Heaviness in the esophagus and stomach after eating: causes, symptoms

Mechanical damage

When food passes, pain in the esophagus often occurs due to microtrauma of the esophageal wall.

Causes

Cause damage:

swallowing large pieces of solid food;
entry of foreign bodies.

The most common impact of fish bones is when the bone digs into the esophageal wall, damaging not only the mucous membrane, but also the muscle layer.

Symptoms

Signs of damage to the upper digestive tract depend on the nature of the injury. Microtraumas of the esophagus hurt slightly only during the passage of food, and a foreign body stuck inside the organ provokes :

acute pain;
spasm of the esophageal opening;
swallowing disorders.

Patients with a foreign body complain of unbearable pain that cannot be eliminated with painkillers.

Treatment

Therapy depends on the nature of the damage. In mild cases, no treatment is required: patients are prescribed a gentle liquid diet to reduce mucosal irritation.

If the cause of the pain is due to the entry of a foreign body, then the person undergoes a gastroscopy and the foreign object is removed. After removal the following is prescribed :

analgesics;
antibiotics;
gentle nutrition.

In case of severe damage to the mucous membrane and muscle layer, the patient is hospitalized in the department.

Who to contact

When the esophagus hurts after eating and the painful manifestations cause excruciating discomfort, you need to urgently visit a gastroenterologist or surgeon, or call an ambulance. If you experience moderate pain, you need to be examined by a gastroenterologist.

Gastrointestinal diseases

The nature of stomach pain is in many ways similar to other diseases, the signs of which can be expressed by symptoms: chest pain and sometimes nausea. The only differences are that pain in diseases in the gastrointestinal tract is longer, and nausea is often accompanied by vomiting.

Gastrointestinal diseases that cause pain:

Stomach ulcer. Pain depends on diet and food intake. It often occurs on an empty stomach, and usually goes away after eating. Pain is relieved with antispasmodic medications.
Diaphragmatic hernia or clubroot. Through pathology in the diaphragm (rupture), internal organs can move from one cavity to the second; the diaphragm itself, compressing, causes infringement of these organs. It appears more often at night, with symptoms reminiscent of angina pectoris. A person feels a little better if he is on his feet (that is, in a standing position).
Esophageal rupture. A serious and very dangerous pathology. The integrity of the esophagus is disrupted and its contents easily enter the abdominal cavity, often during severe vomiting. This anomaly is extremely dangerous and requires immediate surgical intervention. Any delay can lead to death.
Acute pancreatitis. Signs of pancreatitis can be easily confused with heart diseases or other diseases with similar symptoms. The patient needs emergency hospitalization because it is very difficult to relieve the pain on his own.

Esophageal rupture

The most common cause is injury, but damage can also occur spontaneously.

Causes

Esophageal ruptures can cause:

endoscopy;
surgical intervention;
Blunt trauma to the abdomen, chest or neck.

Approximately 2-3% develop spontaneous ruptures. The cause of damage may be:

profuse prolonged vomiting;
binge eating;
alcohol abuse;
pathological spasm of the diaphragm, accompanied by a reflex contraction of the gastric wall;
abdominal strain.

All this leads to an increase in intraesophageal pressure and the walls rupture.

Symptoms

A sharp pain appears, radiating to the shoulder or lower back. Additionally, the victim appears :

tachycardia;
shortness of breath (breathing becomes rapid and shallow)4
cyanosis of the skin;
increased sweating.

Symptoms appear suddenly and rapidly increase.

Treatment

Ruptures are treated surgically, when the integrity of the esophagus is restored to the patient. After surgery, to relieve pain and prevent postoperative complications, patients are prescribed :

antibacterial agents;
painkillers.

In the first days after surgery, the patient is fed intravenously, and then a liquid diet is selected.

Who treats

In case of ruptures of the esophagus, emergency hospitalization in the surgical department is indicated.

Gastroesophagitis

Pain and burning sensation in the esophagus indicates irritation of the esophageal mucosa by gastric juice.

