Burning Sensation In Throat and Chest – Causes and Treatment

A burning sensation can occur in any part of the body, one of which is the throat and chest at the same time ^[1].

Usually, this burning sensation causes discomfort to the sufferer, making it quite difficult to carry out normal activities ^[1].

Burning Sensation In Throat and Chest – Causes and Treatment

Recognize the various possible causes of a Burning Sensation In Throat and Chest to be able to deal with it immediately.

1. GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)

A burning sensation in the throat or chest can be caused by an increase in stomach acid or GERD ^[2].

In the chest, this hot sensation is also known as heartburn and generally there are also a number of other complaints, such as: ^[3]:

• Painful sensation in the pit of the heart
• Mouth tastes bitter or sour
• Difficult to swallow
• Voice changes that become hoarse
• Shortness of breath and cough
• Bad breath
• Insomnia
• Nausea (may be accompanied by vomiting)
• Sore throat or discomfort
• Teeth are damaged because stomach acid often rises to the throat and mouth

Because symptoms are felt in the chest area, GERD symptoms are often thought of as heart attack symptoms.

However, they are still two different conditions, because in heart attack, chest will feel severe pain in the jaw area, neck and arms.

Meanwhile, pain and heat in GERD only occur in the throat and chest coupled with a sour/bitter taste in the mouth.

Handling: GERD is generally treated with antacid drugs, but sufferers still need to change their lifestyle ^[2,3].

Do not smoke, lose weight (for those who obesity), not consuming food/drinks that trigger an increase in stomach acid, and not sleeping right after eating will prevent sufferers from various GERD symptoms. ^[2,3].

However, there are times when the symptoms of GERD persist and do not get better; this needs to be immediately consulted with a doctor for further treatment ^[2,3].

2. Heart Attack

Throat and chest that feel hot or experience a burning sensation can also be based on a heart attack condition ^[1,6].

The heart attack is a condition of the heart muscle that does not function optimally because it does not get adequate blood flow ^[7].

A burning sensation in throat and chest is also known as heartburn, but this condition is different from GERD ^[6].

In a heart attack, the symptoms that occur are sudden with complaints such as: ^[7]:

• Left chest pain (like being crushed or pressured).
• Pain from the chest radiating to the back, neck, arms, and/or jaw.
• Shortness of breath and wheezing.
• Often anxious.
• Coughs
• Digestive disorders (stomach pain, nausea and vomiting).
• The body oozes a cold sweat..
• Headache.
• Awareness has the potential to decrease.

Although generally discomfort symptoms in the chest and throat can occur suddenly, in some cases this is not the case ^[7].

Some patients in the previous few days or weeks have experienced a number of signs such as pain in the chest with every activity ^[7].

However, the pain can decrease every time the body rests and risk worsening if the body is too active and busy ^[7].

Handling: Giving drugs by doctors is generally a treatment step for people with heart attacks, such as blood vessel widening drugs, blood thinning drugs, beta blocker hypertension drugs, cholesterol drugs, and pain relievers. ^[7].

However, it is not uncommon for heart attack sufferers have to undergo several medical procedures, such as heart ring surgery or surgery heart bypass surgery ^[7].

Accompanied by changes in lifestyle (diet to maintain food and drink intake), patients need to maintain health care for life ^[7].

3. Hiatus Hernia

A burning sensation in throat and chest can also be caused by a hiatus hernia, which is a condition when part of the stomach protrudes into the chest cavity ^[1,8,9].

The normal position of the stomach is below the diaphragm, but a hiatal hernia makes part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm into the chest cavity where people aged 50 years and over are more likely to experience it. ^[9].

In hiatus hernia, heartburn and GERD are even included as a common complaint for sufferers ^[8,9].

Chest pain, abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing, and shortness of breath are some of the other symptoms that most likely lead to a hiatal hernia. ^[8,9].

In cases that are already classified as severe, patients can experience vomiting blood, unable to relieve themselves as well as defecation, and discoloration of feces ^[8,9].

Handling: Changing a healthier lifestyle is highly recommended to relieve various symptoms that arise in a hiatus hernia ^[9].

In some patients, they need antacids to make the stomach acid that rises neutral again ^[9].

Dietary changes sometimes don’t work right away, so if that’s the case, the doctor will recommend a surgical procedure ^[9].

The purpose of the surgical procedure is to correct the position of the stomach that enters the abdominal cavity so that it can return to normal ^[9].

This operation is also useful for making the gap in the diaphragm smaller ^[9].

When should you see a doctor?

Burning Sensation In Throat and Chest together can happen to anyone with various possible health problems behind it.

If the discomfort is accompanied by several other complaints that make it difficult for the patient to carry out normal activities, immediately see a doctor.

An examination to the doctor will help identify the cause so that the symptoms experienced can immediately get treatment.