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What Does Heartburn Feel Like?

What does heartburn feel like? Pyrosis, is the medical term used for heartburn and can be a very unpleasant condition. Heartburn feels like a burning sensation in the chest, although other symptoms are also present that can aid in the identification of the condition. The most common location for heartburn pain is just below the sternum, or breastbone. People who suffer from heartburn which is said to be one in five of us, will experience heartburn at least once a week.

Heartburn is caused by the lower esophageal sphincter not functioning properly. Normally this sphincter is responsible for keeping the contents of the stomach contained in the stomach and separated from the esophagus. The acidic contents of the stomach will travel up the esophagus if the sphincter malfunctions, this is what creates the burning sensation in the chest.

Does heartburn last long? Heartburn pain can get worse if the patient is lying down, but generally the pain can last anything from a few minutes upto several hours. When eating it can feel like food gets stuck in the chest making it difficult to swallow. The burning sensation can also travel up the throat, or in some cases, it is experienced as a sour or acidic tasting fluid in the back of the throat.

The burning pain, although somewhat annoying is never more than that for most people. Frequent heartburn, however, in some instances, can result to further complications. Frequent heartburn over a long period of time can result in ulcers or even esophageal cancer. This is known as gastroesophageal reflux (GERD).

Smoking is a big contributing factor to heartburn, but lifestyle conditions can also play a big part. The likelihood of heartburn can be increased through obesity and pregnancy as they both put extra pressure on the stomach. Similarly, tight belts, along with tight-fitting clothes can cause added pressure. The frequency of heartburn can be increased through stress or certain medications.

Those who have never had a medical diagnosis of the condition may wonder what does heartburn feel like.Other medical conditions, such as angina can be mistaken for heartburn. The pain can be eased for frequent sufferers by modifying your diet and lifestyle. Antacids should eliminate or at least lessen the pain on an acute basis. If you’re experiencing pain that radiates down your arms or to your shoulders, you should seek the advice of a medical professional, because you may be experiencing angina, which is a symptom of some heart conditions.