disease the sensation is that of a stabbing pain. Chest burning and acid reflux mean that you will most likely feel a burning sensation that is more uncomfortable than painful.

Is it Dangerous?

Chest burning and acid reflux don’t always go together but when they do it does not mean that you have worse acid reflux than someone who does not have the same symptom. You should still have your chest pains checked out by a doctor to confirm that your chest pains are a symptom and not related to heart disease.

There are a few simple tests your doctor can perform to determine that the chest burning and acid reflux are occurring together and not related to cardiac disease. First your doctor will test the level of acid in your esophagus; if it is elevated then you are most likely suffering from acid reflux.

Another method to determine the cause of your chest pains will require you to take note of the symptoms that occur when you experience chest pains. For example did you experience a regurgitation of food, feel bile in your mouth? If you have other symptoms of acid reflux along with your chest pains then your doctor can rule out heart disease.

Treatment

Once you have confirmed with your doctor that you are indeed experiencing chest burning and acid reflux you can proceed to treat the acid reflux. Antacids are the usual route of treatment though proton pump inhibitors may also be used. There are of course other forms of treatment that require you to be proactive and change your lifestyle.

If you frequently consume alcohol then you should cut down on both the amount of alcohol you consume and the frequency of consumption. Smoking is also a trigger of acid reflux and if you have frequent attacks of acid reflux then you should cut it out.

Caffeine whether in coffee, soda, or any other form can also be a trigger. You don’t have to completely cut out these things but think about the frequency and amounts you are consuming these things, then start halving the amounts and see the difference that it makes to your health.