Causes

Pain occurs because the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus weakens and is unable to retain gastric contents. The acidic juice irritates the lower part of the esophageal tube, causing inflammation and pain. The cause of sphincter weakness is :

abuse of spicy food;
dry food;
alcohol;
smoking;
chemical and thermal burns.

Reflux is almost always a complication of gastritis.

Symptoms

The main signs of the disease: the esophagus hurts and sour belching appears. Provokes the development of symptoms:

food;
body tilt forward;
horizontal position during sleep.

Some patients additionally experience:

cough;
dry mouth and throat;
whitish coating on the tongue;
hoarseness of voice.

Trying to prevent the appearance of unpleasant symptoms, patients begin to eat less and lose weight.

Treatment

It is impossible to treat reflux gastroexophagitis conservatively. To alleviate the condition, patients are advised to eat small meals frequently, following a diet for gastritis. Medications may be prescribed:

Omeprazole;
Gastrofarm;
Ranitidine;
Sho-Shpa.

If there is a strong burning sensation in the esophagus, taking antacids (Maalox, Almagel) is indicated.

Where to contact

Pain in the esophagus after eating, accompanied by a burning sensation or sour belching, requires examination by a gastroenterologist.

Treatment

The basic principles of eliminating attacks of odynophagia are based on normalizing nutrition. Food should be taken 5-6 times a day in small portions. We must not forget about liquid food, which tidies up the functioning of the digestive system. Eating fried, spicy, smoked and fatty foods is strictly prohibited. You should completely give up coffee drinks and cigarettes, and also get rid of excess weight.

During treatment, you can take sedatives, such as valerian tincture, to relieve stress.

After establishing a diagnosis and identifying the cause of discomfort, complex therapy is prescribed. To begin with, the patient is prescribed medications. The main purpose of medications is to eliminate pressing pain when swallowing, restore digestive function and move products through the tube.

In most cases, pain along the esophagus is tolerable, but there are cases when the patient cannot sleep or swallow normally due to pain. In this case, you cannot do without medication.

To avoid pain when swallowing, you need to take a painkiller 20–30 minutes before starting a meal: Cerucal or No-shpu, Anthropine sulfate. For very severe discomfort and pain, doctors prescribe local anesthetics: Novocaine, Lidocaine, Anestezin.

If heartburn is accompanied by discomfort in the esophagus, it is recommended to use products that protect the mucous membrane of the organ and relieve irritation caused by acid. Medicines of this type are Almagel, Simethicone. They, as a rule, have a pleasant taste and creamy consistency, and provide the formation of a protective film over the entire body of the esophagus.

To combat spasms of the esophagus, it is appropriate to use sedatives, for example, valerian extract, Novo-Passit, some antidepressants (most often attributed to Trazodone). If these medications do not help overcome fear of cramping or chronic anxiety, clinical hypnosis may be used.

Calcium antagonists, in particular Diltiazem and Nifedipine, help reduce the speed and force of muscle contractions of the esophagus. A Nitroglycerin tablet can quickly relieve a spasm of the esophagus that has already begun.

If heartburn is a consequence of reflux, patients are prescribed magnesium trisilicate, aluminum oxide hydrate. In one moment the pain goes away after the Atropin injection. If this does not help, then the problem most likely lies in obstruction.

If drug treatment is ineffective, it is supplemented with physiotherapeutic methods, for example, electropheresis. In some cases, bougienage is performed. This is an invasive procedure during which a metal probe is placed into the esophagus. Its task is to stretch the organ. Relief occurs after 2-3 sessions.

Symptoms of gastritis

Treatment for pain depends on what caused it.

First of all, patients are recommended to normalize their diet: eat more liquid and soft foods, take them in small portions about 5 times a day. It is better to avoid “harmful” foods. In many cases, it is recommended to sleep with the head of the bed raised by 10-15 cm.

Reflux pain can be treated with medications combined with a special diet. Treatment is prescribed by a gastroenterologist; he can advise:

antacids containing aluminum and magnesium (neutralize stomach acid);
atropine injection (one-time).

