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Chest Pain, Back Pain When I Eat. What Could Be The Reason?
I have been having chest and back pain when I eat or drink. Sometimes the pain is worse than others times. Feels like a heart attack [not that I have every had one] When I swallow it feels like I have previously eaten/drunk something hot enough to scald my insides. Sometimes the pain comes after a meal. I only eat 3 light meals a day
, no fat. I don't eat a great deal of carbs or takeaways. The pain goes away after a while until I eat/drink something else. I am 60 years old, female.I don't drink or smoke. I am not on any medication. Is this something I need to worry about?
, no fat. I don't eat a great deal of carbs or takeaways. The pain goes away after a while until I eat/drink something else. I am 60 years old, female.I don't drink or smoke. I am not on any medication. Is this something I need to worry about?
posted on
Mon, 12 Aug 2013
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 12 Aug 2013
Answered on
Tue, 13 Aug 2013
Last reviewed on
Hello and welcome to HCM,
The pain that you have described is unlikely to be due to some heart problem.
It appears to be due to some abnormality in the gastrointestinal tract.
Pain aggravated by taking food suggests a gastric (or stomach ulcer).
The first thing to do is to consult a gastro-enterologist and get an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy done.
This investigation will pick up presence of any ulceration, abnormality, or growth in any part of upper gastro-intestinal tract whether esophagus, stomach, or first part of duodenum.
This investigation is accompanied by biopsy studies.
In this investigation a part of lining of stomach and duodenum are taken and studied microscopically to look for changes in the mucosa (or lining).
Further management will be guided by the results of these investigations.
Ulcers are treated by anti-ulcer drugs, growths are treated by removal, and so on depending on the main problem.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
The pain that you have described is unlikely to be due to some heart problem.
It appears to be due to some abnormality in the gastrointestinal tract.
Pain aggravated by taking food suggests a gastric (or stomach ulcer).
The first thing to do is to consult a gastro-enterologist and get an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy done.
This investigation will pick up presence of any ulceration, abnormality, or growth in any part of upper gastro-intestinal tract whether esophagus, stomach, or first part of duodenum.
This investigation is accompanied by biopsy studies.
In this investigation a part of lining of stomach and duodenum are taken and studied microscopically to look for changes in the mucosa (or lining).
Further management will be guided by the results of these investigations.
Ulcers are treated by anti-ulcer drugs, growths are treated by removal, and so on depending on the main problem.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
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