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What Causes Pressure Under Sternum After Alcohol Intake?
I don t drink alcohol very often. But recently, if I do drink, the next day after I eat I get a range of digestive issues? Most noticeable is a pressure just under my sternum, which i believe is gas. After not drinking for a few days it subsides. is there anything i can do about this?
posted on
Tue, 22 Dec 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 31 Dec 2015
Answered on
Mon, 4 Jan 2016
Last reviewed on
Anonymous's Response
Anonymous's
Response
Hi,
I've gone through your query and I understand quite well your concern.
Based on what you referred to me these symptoms after alcohol consuming, are related to gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) chest pain.
GERD occurs when the lower esophageal sfincter opens spontaneously or doesn't close properly and stomach contains arise into esophageus which cause a kind of pressure under the sternum bones. These chest pains differ from those of heart disease related because this chest pain of GERD tend to get much better as you straighten your body to a sitting or standing position. Bending and lying down can make GERD symptoms much worse and what is important to know, they become worse particularly after eating!! (while heart disease related symptoms doesn't change neither with the change of position , nor to food intake)
Alcohool can irritate gastric mucosa.
So, in this case I suggest you to follow these steps:
1. Try OTC Zantac or Prilosec a few hours before you drink or before the symptoms begin.
2. Drink plenty of water because alcohol intake causes dehydration!!
3.Avoid spicy, junk, fried foods, coffee drinks or alcohol
4. Try to minimise stress because it worsen GERD symptoms.
5. Your doctor may prescribe you also proton pump inhibitiors (PPI) medications which reduces acid production in your stomach.
If your symptoms get worse, please consult to a gastroenterologist to make a further clinical evaluation.
Take care of yourself
Dr. Ermira BIU
I've gone through your query and I understand quite well your concern.
Based on what you referred to me these symptoms after alcohol consuming, are related to gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) chest pain.
GERD occurs when the lower esophageal sfincter opens spontaneously or doesn't close properly and stomach contains arise into esophageus which cause a kind of pressure under the sternum bones. These chest pains differ from those of heart disease related because this chest pain of GERD tend to get much better as you straighten your body to a sitting or standing position. Bending and lying down can make GERD symptoms much worse and what is important to know, they become worse particularly after eating!! (while heart disease related symptoms doesn't change neither with the change of position , nor to food intake)
Alcohool can irritate gastric mucosa.
So, in this case I suggest you to follow these steps:
1. Try OTC Zantac or Prilosec a few hours before you drink or before the symptoms begin.
2. Drink plenty of water because alcohol intake causes dehydration!!
3.Avoid spicy, junk, fried foods, coffee drinks or alcohol
4. Try to minimise stress because it worsen GERD symptoms.
5. Your doctor may prescribe you also proton pump inhibitiors (PPI) medications which reduces acid production in your stomach.
If your symptoms get worse, please consult to a gastroenterologist to make a further clinical evaluation.
Take care of yourself
Dr. Ermira BIU
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