| Acid reflux symptoms encompass everything | | | | half of the people who suffer chronic acid reflux |
| from chest pain, nausea and shortness of breath | | | | also have dyspepsia, a condition where they feel |
| to a sour taste in the mouth, sore throat and | | | | nauseous, disgustingly full and suffer abdomen pain |
| coughing fits. Due to its varying nature, it can | | | | after eating. Dyspepsia is not necessarily a telltale |
| masquerade itself as many other problems. How | | | | sign of GERD. |
| can you tell heartburn from more serious ailments | | | | Often times the chest pain worries people the |
| that could land you in the hospital? | | | | most, who believe they may be having a heart |
| Thirty-one patients flooded into the Brigham and | | | | attack. Both a heart attack and gerd symptoms |
| Women's Hospital emergency room in Boston, | | | | could arrive after a heavy meal and leave its |
| complaining of serious chest pain. It was later | | | | victim gasping for breath, doubled over with |
| found that 57% of the patients merely suffered | | | | abdomen pain and sweating. In some cases, |
| from Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease. Study | | | | displaced acid in the esophagus activates nerves |
| investigator Dr. Julia J. Liu commented, "Often the | | | | that impair blood flow to the heart temporarily, |
| role of acid reflux has been overlooked as a | | | | which can be a terrifying sensation! |
| potential factor in the diagnosis and treatment of | | | | While chest pain should not be taken lightly, here |
| patients with serious chest pain. | | | | are some key differences to help you |
| But, it is important for patients never to assume | | | | differentiate an Alkaseltzer cure from a trip to |
| their chest pain is caused by GERD, until they | | | | the hospital. Symptoms usually last for hours, |
| have been thoroughly evaluated by a physician to | | | | while a heart attack generally lasts several |
| rule out heart disease. If they experience | | | | minutes. H2 blockers or antacids will cure |
| persistent chest pain, they should seek | | | | heartburn, while symptoms from a heart attack |
| emergency medical care." | | | | (like irregular heartbeat, pain, sweating and |
| There are two types of heartburn - upright | | | | disorientation) will persist 15-20 minutes after |
| reflux, where patients are awake with noticeable | | | | taking the medication. |
| discomfort, and supine reflux, which is more | | | | Chest pain associated with symptoms may |
| frequent in women and occurs when patients are | | | | radiate vertically from the gut to the esophagus, |
| asleep. Nighttime GERD affects approximately | | | | but heart attacks often start beneath the right |
| 10% of Americans, according to a study done by | | | | breast bone or on the left side of the chest and |
| Dynogen Pharmaceuticals. In a separate study | | | | radiate along the length of the arms or from the |
| (conducted at the Southern Arizona VA Health | | | | chest to the back. You'll feel heartburn and acid |
| Care System in Tucson), nearly three-fourths of | | | | reflux symptoms worsen if you're bending or |
| the patients with chronic gerd symptoms also | | | | lifting shortly after you've eaten, but with a heart |
| suffered sleeping symptoms such as snoring, | | | | attack, the smallest exertion makes you feel as |
| coughing and chest pain. | | | | though your heart may burst at any moment. |
| "Nighttime GERD affects a large number of | | | | It may be shocking to have acid reflux |
| patients, and the impact on sleep and quality of | | | | symptoms suddenly, when you've been eating a |
| life should not be underestimated," commented | | | | particular food your whole life. The incidence of |
| study leader Dr. Fass, who hopes to find more | | | | indigestion generally increases with age but can |
| effective cures for supine reflux. Studies show | | | | happen to teenagers and babies as well. For acid |
| that esophagus damage can occur with too much | | | | reflux treatment, diet modifications should be tried |
| exposure to acid. | | | | first and antacids kept on hand for emergency |
| So how can you tell GERD / acid reflux | | | | situations. |
| symptoms from other similar ailments? More than | | | | |