Education:GERD/heartburn?

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GERD/heartburn? Has anybody mistaked either of these for heart problems? Any suggestions on how to take care of it? And how old can you get it?

Additional Details

3 weeks ago

How long can you keep it if left untreated? Days? Weeks? Months?

Best Answer

hi tox i started suffering from both of these things when i was in my early 20%26#039;s i think maybe even before then but at least by then. i carried around Maalox and tums w/me at all times. yes, i went to the ER twice convinced i was having a major heart attack! i couldn%26#039;t believe it was GERD/heartburn! i went to a GI dr. he did a test where a very thin tube was placed in to my stomach through my nose that tested the PH level in my stomach. in the end i had surgery and it changed my life big time! i hardly ever need to use anything like Previced or Maalox. i was at point i couldn%26#039;t eat anything w/out severe pain and had to sleep sitting straight up in bed w/bed at a huge slant. good luck and i hope you find relief!
Asker's Rating:
Thank you so much!

Other Answers (7)

  • Yes, not only heartburn is commonly mistaken for heart disease, heart disease is also mistaken for heart burn. Meaning many people with heart related chest pain brush off their symptoms as heartburn.
    Heartburn has a number of etiologies ranging from anatomic problems such as inappropriate relaxation of the lower esophageal spinchter (a muscular structure that prevents reflux of your stomach content into your esophagus) to bacterial infection by H. Pylori.
    Symptoms are usually worsened by eating late or to close to bed time, consumption of chocolate, coffee, mint, tomato and tomato products, lying down right after eating so naturally avoiding these triggers can be beneficial.
    A number of pharmacologic therapies are also available. These medicine work a number of different ways (some neutralize the acid, some inhibit acid production, others are antibiotics treating the infection). Extreme cases can be treated by surgery (Nissen Funduplication: they literally bring up a portion of your stomach and wrap it around your lower esaphagus preventing reflux)
    People can get these symptoms literally at any age, meaning as young as a 1 day old new born and as old as, well pick a number.
  • I have GERD but I never had heartburn I had signs like throat clearing for years but I didn%26#039;t know it was acid reflux. I went to the e.r. about three months ago because of the burning in my ribs, the doctor told me that I had arthritis in my ribs, can%26#039;t remember the name of it, anyway I went to see my doctor the next day and she prescribe acid reflux pills for me. I believe I have had this for years just didn%26#039;t know it. And a person can be any age, I work in a daycare and I know some babies who have been diagnosed with it at 6 weeks and even younger.
  • GERD can happen to anyone if newborn, it depends on your sphincters and in most cases your diet. If it%26#039;s truly GERD visit your DR and he can perscribe you something or there%26#039;s omeprazole which is OTC (Prilosec) now. Try watching spicy foods and avoid eating then lying directly down I sold AcipHex prior
  • You can easily get medication for GERD/heartburn. Medicines like protonix and nexium (or prilosec) work pretty well. You should also try to avoid foods that cause your heartburn. And as to the age thing, there is no age limit. Newborns to old people can get it..
  • i was 53 years old thought i was having went to the hospital with the pain turned out, thank goodness i guess, it was gerd/heartburn, as long as i take my medicine i do good, if i should happen to forget for any reason it does not take long for my stomach to remind me.
  • Yes. Prilosec. Teens %26amp; up get it....
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