Table of contents:
- Causes of chest pain when eating
- 1. Acid reflux disease
- 2. Inflammation of the esophagus
- 3. Akalasia
- 4. Esophageal cancer
- 5. Asthma
- Could it be a heart attack?
If you are reading this article, it is likely that you have experienced chest pain when eating, drinking, or swallowing. Chest pain usually occurs in the middle of the chest, just above your stomach or stomach. Some people also complain of pain in the back. This condition can affect anyone regardless of gender or a certain age range. Many people immediately fear that chest pain is caused by a problem with the heart. In fact, there are various other reasons why the chest can hurt, especially when you swallow food or drink. To find out the various possible causes, consider the explanation below.
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Causes of chest pain when eating
If pain occurs when you swallow food, it is most likely a problem with your esophagus. The esophagus, which is also known as the esophagus, connects your throat to the stomach. Disorders of these organs can cause a burning pain in the chest. Find out more about the various causes of chest pain when eating the following.
1. Acid reflux disease
This disease, which is also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, is quite common. When you eat, food will enter the stomach through the esophagus. So that the food in the stomach does not rise again, the esophagus will self-seal with muscle fibers. If the muscle fibers do not close the stomach completely, the stomach contents will also rise back into the esophagus after being swallowed and this is what causes chest pain when eating. One of the reasons the muscle fibers don't close properly is excess stomach acid.
2. Inflammation of the esophagus
This disease is caused by irritation or inflammation of the esophagus. The causes also vary, ranging from viruses and bacteria to side effects of drugs. In some cases, esophageal inflammation can also be caused by acid reflux disease. Note if you experience chest pain while eating accompanied by sore throat, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, headache, and fever. If the pain persists and you can't even take a sip of water, you should immediately go to the nearest health facility.
3. Akalasia
The muscles in the esophagus are supposed to contract and relax according to digestive activity. If the esophageal muscles do not relax to allow swallowed food to enter the stomach, food will get stuck in the esophagus and cause excruciating pain. This is what happens when you have achalasia. Usually this disease is characterized by symptoms such as wheezing, nausea, vomiting, and coughing.
4. Esophageal cancer
In the early stages, the symptoms of esophageal cancer are not very visible. However, over time chest pain when eating will appear more frequent and more painful. This is because your esophagus will continue to constrict. At an advanced stage, even drinking is very difficult. To help food enter through the esophagus, the body also produces more saliva so that esophageal cancer patients usually complain of excessive saliva production. Other symptoms include a persistent cough, bone pain, vomiting, hiccups, and esophageal bleeding.
5. Asthma
Acid reflux is closely related to asthma. This is because the respiratory systems (mouth, nose, lungs, and throat) are interconnected or located close to the esophagus. People who have acid reflux disease have a high chance of suffering from asthma, and vice versa. So, in some cases chest pain when swallowing will be followed by shortness of breath or even an asthma attack.
When there is too much stomach acid in the body, the nerves at the end of the esophagus that come into contact with the pharynx (throat) are affected. As a result, the brain picks up on this signal and orders the lungs to produce more mucus in the respiratory tract. Eventually the mucus blocks the flow of oxygen to the lungs and causes an asthma attack.
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Could it be a heart attack?
Sometimes chest pain when eating is often mistaken for angina or a heart attack. To differentiate between the two, pay attention to your symptoms. The pain from a heart attack usually spreads to the left arm and shoulder, neck, and even the jaw. Heart attacks can also occur at any time, even when you are not eating or drinking something.
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Meanwhile, chest pain when eating is usually triggered when you eat spicy, fatty, or hard foods. Chest pain due to esophageal problems can also occur if you change positions that cause movement of the stomach contents, such as lying down or bending over. You will also feel a sour sensation in your mouth. However, if the pain is unbearable and you are not sure what caused it, immediately contact the nearest health facility or go to the emergency department.
