The resulting pain in the esophagus from stomach acid is called heartburn, and Joel Weinstock, chief of the Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology at Tufts Medical Center, says it literally feels like a burning sensation behind the breastbone. “Classic heartburn is like somebody’s taking a match to your inside,’’ he says, and you will often want to pant to bring in cool air. You may also feel a bitter taste in the mouth.
Heartburn can be caused by several problems that disrupt normal digestion, such as a sphincter that doesn’t close tightly, esophageal muscles that are weak, or a stomach that doesn’t empty properly. In susceptible people, certain foods exacerbate the problem. They include: spicy foods, garlic and onions, and acidic foods like orange juice, grapefruit, or tomatoes; coffee and chocolate, which can stimulate the production of stomach acid; greasy foods or high-fat foods like nuts and avocados, which stay longer in the stomach and delay it from emptying; and carbonated sodas.
Mild heartburn can be self-treated with over-the-counter medications, but Weinstock advises seeing a doctor if you have frequent or chronic heartburn, as it can be a sign of a bigger health problem. Because our internal sensations are much more general than our outer ones, pain in the esophagus can feel like it’s coming from the heart, and it’s important to make sure the pain is not heart disease or a heart attack. Some warning signs include being older or at a high risk for heart disease, experiencing pain with shortness of breath, a tightening of the chest with physical activity, and pain in the upper body and arm.
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