Heart Burn
What is heart burn?
Believe it or not, heartburn isn’t actually a condition or illness. In fact, that burning sensation in your upper abdomen (sometimes radiating to the back of your neck) and typically occurring after you eat or when you lie down or bend over, is actually considered a symptom of many common conditions.
Common conditions that cause heartburn
Because many things can irritate the lining of your stomach, lingering or intense heartburn may be a symptom of acid reflux, a medication side-effect, stomach flu (gastroenteritis), anxiety, and many other everyday afflictions.
The difference between heartburn and a heart attack
Depending on your age, physical condition, and other risk factors, one thing to be aware of is that occasionally heartburn can be a symptom of a heart attack. Here’s how to tell if it’s more than just something you ate:
- Sudden pressure, tightening, squeezing, or crushing pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes
- Pain spreading to the back, neck, jaw, shoulders, or arms—especially the left arm
- Chest discomfort accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, or nausea
- Pressure or tightness in the chest during physical activity or when you're under emotional stress
