You were at a family gathering and loaded up with too many gifts and suddenly felt chest pains. Heartburn or something worse?

Being able to tell the difference between indigestion and cardiovascular problems could save your life, he said Dr.Maya BalakrishnanD., an associate professor of gastroenterology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Unfortunately, the chances of experiencing either condition increase with age.

“As we get older, the muscles that control the esophagus weaken, so the risk of stomach acid reflux traveling into the esophagus increases,” Balakrishnan said in the Baylor news release. he said. “Likewise, our risk increases as we get older. cardiovascular disease Because there is an increased risk of factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.”

How can you resolve your symptoms? Balakrishnan offered a primer on each condition.

First, painful burning sensation in the chest. Largely considered a gastrointestinal problem, this condition tends to occur after people eat a lot and stomach acids back up into the esophagus. This may cause burning sensation a metallic or acidic taste in the chest or mouth.

“This often has to do with what people eat or whether people lie down quickly after eating,” Balakrishnan said.

In addition to large meals, top causes of heartburn during the holidays may include:

• salty foods
• spicy foods
• Tomato based foods
• Chocolate
• Alcohol
• Caffeine

“To prevent heartburn, good practices are to be aware of trigger foods, eat smaller meals, go for a walk after a meal, and generally stay upright for at least three to four hours after a meal,” Balakrishnan said.

If you still experience a bad case of heartburn, treatment may include taking over-the-counter antacids or prescription medications such as: proton pump inhibitors and H2 blockers, which lower acid levels in the stomach.

Sometimes chest pain can be more serious.

Heart conditions can typically include chest pains. This could be pain or discomfort from angina, when your heart isn’t getting enough oxygen, or from a more serious event such as a heart attack. heart attack.

These conditions may occur while a person is resting or exercising. Chest pain may be accompanied by shortness of breath or dizziness. Learn more about heart attacks and their symptoms at: American Heart Association.

“Medically, we call this type of pain, which involves heart-related problems, angina. blood supply“These conditions are more serious than heartburn. They are potentially life-threatening and are related to people’s cardiovascular health,” Balakrishnan said.

It is important to talk to your doctor to learn about your risk of cardiovascular disease. If it persists, see a doctor chest painespecially if you have risk factors heart disease such as diabetes, smoking, or hypertensionBalakrishnan added.

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