Experiencing pain in your heart and chest area can be worrying anytime it occurs. If you experience this pain right after eating, it’s most likely due to heartburn; however, understanding the warning signs of a cardiac arrest may help save your life. You need to never ever take any type of pain in the chest lightly. If you experience heart pain after eating, the safest thing to do is look for medical attention.
Cause of Heart Pain After Eating Too Much
Painful Heartburn
When you swallow food, it moves down your esophagus into your stomach through a band of muscles called the lower esophageal sphincter. The LES unwinds to enable food to enter the stomach and after that constricts to prevent food and digestive juices from flowing backwards into your esophagus. Heartburn takes place when the LES unwinds or becomes weak, enabling stomach acid to stream into the esophagus. Overeating can put pressure on the LES, making heartburn most likely. Heartburn might also take place as a result of lying down too soon after eating or from particular foods such as spicy foods, fatty foods and caffeine. In addition to pain in the chest area, heartburn might also cause a burning sensation in the throat and a sour taste in your mouth.
GERD and Heart Pain
If you experience heart pain on a regular basis after you eat something, you might have gastroesophageal reflux disease. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse specifies GERD as chronic acid reflux that happens more than two times a week for a minimum of a few weeks. The primary symptom of GERD is heartburn. Other symptoms include chest pain, wheezing, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, bad breath, wheezing and a chronic, dry cough. If left untreated, GERD can result in serious complications, including bleeding of the esophagus, respiratory problems and esophageal strictures. If you think you might have GERD, speak with your doctor about the best ways for you to obtain the condition under control.
Other Digestive Dilemmas
Heartburn and GERD aren’t the only digestive problems that can cause pain in the heart area after eating. An esophageal convulsion, indigestion or a gallbladder attack can have the same effect. A gallbladder attack, which is characterized by pain in the chest, nausea and an ache in the abdomen, is more likely to occur right after a fatty meal, according to CNN.com.
Serious Warning Signs
Although the heart pain you experience after eating is more than likely related to a digestive issue, it must not be taken lightly. Signs of a cardiac arrest include sudden pressure or a squeezing pain in the center of the chest that continues for more than a few minutes, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, sweating, lightheadedness, dizziness and nausea. The chest pain associated with a cardiac arrest may infect your back, neck, shoulders, jaw, stomach and arms– particularly the left arm. If you presume you’re having a cardiovascular disease, look for emergency medical attention right away.