| Heartburn is the most prevalent complaint heard | | | | differentiate the symptoms of heartburn and |
| about the digestive system. When the | | | | heart attack. Heart attack symptoms include |
| hydrochloric acid from the stomach enters the | | | | tightness, pressure or pain in the center of the |
| esophagus - the food tube that connects the | | | | chest. The pain spreads to the shoulders, neck |
| mouth with the stomach - it inflames and irritates | | | | and arms, mostly to the left side. The heart |
| the unprotected lining of the tube and causes | | | | patients experience cold sweat, nausea and |
| heartburn.The most common symptoms of | | | | vomiting, weakness and dizziness. There is general |
| heartburn include a burning pain starting behind the | | | | shortness of breath. Except for pain in the chest, |
| breastbone and ribs and radiating upwards the | | | | which is common to heartburn and heart attack, |
| throat. The pain usually starts after a meal. One | | | | others are heart-attack specific.Heartburn is quite |
| may experience a feeling of liquid coming up the | | | | serious when it accompanies abdominal pain and |
| throat from the stomach. A bitter or sour taste | | | | or bleeding. It may be indicative of peptic ulcers, |
| in the mouth is felt in some cases. The pain gets | | | | gall bladder disease, a tear in the esophagus or |
| worse with bending down or lying down. The | | | | inflammation of the stomach (gastritis). Heartburn |
| other symptoms include burping and a feeling of | | | | with vomiting blood indicates bleeding in the |
| bloating. If heartburn is due to Gastro Esophageal | | | | esophagus or stomach. This causes the stools to |
| Reflux Disease (GERD), sleep problems, chronic | | | | be dark.Various tests are done to confirm and |
| cough, asthma, hoarseness, tightness in the | | | | determine the severity of heartburn related to |
| throat, laryngitis, wheezing, bad breath, sore | | | | GERD. They are upper GI endoscopy, upper GI |
| throat, ear infection, sinus infection and dental | | | | series, esophageal manometry and 24-hour pH |
| erosion are the conditions that may be | | | | monitor. |
| experienced by the patient.It is very important to | | | | |