About Heartburn

Q: First of all, I've not been diagnosed for any gastro or cardiac diseases, i'm 23 yrs old male. Today, when i went to bad i had a strange chest pain starting from neck to my stomach. In the middle of my chest. It worsened in a couple of seconds and moved to my back, middle again. So i thought maybe i was having a heart attack or something, got out of bed and suddenly it relieved my pain a little so i thought it might be something about my stomach. After having a glass of water, pain disappeared slowly in 5 minutes and now it's completely gone. I'm considering to see a doctor but just wanted to ask if it looks like heartburn? It might be a cardiac problem i guess but if there was an emergency, the pain would not disappear.. Would it? Anyway, what do you think? can anyone give me any suggestion about this?

A:You had classic symptoms of acid reflux. The pain is caused by stomach acid refluxing up into the esophagus. When you stood up the pain left. Drinking water also helped. Several things you can do to help. Avoid

eating just before going to bed. When standing gravity keeps the stomach contents down in the stomach. When you lay down on a bed, your esophagus is normally lower than your stomach. A weakened Lower Esophagus Sphincter muscle opens and allows the stomach contents to flow into the esophagus. Take a look at: http://www.gicare.com/pated/ecdgs39.htm If the problem continues you should consider raising the head of your bed frame. I had an EKG and stress test about 15 years ago because it was hard for me to believe, somehow, that this was acid reflux. Having the test helped me focus on the real problem which, because of the life style changes it demands, is a constant struggle