The symptoms of heartburn and indigestion can be similar, however, and the conditions often occur simultaneously, which can make the identification somewhat difficult.
Symptoms of Indigestion
Indigestion is often described as a feeling of fullness or discomfort while eating or after a meal. Similar to heartburn, indigestion often involves a burning sensation, although with indigestion it is typically felt more in the upper stomach area, rather than behind the breastbone. Indigestion can also involve an acidic taste in the mouth, another symptom it shares with heartburn. Other symptoms of indigestion include bloating, gas and abdominal pain.
Heartburn often accompanies indigestion, although heartburn is the leaking of stomach acids into the esophagus.
Indigestion and heartburn do share some underlying causes, however, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and a number of lifestyle conditions, including smoking, stress, alcohol consumption and eating certain foods, eating too much, or eating too fast.
Pregnancy is also a cause of both indigestion and heartburn. Hormones and the added pressure on the stomach by the expanding uterus are both believed to be contributing factors to heartburn and indigestion during pregnancy.
Symptoms of Heartburn
While the causes of heartburn vary from person to person, the symptoms of heartburn are fairly consistent for most individuals. A burning sensation in the chest and even in the throat is the most common identifiable symptom of heartburn. Burning sensations shouldnt be confused with pain. Actual pain in the chest that radiates to the arms or shoulders should be evaluated immediately, because it can indicate more serious conditions, such as a heart attack.
Other symptoms of heartburn include a hoarse sounding voice, sore throat, acidic or salty taste in the mouth, regurgitation or a feeling that foods are getting stuck in the throat or chest. Heartburn symptoms usually present themselves soon after a meal and can last from a few minutes to a few hours. Often, symptoms worsen when lying down. Most heartburn should respond to antacids. Pain that does not lessen with antacid treatment should be evaluated by a medical professional.
If you become dizzy, lightheaded, experience a cold sweat, or have pain that appears very suddenly and worsens, seek the advice of a medical professional to be evaluated for possible heart conditions. Learning to identify the symptoms of heartburn and indigestion is important, particularly if you are at risk for developing heart conditions.
Learning to recognize heartburn and indigestion can leave you better able to distinguish the symptoms from those of more serious conditions. If you encounter unusual symptoms you may otherwise have mistaken for symptoms of heartburn and indigestion, you should seek medical attention immediately.
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