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Sharon Gillson
Heartburn / GERD Blog

By Sharon Gillson, About.com Guide to Heartburn / GERD

What does heartburn feel like?

Saturday July 24, 2004
Are you are wondering if the discomfort you are feeling is heartburn? Or do you want to understand what your friend or loved one is feeling when they experience a bout of heartburn? To find the answers, learn what heartburn feels like.

What does heartburn feel like?

  • A burning feeling in the chest just behind the breastbone (the sternum) that may radiate upward toward the neck.
  • A feeling of pressure or pain behind the breastbone that occurs after eating and may last as long as two hours.
  • Chest pain that occurs when bending over or lying down, especially soon after eating.
  • A burning sensation in the throat, usually accompanied by a hot, sour, acidic, or bitter tasting fluid at the back of the throat and/or in the mouth.
  • A feeling like food coming back into the mouth.
  • A feeling like food is sticking in the middle of the chest or throat.
Comments
September 25, 2007 at 2:01 pm
(1) Dee says:

what if I have a sore,slightly burning sensation throat in the morning that lasts all da without a hot, sour, acidic, or bitter taste without eating?

June 2, 2008 at 2:38 am
(2) Clarissa says:

that sounds like just a regular sore throat that can be helped by using mouth wash or swishing water mixed with a tiny bit of salt around in your mouth for about 25 seconds.

June 2, 2008 at 2:41 am
(3) Clarissa says:

oh, but right now, i’m wondering what i’m feeling and/or if i should go to the E.R. it feels like i have an anaconda wrapped around my chest, and/or have food caught right in between my breast plates…my question is if that sounds like its heart burn or maybe something more serious. because this pain has been hurting me all day!

June 3, 2008 at 7:39 am
(4) kyle says:

hey i am currently feeling a bunrning sensation in or around my heart its been going for around 5 mins now and i am feeling worried. should i? thanks

June 3, 2008 at 7:40 am
(5) kyle says:

also its like a tiny squeezing or stabbing

June 16, 2008 at 8:20 pm
(6) tim says:

What if you have sharp pains in your chest and it happens when you move or take deep breaths. Is this heart burn?

October 30, 2008 at 6:22 am
(7) wang johnson says:

hahaha all you people are probably having heart attacks and not even realizing it.

…not that that’s funny.

November 17, 2008 at 7:39 pm
(8) google girl says:

how do you tell if it is really heartburn?

January 16, 2009 at 8:39 pm
(9) anonymous says:

I don’t know if I have Heartburn. All I feel is a sharp stinging pain that lasts for a while, right at my chest.

March 3, 2009 at 11:21 pm
(10) nicolas says:

okay, im 18 years of age and im all paranoid because there is times that i get these little pinches on the left side or the middle of my chest for a while now and they last for about a minute.. I was wondering if this can be heartburn..

March 14, 2009 at 3:27 pm
(11) zach says:

wat if the heart burn last for up to a day and feels like a buring sensation is that still heartburn

April 3, 2009 at 8:16 pm
(12) Erin says:

is it normal to have heartburn when you are 12 years old or is it unlikely? because I believe that I have all these simptims but I don’t know for shure if it is commine for someone my age and also my father has it alot does that affect me in anyway? can I infaret that from him??

please write back as soon as possible

Thank you Erin

April 21, 2009 at 9:32 am
(13) Shelley says:

For the last 7 to 8 months I have been experiencing my tongue and lips and throat burning it is very uncomfortable and I have it all the time. The symstons do increase sometimes after I eat but it seems that any of the the medications that my doctor has recommended do not help. What can I do this is a terrible way to live.

May 8, 2009 at 5:59 pm
(14) lildre says:

it hurts alot even i experience it

May 8, 2009 at 11:11 pm
(15) Emily says:

i think i have heartburn, but it hurts when i breath deeply, is that still a symptom of heartburn? Thanks

July 8, 2009 at 2:42 am
(16) cece says:

I had a really bad pain last night for about 3-5hours
it was on the left side of my chest underneath my ribs and that area was palpitating, it was so painful i cried for a real long time, until i fell asleep. I woke up this morning the pain is gone but it feels weird around my chest, and i was burping a bit this morning, which was impossible last night. Also is it possible it was the ice cream i had yesterday that caused it? I haven’t had ice cream for about 6 to 8 months until yesterday and i’ve never had a heartburn before, so was all of this a heartburn?

July 12, 2009 at 3:50 pm
(17) Machelle says:

I am having what feels like contractions in my chest is that considered heartburn? I have never had this feeling or heartburn ever.

July 30, 2009 at 4:05 am
(18) David says:

Cece I would consider seeing a dictor about that. I have read stories of heart attack victims that have similar experiences the first time, but then it happens again and may be very dangerous. I’m no doctor but just book an appointment.

August 20, 2009 at 9:24 pm
(19) ashley bates says:

I have severe anxiety issues.. and it does say that the medication im on can cause heartburn but it burns on the right side and its not constant just kind of random pain. Is it jus my anxiety freakin me out or is it heartburn.. or is it something else i need to worry about?

August 27, 2009 at 3:38 pm
(20) Lindsay says:

Since yesterday I’ve been feeling a discomfort behind my breastbone, but theres no acidic taste or anything. It doesn’t quite hurt but its definitely uncomfortable. It subsided before I went to bed and came back about three hours after waking up. Could this be heartburn?

October 14, 2009 at 6:38 pm
(21) Chris says:

does anyone know what the sharp stinging or pinching is in the chest area?
Thanks!

October 24, 2009 at 10:33 pm
(22) Omka says:

almost 3 days i have a pain in my stomach..i think it is heartburn. i take pepto bismol today hope will ok.

October 29, 2009 at 3:36 pm
(23) S. Lester says:

What if you have a scratchy feelin in your chest, watery mouth, cough, short of breath w/a cracking sound.

November 25, 2009 at 1:38 am
(24) Dmitry says:

Hi every1, i think that the pinchin feelin in yo chest iz may b cramp? Idk not sure, but i also had heartburn quite a bit, andi have that horrible acidic feelin in the back of my throat, like when u barf u no? And so ya what i did today, that i shoul’ve done before, is drink warm milk! It actally helps, also when u have upset stomqch or u feel like vometing MILK helps!!! Hope itll help sombody else, and yeah! Heartburn sux, feels horribl and terrible! Pce everybody

December 26, 2009 at 10:52 am
(25) dont yhu wish yhu knew [;[;[;[; says:

Im only 11 and I have heartburn. what causes such a thing?? Im not fat. My friends are older then meh and weigh around 112 and 116 i wiegh only 111! that normal but i have big thighs o.o…

January 1, 2010 at 9:26 am
(26) Heather says:

My neck / just abuv boobs is burning. I am eleven, so unfortunatley I do not know what it is. I think by what you are all saying it is heartburn! Could somebody tell me whether it is normal for a child my age to be experiencing such pains. I am a fast developer, and a bit overweight at the moment! x

January 4, 2010 at 9:48 am
(27) christina says:

i have chest pains that are very painful. the pain goes from my chest to back back back and forth..is that heartburn or is it someting more seriuos?

January 8, 2010 at 12:38 am
(28) Theresa says:

Christina is the pain on your left or right? If it’s on the right it may be your gallbladder

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