For diverticula, surgery may be indicated. This happens when a focus of inflammation forms in them, and antibiotic treatment does not bring results.

For achalasia, it is recommended to take long-acting nitrates and calcium antagonists (for spasms). If such treatment proves futile, the esophagus is dilated instrumentally.

Symptomatic treatment involves taking heartburn medications: Maalox, Almagel, Rennie, etc.

Treatment of food reflux should be carried out simultaneously with changes in diet and lifestyle. Several different groups of drugs are prescribed medicinally:

blockers of H2 histamine receptors that produce hydrochloric acid - Ranitidine, Famotidine, Cimetidine, should be taken before meals for gastric reflux or after meals for heartburn;
drugs of the inhibitor group: Omeprazole, Omez, which stop acid production, are taken for 14 days, eliminate the symptoms of gastric reflux and heal the mucous membrane of the esophagus;
anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of gastritis and other digestive problems;
drugs that protect mucous membranes;
prokinetics to provide pressure on the lower esophagus and enzymes to improve digestion.

Treatment using traditional medicine methods

Diaphragmatic hernia

The esophagus passes through an opening in the diaphragm and if the ligaments are abnormally weak, the esophageal opening widens, and this leads to the appearance of a hernia.

Causes

Diaphragmatic hernia can be congenital or acquired. The cause of congenital pathology is anomalies of intrauterine development, and the appearance of an acquired hernia is provoked by :

frequent severe cough;
hard physical work;
obesity;
injuries;
increased intra-abdominal pressure during childbirth and pregnancy;
neurological disorders accompanied by impaired innervation.

The acquired form develops slowly.

Symptoms

The signs of the disease are similar to angina pectoris and a person cannot always determine whether the esophagus hurts or the heart hurts. After eating, the patient's heart rate increases and pain appears behind the sternum, which can radiate to:

in the shoulder;
in the left hand;
in the back near the spine.

In addition to pseudocardiac pain, there appears:

unpleasant belching;
burning sensation;
bloating.

Some patients experience rapid breathing.

Osteochondrosis, protrusion or hernia of the thoracic spine

Pain in the esophagus area often appears when a nerve is pinched by a displaced vertebra or hernial protrusion.

Causes

Hernias or osteochondrosis lesions of the intervertebral discs provoke:

destructive processes of cartilage tissue;
spinal column injuries;
sedentary lifestyle;
long-term static loads.

The pathology develops slowly and can be almost asymptomatic for a long time, and then, with a sudden movement, the vertebral structures are displaced, squeezing the nerve root, and pain appears in the esophagus in the chest.

Symptoms

A distinctive sign of osteochondrosis is that the esophagus hurts regardless of food intake.

The intensity of pain depends on the degree of compression of the nerve. Severe pain in the esophagus will appear if the root is under great pressure on the root, and moderate pain discomfort will occur with slight compression.

The pain will intensify with movement.

Treatment

The spine needs to be treated. After eliminating the infringement of the nerve process and restoring full innervation, the esophagus will stop hurting. Patients are prescribed:

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
analgesics;
local application of ointments with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects;
chondroprotectors.

To prevent repeated displacements, patients are selected a complex of exercise therapy that allows them to build up a natural muscle corset that supports the anatomical position of the spinal column.

Acute coronary syndrome

This term combines severe conditions accompanied by severe myocardial ischemia. Sometimes, with severe ischemia, pain appears in the esophagus.

Causes

Causes the development of ACS:

complete blockage of a coronary vessel by a thrombus or atherosclerotic plaque (infarction);
partial obstruction of the patency of the heart arteries caused by thrombosis or cholesterol deposits (IHD);
spasm of the heart artery (angina).

With vascular spasm, a temporary disruption of blood flow occurs, and complete or partial closure of the vessel provokes severe ischemia, which can be complicated by necrosis of the heart muscle.

Symptoms

A sharp pain appears in the esophagus, which can radiate to the left shoulder, arm or neck. You can suspect that the cause is acute cardiac pathology based on the following signs :

the esophagus hurts a little less at rest;
taking painkillers does not help;
eating food or water does not affect the intensity of pain;
The pain in the esophagus during belching intensifies.

