What Heartburn Feels Like
Anyone with a penchant for big meals probably has had heartburn once or twice. Some of us tend to feel this pain a lot more than others. Actually answering the question "what does heartburn feel like?" is actually trickier than you might think. When we think of heartburn, we think of the dull, burning pain in the heart. True heartburn has nothing to do with that vital organ, however. Heartburn happens in the esophagus, the food chute from our mouth to our stomachs, where some stomach acid came up to cause that pain. Since the burning usually feels somewhere near to where we think the heart might be, it tends to confuse some to think of it as their heart that is hurting.
Heartburn or Angina?
The problem is that angina and heart attacks can feel a lot like heartburn. Keep this is mind if you or your family have some history of heart trouble. If you have had a history of it, you want to play it very safe and never dismiss any chest pains you might be feeling. Always consult a doctor when determining when it is safe to assume a chest pain is heartburn or something more serious.
If you're one of those people who feel like you've had heartburn every other day, you might treat it as such as long as it feels the same as all the other times (consult your doctor, as always, to determine if this is a safe move for you). If you decide to attack your problem like it's heartburn, there are some things you can try.
If your heartburn usually happens when you lay down to sleep, try propping yourself up so your head is above your stomach and feet. Gravity may help keep the acid at bay. Some people like drinking lots of water to ease the symptoms—if this works for you, great! But for most people, this may not be practical right before bedtime.
Self Medicating Options
If you feel the need to medicate it, you can try your own solution of baking soda and water (unless you are watching your salt intake for health reasons such as hypertension, pregnancy or nursing). You can also try antacids that are sold in myriads of brands and colors. They often work, but reportedly not for long. Other medications slow the stomach's production of its acid, but these are said to take a longer time to work—but they may last for a longer period of time.
If you are having repeated problems of heartburn, you really should see a doctor. Even if you feel confident that it's only a case of heartburn, it could be something like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Sometimes called acid reflux but even more serious condition that appears the same is heart related issue. Get advice before it gets worse.
You've got a lot of company when you've got heartburn. Rather than wondering what does heartburn feel like, just play it safe and get your doctor's advice and get it treated properly. It will be well worth it to not have to deal with the pain and inconvenience of heartburn.