Is it Really Just Heartburn or a Bigger Problem?

Many people suffer from mild heartburn all the way to GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease), but there are other disorders that can act like heartburn but in reality be something quite different and potentially alarming.

A heart attack may often have one of the symptoms as heartburn. Other medical problems include: gallstone blockage of the bile duct, stomach ulcers, a hiatal hernia pushes food into the upper stomach causing the feeling of heartburn, a more rare condition of esophageal cancer, gastroparesis – typically caused by poor diabetes control which can lead to digestive tract nerve damage; inflammation of the esophagus called esophagitis; inflammation of the chest cavity or lungs, called costochondritis or pleuritis; and anxiety may often effect the stomach acid production which can mimic heartburn.

Sources:

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20528575,00.html

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.