The use of drugs based on nitroglycerin (Isoket, Nitrospray) can slightly reduce pain during a heart attack, and in some forms of angina, completely eliminate pain.

Treatment

If attacks of pain in the esophagus are completely relieved with the help of nitroglycerin drugs, then you should take the therapy previously prescribed by the doctor and use nitrates to eliminate the attack that occurs.

If the pain is not relieved by means of nitroglycerin, then the patient, after taking an ECG and confirming the diagnosis, is hospitalized in intensive care or in a hospital, where they carry out:

pain relief with narcotic drugs;
administration of drugs to dissolve blood clots (Streptokinase);
blood thinning therapy.

In case of a heart attack, in the first hours after the attack, surgical angioplasty can be performed to prevent myocardial necrosis.

Additionally, symptomatic therapy is prescribed to reduce cholesterol levels and correct blood pressure.

Who will help

In case of heart pain, consultation with a cardiologist is required, and at an early stage of a heart attack, the help of an angiosurgeon will be required to perform cardiac angioplasty and create shunts. Acute uncontrollable attacks are hospitalized in the intensive care unit or cardiology department, and moderate forms of coronary artery disease and angina pectoris can be treated on an outpatient basis, under the supervision of a cardiologist.

The reasons why the esophagus hurts are not always harmless . Sometimes pain in the esophagus does not indicate gastrointestinal diseases, but diseases of the spine or life-threatening heart pathologies.

Chest pain after vomiting

Author Nastya asked a question in the Children's Health

Chest pain and got the best answer

Answer from Raduga™[newbie] How and why does the chest hurt? Chest pain can be of a very different nature: in the middle, on the right, on the left. And the causes of such pain are also different. This could be a very serious illness or ordinary fatigue associated with physical activity, etc. Of course, such pain should always be treated carefully. After all, in the chest area is the most important human organ – the heart. Therefore, it is important to undergo a timely examination and find out the cause of the disease. Why does my chest hurt? Main reasons. myocardial infarction; angina pectoris; heartburn; coughing; physical exercise; impact from falling; panic, anxiety; tachycardia; gallbladder diseases; peptic ulcer; Often during pregnancy, breasts hurt or nipples hurt; pulmonary embolism and other causes. Each case of chest pain is different. They can last for different times and be more or less intense. And the nature of the pain is also different: pressing, stabbing, cutting, burning, etc. Pain also appears in different places of the chest, depending on the disease. When is immediate medical attention required? Immediate medical attention is required in cases where chest pain is accompanied by the following signs: loss of consciousness after exercise or a severe coughing fit; pain or severe pressure from the chest spreads to the shoulder, neck, back, jaw; the duration of the pain is more than 15 minutes, especially when the pain does not go away after rest; chest compression, accelerated heart rate, vomiting, nausea, shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, fainting; shortness of breath, coughing up blood; heartburn that cannot be eliminated by any medications; constant pain after eating. What causes pain in the middle of the chest? Pain in the middle of the chest can arise from the appearance of pulmonary diseases, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, deformation of bones or cartilaginous structures. A problem with the heart or aorta may also be the cause. Often, painful sensations in the middle are just irradiation, that is, it hurts on the left, and the pain radiates in other places. Pain in the middle of the chest from vascular diseases. If the continuous pain is felt more in the upper chest, it may be due to an aneurysm of the aorta, a large vessel that runs from the heart to the left. This pain can be very long-lasting. They intensify after physical activity. In most cases, only surgery helps. Also classified as vascular is thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery coming from the heart to the right. In this case, the pain often intensifies when inhaling. Additionally, bluish skin, a drop in blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and shortness of breath may occur. It is necessary to urgently consult a doctor. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Pain in the center of the chest may appear from spasms of the stomach walls. Such pain appears periodically and is associated with meals. May have chest pain before eating or some time after eating. These are signs of a stomach ulcer. Additionally, nausea, vomiting, and heartburn may occur. Causes of chest pain on the right: damage to internal organs; damage to the bones or cartilage of the chest; myofascial syndrome of peripheral nervous system disease; diseases of the spine; pulmonary diseases; diseases of the abdominal organs; psychogenic diseases, etc. In most cases, pain in the chest on the right is also only an echo of pain that occurs in other places. For example, there may be irradiation of pain from the heart after Source:

