Heartburn and indigestion, are not one of the same, even though many people think they are. The symptoms of heartburn and angina and indigestion can be similar, however, and the conditions often occur simultaneously, which can make the identification somewhat difficult.

Symptoms of Indigestion

Indigestion is often described as a feeling of fullness or discomfort while eating or after a meal. If you have the burning sensation in the upper stomach area, it is likely to be indigestion, whereas, heartburn gives a burning pain that starts behind the breastbone. Indigestion can also involve an acidic taste in the mouth, another symptom it shares with heartburn. Abdominal pain, along with bloating and gas are other indigestion symptoms.

Heartburn and indigestion often accompany each other, even though the leaking of stomach acids into the esophagus is associated with heartburn. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and some lifestyle conditions are the known underlying cause for both indigestion and heartburn. If you are a sufferer you should note that smoking, stress, alcohol consumption along with certain types of foods, the amount we eat can all bring on the pain that we feel.
Pregnancy is also a cause of both indigestion and heartburn. The uterus expands when we are pregnant, due to the change in hormones; this puts added pressure on the stomach which can contribute in a big way to heartburn and indigestion.

Symptoms of Heartburn

While the causes of heartburn vary from person to person, the symptoms of heartburn are fairly consistent for most individuals. So, what does heartburn feel like?The most common identifiable symptom of heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest and sometimes even in the throat. The burning sensation that you may feel should not be compared all confused with the pain. You may be experiencing a heart attack if the pain moves through your chest to your arms and shoulders. If this is the case, seek medical help immediately~{You could be suffering a heart attack if the pain in the chest radiates to the arms and shoulders; if this is the case seek medical help immediately}~{Seek medical help immediately if the pain in the chest radiates to the arms and shoulders as you could be experiencing a heart attack}~If the pain in the chest moves to the arms and shoulders then you could be experiencing a heart attack. {If this is the situation, then you should seek medical help immediately}~{Seek medical help immediately, if this is the situation}~{If this is the situation, seek medical help immediately}~Medical help should be sought if this is the situation}~If you are having pains in the chest that actually move to the arms and shoulders then you should seek medical help immediately as this can be something more serious such as a heart attack~{You could be suffering a heart attack if the pain in the chest radiates to the arms and shoulders; if this is the case seek medical help immediately}~{Seek medical help immediately if the pain in the chest radiates to the arms and shoulders as you could be experiencing a heart attack}~If the pain in the chest moves to the arms and shoulders then you could be experiencing a heart attack. {If this is the situation, then you should seek medical help immediately}~{Seek medical help immediately, if this is the situation}~{If this is the situation, seek medical help immediately}~Medical help should be sought if this is the situation}.

Heartburn has other symptoms, other than the obvious, these include; acidic or salty taste in the mouth, a sore throat, a hoarse voice, a regurigation feeling and a feeling that food is stuck in the throat or chest. Normally after meals, heartburn symptoms may present themselves. The episodes can last anything from a few moments upto a few hours. Symptoms can very often worsen if you lie down. Most heartburn should respond to antacids. Medical help should be sought if the pain does not at least ease with antacid treatment.

If you become dizzy, lightheaded, experience a cold sweat, or have pain that appears very suddenly and worsens, seek the advice of a medical professional to be evaluated for possible heart conditions. Learning to identify the symptoms of heartburn and indigestion is important, particularly if you are at risk for developing heart conditions and of course, knowing the difference between angina heartburn symptoms. If you can recognise the difference between indigestion and heartburn then this will be better for you, as it will leave you in a position to be able to spot more serious conditions. If you encounter unusual symptoms you may otherwise have mistaken for symptoms of heartburn and indigestion, you should seek medical attention immediately.