by: Jessica Deets

Chest pain can be a very scary, serious issue. If you are one of
many Americans at risk for heart disease, it can be even more
frightening. But sometimes chest pain isn't heart related, it is a
digestive issue.
Heartburn, or it's more serious cousin acid reflux, affects millions
of people everyday. The symptoms of both heart problems and acid
reflux are very similar, but the treatment is obviously very
different. It's easy to mistake one for the other because the
esophagus is located behind the heart in the chest cavity.
Identifying the real problem when you have chest pain is very
important. Here's a few things to look out for. But remember, when
in doubt see your health care provider.

1. Burning in the throat due to stomach acid. This is an extension
of the heartburn pain caused by acid reflux. Pain caused by stomach
acid regurgitating into the esophagus and mouth is due to acid
reflux, not heart problems.
2. Chest pain that begins or increases with exercise is more likely
due to a heart problem. Acid reflux symptoms don't change with
physical exertion. The heart experiences stress during physical
exercise that can manifest potential problems within.
3. Coughing, wheezing, breathing problems, acid regurgitation,
bitterness in the mouth: these are all signs of acid reflux disease.
The acid entering the esophagus is to blame for each of these
symptoms, some of which can be very pronounced. Pregnant women seem
to be prone to heartburn during the last two trimesters where a
growing fetus crowds the space the stomach normally occupies. For
these women, and others in high risk groups, understanding their
propensity to heartburn is also important. For example, some
pregnant women with chest pain find themselves in the hospital
thinking they are having heart attacks, when in fact they are having
very serious acid reflux. Again, knowing you are susceptible to acid
reflux can help you identify the cause of your symptoms.
4. Numbness or tingling in the arm or arms can be a symptom of a
heart attack, and is generally not a symptom of acid reflux.
Obviously these symptoms are serious and should be treated
immediately by a health care professional.
5. Increased pain after meals is usually a symptom of acid reflux
disease. Overeating or bending over after eating can exacerbate the
problems, which are not heart related. The extra acid a stomach
releases to digest food is to blame for the increased discomfort
after meals. While these acids are effective in helping the
digestive process, they can be very detrimental for those who suffer
from acid reflux disease.

Acid reflux disease and heart disease do share some of the same
symptoms, but with careful attention and the help of a health care
professional, you can determine which of these issues is causing
your chest pain.

About the author:
With either of these conditions, treatment options are not only
available, but are necessary to prevent more serious health
problems. Our website has the latest news on acid reflux and our
blog features news and info. You can see it at this website
www.Acidrefluxnews.com