Why is heartburn so painful

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Print This Page Click to Print. Free Healthbeat Signup Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox! Sign Up. The diaphragm is the muscle between the chest and the abdomen that plays a crucial role in breathing: when your diaphragm contracts, it inflates your lungs, allowing you to inhale.

It has a small opening through which the esophagus passes. If the stomach slips through this opening, it can cause severe heartburn, in addition to chest or abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, or shortness of breath. If you find that it is difficult or painful to swallow in addition to suffering from heartburn, you may have esophagitis. Esophagitis is inflammation of esophageal tissue, that is often caused by GERD.

If esophagitis is suspected, your doctor may order an endoscopy to assess the damage to your esophageal lining. Nausea and vomiting may be signs of GERD, hiatal hernia, or esophagitis. The pain can feel sharp, burning, or like a tightening sensation. Heartburn is quite common. It is estimated that more than 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month. You may be able to manage your heartburn by:. Mild, infrequent heartburn can also be treated with medications like antacids.

If you take antacids more than several times a week a doctor should evaluate you. Your heartburn may be a symptom of a more severe problem like acid reflux or GERD. A circular muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter LES joins your esophagus and stomach.

This muscle is in charge of tightening your esophagus after food passes to the stomach. This is known as acid reflux. GERD is the chronic form of acid reflux. Long-term damage of the esophagus can lead to cancer.

Most people can experience heartburn and acid reflux intermittently related to something they ate or habits like lying down immediately after eating. Examples of the causes of GERD include:. Symptoms of GERD may disrupt your daily life. Fortunately, they can usually be controlled with treatment. Options include:. Medications for GERD work to reduce the amount of acid in the stomach.

They may not be effective for everyone. Some people need surgery to help reinforce the LES. From babies to teenagers, children of all ages can experience GERD. About one-fourth of all children and teenagers experience symptoms of GERD. The condition is especially common in infants because their stomachs are much smaller and less able to tolerate being full.

As a result, stomach contents can easily come back up. About 70 to 85 percent of infants have regurgitation the first two months of life. Typically, 95 percent will outgrow the symptoms by the time they reach 1 year of age. Children with developmental and neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy, may experience reflux and GERD for longer time periods.

Untreated symptoms can cause permanent esophagus damage. Pregnant women usually experience GERD symptoms around the first trimester. It then worsens in the last trimester. Heartburn that is more frequent or interferes with your daily routine may be a symptom of a more serious condition that requires medical care. Seek immediate help if you experience severe chest pain or pressure, especially when combined with other signs and symptoms such as pain in the arm or jaw or difficulty breathing.

Chest pain may be a symptom of a heart attack. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Subscribe for free and receive your in-depth guide to digestive health, plus the latest on health innovations and news.

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You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care. Acid reflux occurs when the sphincter muscle at the lower end of your esophagus relaxes at the wrong time, allowing stomach acid to back up into your esophagus. This can cause heartburn and other signs and symptoms.