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Overview
Heartburn is described as a burning sensation or pain that begins in the abdomen, underneath the sternum (lower breastbone). Located in the area of the heart, the pain associated with severe heartburn often resembles the symptoms of a heart attack. Severe heartburn is the term that doctors use to indicate that an individual suffers from the symptoms of heartburn every day. Constant heartburn that can lead to other, more serious medical problems.
Causes
Heartburn is the result of stomach acids backing up into the esophagus. This occurs when a muscle known as the "lower esophageal sphincter" relaxes when it shouldn't. This muscle is like a valve that allows food to go down the esophagus and then into the stomach when it opens. It closes to keep the food and stomach contents from going backwards. People who suffer with heartburn have a weakened muscle that does not function properly. Reasons for this include being overweight, smoking, drinking alcohol, eating spicy and fatty foods, and having hiatal hernias. These factors can work in combination to make the lower esophageal sphincter work less efficiently, and heartburn results.
Pain
In cases of severe heartburn, a person is subject to a variety of possible symptoms. The most disconcerting is a burning pain that can start in the upper abdominal region and may extend upward through the throat area. This is the result of the esophagus being exposed to stomach acids. The pain can be accompanied by belching, gas, and bloating. A person experiencing severe heartburn pain may get a sour taste in their mouth as well.
GERD
Severe heartburn is one of the symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD. It evolves when the esophagus is continually irritated and inflamed by stomach contents. The severe heartburn associated with GERD can also be accompanied by bleeding as the esophageal lining is eroded away. The esophagus can also be narrowed by GERD, which then leads to another symptom---difficulty swallowing food or liquids.
Effects
Someone with severe heartburn that develops into GERD may get the feeling that something is stuck in their throat. The throat can feel tight and the person's voice may be raspy or hoarse from all the irritation. There are certain types of asthma that are triggered by severe heartburn, and the individual may suffer from such things as bad breath and dental troubles.
Warning
Severe heartburn symptoms can be mistaken for the warning signs of a heart attack but people with heart trouble and heartburn need to be able to differentiate between the two to avoid a potentially fatal mix-up. Heartburn symptoms may also mimic or mask other problems. Peptic ulcers, tears in the esophagus, the inflammation of the stomach known as gastritis, and gallbladder problems all can exhibit severe heartburn-like symptoms.
If you have severe heartburn, see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
