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Why Have I Experienced A Strong Pain In My Sternum After Consuming Green Tea?
Question: I have had a experienced a strong pain in my sternum after I drank green tea for lunch. This am I had coffee with cocoa, granola and strawberries. Early afternoon I had a chocolate protein bar then the green tea. Is it acid reflux . I had my gall bladder out years ago. What do you think?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
The most likely cause of your pain is acid reflux, given that an antacid helped somewhat and the pain occurred after eating/drinking. Women can have atypical heart attack symptoms, so if you are still having pain then you should go to the ER to have it sorted out with monitoring and blood testing for troponin. However, given the history you provided, it is most likely reflux.
Some people get reflux in response to caffeine - this is not uncommon. Coffee, cocoa, chocolate protein bar and green tea all have caffeine in them. And the strawberries have some acidity, but likely they are not the main culprit.
Rather than Tums, I recommend switching to Zantac (ranitidine) which is an over the counter H2 acid blocker. It can help heal your stomach and esophagus because it decreases acid production by approximately 70%.
If this problem happened just once, you can take the Zantac just today. But if it is a frequent problem recently, then take the Zantac every day for 4-6 weeks to allow healing.
Recommended dose is 150 mg twice a day or 300 mg once a day.
For now, avoid or greatly decrease your caffeine intake (avoid chocolate, green tea, etc).
Other foods that often cause problems in acid reflux are citrus and other acidic foods and drinks such as tomatoes, very spicy or greasy foods. No aspirin (unless your doctor has advised you to take it), NSAIDS (ibuprofen, naproxen), alcohol, or tobacco.
Surprisingly, mint can increase GERD because it relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter making it easier for food and acid to come up.
Avoid large meals and avoid reclining within 2-3 hours after eating.
These are the main ways to treat gastro esophageal reflux.
If, however, you get chest pain that is persistent and doesn't seem like it's related to what you ate, then do go in to the ER to make sure it isn't something else (such as a problem with your heart not getting the oxygen it needs).
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
The most likely cause of your pain is acid reflux, given that an antacid helped somewhat and the pain occurred after eating/drinking. Women can have atypical heart attack symptoms, so if you are still having pain then you should go to the ER to have it sorted out with monitoring and blood testing for troponin. However, given the history you provided, it is most likely reflux.
Some people get reflux in response to caffeine - this is not uncommon. Coffee, cocoa, chocolate protein bar and green tea all have caffeine in them. And the strawberries have some acidity, but likely they are not the main culprit.
Rather than Tums, I recommend switching to Zantac (ranitidine) which is an over the counter H2 acid blocker. It can help heal your stomach and esophagus because it decreases acid production by approximately 70%.
If this problem happened just once, you can take the Zantac just today. But if it is a frequent problem recently, then take the Zantac every day for 4-6 weeks to allow healing.
Recommended dose is 150 mg twice a day or 300 mg once a day.
For now, avoid or greatly decrease your caffeine intake (avoid chocolate, green tea, etc).
Other foods that often cause problems in acid reflux are citrus and other acidic foods and drinks such as tomatoes, very spicy or greasy foods. No aspirin (unless your doctor has advised you to take it), NSAIDS (ibuprofen, naproxen), alcohol, or tobacco.
Surprisingly, mint can increase GERD because it relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter making it easier for food and acid to come up.
Avoid large meals and avoid reclining within 2-3 hours after eating.
These are the main ways to treat gastro esophageal reflux.
If, however, you get chest pain that is persistent and doesn't seem like it's related to what you ate, then do go in to the ER to make sure it isn't something else (such as a problem with your heart not getting the oxygen it needs).
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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