Answer from ? ? ? [active] Physical manifestations

The chest is the part of the body between the shoulders and abdomen that contains the heart and lungs. The description below applies to chest pain only,

In monadaosomatics, the breast represents the family. Chest pain may indicate that a person has experienced pain due to an unsatisfied desire to cling to the chest of his father or mother; it can also mean that this person does not allow someone to press against his chest. It is possible that he swells up, sticks out his chest, trying to seem necessary and important in the family. In addition, any pain in the chest indicates that a person feels guilty - before himself or before someone else. He may blame himself or someone else for not caring enough about some other member of his family.

Your body tells you that you must love yourself and give yourself the right to be yourself, that is, accept all your shortcomings and weaknesses. Don't make your happiness dependent on others: don't think that you can love yourself only if others love you.

Less common causes of esophageal pain

If the esophagus hurts when eating, the cause may be:

Vegetovascular crisis . In this case, a pressing pain in the esophagus appears, which is not associated with food and can spontaneously disappear without taking medications. Occurs in suspicious people or with endocrine abnormalities.
Wrong food consumption . If a person swallows, almost without chewing, pieces of food and does not wash down the food, then the esophagus hurts when swallowing food. Pain syndrome appears while eating.
Inflammation of the esophagus . They are provoked by frequent microtraumas, consumption of alcohol or sweet sodas. Not only does it hurt a person to eat, but even swallowing saliva causes discomfort.
The appearance of neoplasms . Tumors of a benign or malignant nature reduce the lumen of the esophageal tube, food passes slowly and the larger the size of the tumor, the more often pain appears in the esophagus. When the esophagus is completely blocked by a neoplasm, a person cannot eat, pain and vomiting of fresh food occurs.
Esophageal spasm . More often, the pathology develops temporarily when air is swallowed with food or under stress. But if pain and spasm of the esophagus constantly appears when swallowing, then this is caused by a disorder of the innervation of the esophageal wall.
Atonia . The peristalsis of the esophagus is disrupted, the food bolus moves slowly and the adhesion of food particles to the walls of the organ causes pain and the feeling of a “lump” in the esophagus. Atony is provoked by nervous stress, impaired innervation or improper food intake.

What to do if your esophagus is sick

Acute pain in the esophagus requires immediate delivery of the person to a medical facility or calling an ambulance. A burning sensation or dull pain in the esophagus indicates a slow development of the pathology and the opportunity to visit a doctor as planned. Before deciding who to contact, you should analyze your condition :

The esophagus hurts when eating. This indicates a disruption of the gastrointestinal tract or the appearance of neoplasms. Less commonly, the cause is a psychological factor. First you should visit a gastroenterologist.
The esophagus hurts more when moving, and eating does not affect the intensity of the pain. If you have a history of spinal pathologies, you need to be examined by a neurologist.
Nitrates help relieve esophageal pain. Need a consultation with a cardiologist

There are many reasons for the appearance of esophageal pain, and they all indicate that not everything is fine in the body. If you have doubts: which doctor will help, then the examination should begin with a visit to a therapist or gastroenterologist. The doctor will order the necessary tests and prescribe other types of research. If the pathology is not related to gastroenterological diseases, then the patient, with the results of the examination, will be referred to the right specialist.

What do chest pain and vomiting mean?

The simultaneous occurrence of chest pain and vomiting can have a number of different causes, which differ in adults and children. These include diseases of the digestive system, such as acid reflux or peptic ulcers. In adults, these symptoms may indicate disorders of the cardiovascular system.

In this article, we will look at the possible causes of chest pain and vomiting. Sometimes vomiting and chest pain are signs of problems that are not particularly harmful, but in some cases they can indicate serious medical conditions.