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What Causes Dull Pain In The Middle Of Chest?
Question: Hi. I have a dull pain in the middle of my chest around the area of the xyphoid process. It kinda feels like a ball of heartburn, but not in the heart area. More like at the top of my stomach. IT has been for 4-5 days now. I also feel a bit bloated.
Brief Answer:
Acid reflux.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Dull pain in this area is usually caused by acid reflux disease. Due to stomach acid presence in the esophagus, it gets irritated and gives such dull pain. You may also have some nausea, throat irritation with this issue. The symptoms usually appear after fatty foods, spicy foods, alcohol, coffee, chocolate, soft drinks.
You should also consider heart issue. Please note that heart pain usually radiates to the left arm or jaw, shortness of breath appears.
I suggest you to consult your doctor with this issue. Diet change(avoid mentioned before products) and PPI (proton pump inhibitors) intake seems to be advisable.
If heart problem sounds possible, heart ECG should be also done.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for the reply. I thought about this as a possibility as well, but would it persist for 4-5 days? The pain feels like a pressure against the inside of my chest...the internal sensation is like heartburn, as mentioned. Not sure if it is related, but I also woke up this morning with pain in the lower back, especially lower left side abdomen.
Brief Answer:
.
Detailed Answer:
Please drink a glass of water. If this will settle the pain for the moment, acid reflux it is.
If not, other stomach issues like peptic ulcer are also possible. Back pain is not characteristic for stomach or esophageal issues. It appears usually due to gallstones. Gallstones give also nausea very often. To diagnose it, ultrasound is necessary.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
The water does help with the burning sensation, but not the feeling of a ball of pressure in that area or the stomach bloating. Again, if this was an acid reflux or peptic ulcer, a continuous 4-5 days would be normal?
Brief Answer:
.
Detailed Answer:
Yes, acid reflux can give such sensation for so long. Especially if the acid has irritated the esophagus and caused some inflammation in this area. In such case, it needs to take some time until an irritation or inflammation will be gone. During that time, symptoms can be present constantly.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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