Chest Pain: Distinguishing Between Gastroesophageal Disease and Cardiovascular Disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) refers to a condition in which stomach acid or stomach contents flow backward into the esophagus. It can occur primarily when the lower esophageal sphincter, which tightens the space between the stomach and esophagus, weakens, food remains in the stomach for too long, or esophageal motility declines. When this damages the esophageal mucosa, it's called reflux esophagitis. 😟
1. What are the symptoms? 🤔
The most common symptoms are heartburn and acid reflux. 🔥 However, other symptoms may include a feeling of something stuck in the throat, a chronic cough, a hoarse voice, and chest tightness or pain. Symptoms tend to worsen when lying down, and chest pain can be mistaken for heart disease, so caution is advised. In fact, the two conditions share similar nerve distributions, making it difficult to distinguish based on symptoms alone. However, pain caused by reflux esophagitis can be temporarily relieved by drinking water, which dilutes or washes away the stomach acid. 💧
2. Daily Care and Prevention Tips ✨
While medication is important for gastroesophageal reflux disease, lifestyle changes are essential.
Eating habits : Avoid overeating and eat slowly. 🍔 It's especially good to avoid eating 2-3 hours before bedtime. Reduce your intake of alcohol, carbonated beverages, coffee, fatty foods, and instant foods, as these can worsen symptoms.
●Details : Avoid lying down or lying face down immediately after eating. 🛌 Keeping your upper body elevated by about 15 degrees while sleeping can help reduce reflux. Avoid wearing tight clothing or belts that put pressure on your abdomen.
●Weight management : Abdominal obesity is a major cause of reflux, increasing abdominal pressure. Maintaining a healthy weight is important.
Exercise : Light exercise like walking can help, but avoid strenuous strength training or intense jogging that increases abdominal pressure. 🏃♀️
●No smoking : It is recommended to quit smoking because smoking lowers the pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter. 🚭