Heartburn-like symptoms and/or lower chest or upper abdomen may be indicative of much more sinister and/or deadly<unk> . Of greatest concern is to confuse heartburn (generally related to the esophagus) with a heart attack as these organs share a common nerve supply. Numerous abdominal and thoracic organs are present in that region of the body. Many different organ systems might explain the discomfort called heartburn. Heart The most common symptom for a heart attack is chest pain. However, as many as 30% of chest pain patients undergoing cardiac catheterization have findings that do not account for their chest discomfort. These are often defined as having "atypical chest pain" or chest pain of undetermined origin. Women experiencing heart attacks may also deny classic signs and symptoms and instead complain of GI symptoms instead. One article estimates that ischemic heart<unk>  may appear to be GERD in 0.6% of people. Esophagus *GERD (most common cause of heartburn) occurs when acid<unk> es from the stomach and inflames the esophagus. * Esophageal spasms typically occur after eating or drinking and may be combined with difficulty swallowing. *Esophageal strictures *Esophageal cancers Esophagitis * GERD * Eosinophilic esophagitis - a<unk>  commonly associated with other atopic<unk> s such as asthma, food allergies, seasonal allergies, and atopic skin<unk>  *Mallory-Weis tears - tears of the superficial mucosa of the esophagus that are subsequently exposed to gastric acid commonly due to vomiting and/or retching *Chemical esophagitis - related to the intake of caustic substances, excessive amounts of hot liquids, alcohol, or tobacco smoke *Infections may explain heartburn symptoms. These especially include CMV and certain fungal infections, most common in immunocompromised persons Stomach * Peptic ulcer<unk>  - can be secondary to H. Pylori infection or heavy NSAID use that weakens stomach mucosal layer. Pain often worsens with eating. * Stomach cancer Intestines * Intestinal ulcers - generally secondary to other conditions such as H. Pylori infection or cancers of the GI tract. Pain often improves with eating. *Duodenitis - inflammation of the small intestine. May be the result of several conditions Gallbladder * Gallstones Pancreas * Pancreatitis - can be autoimmune, due to a gallstone obstructing the lumen, related to alcohol consumption. Pregnancy Heartburn is common during pregnancy having been reported in as high as 80% of pregnancies. It is most often due to GERD and results from relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), changes in gastric motility, and/or increasing intra-abdominal pressure. The onset of symptoms can be during any trimester of pregnancy. * Hormonal - related to the increasing amounts of estrogen and progesterone and their effect on the LES * Mechanical - the enlarging uterus increasing intra-abdominal pressure, inducing<unk>  of gastric acid * Behavioral - as with other instances of heartburn, behavioral modifications can exacerbate or alleviate symptoms Unknown Origin Functional heartburn is heartburn of unknown cause. It is commonly associated with psychiatric conditions like depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. It is also seen with other functional gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome and is the primary cause of lack of improvement post treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Despite this, PPIs are still the primary treatment with response rates in about 50% of people. The diagnosis is one of elimination, based upon the Rome III criteria. It was found to be present in 22.3% of Canadians in one survey. + Rome III Criteria 1 Burning retrosternal discomfort 2 Elimination of heart attack and GERD as the cause 3 No esophageal motility disorders
symptom of Gastroesophageal reflux disease
symptom of Peptic ulcer disease
symptom of Stomach cancer
symptom of Helicobacter pylori
symptoms of Helicobacter pylori
symptom of Peanut allergy
symptoms of Peptic ulcer disease
symptom of Gastritis