Indigestion and heartburn are considered by many to be one and the same, when in fact, they are not. 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. Similar to heartburn, indigestion often involves a burning sensation, although with indigestion it is typically felt more in the upper stomach area, rather than 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 often accompanies indigestion, although heartburn is the leaking of stomach acids into the esophagus. Indigestion and heartburn do share some underlying causes, however, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and a number of lifestyle conditions, including smoking, stress, alcohol consumption and eating certain foods, eating too much, or eating too fast.
Indigestion and heartburn is also caused by pregnancy. Hormones and the added pressure on the stomach by the expanding uterus are both believed to be contributing factors to heartburn and indigestion during pregnancy.

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? A burning sensation in the chest and even in the throat is the most common identifiable symptom of heartburn. The burning sensation that you may feel should not be compared all confused with the pain. Actual pain in the chest that radiates to the arms or shoulders should be evaluated immediately, because it can indicate more serious conditions, 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}~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}~A heart attack could be experienced if the chest pain moves through the shoulders and arms. {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}.

Factors such as, food getting stuck in the throat or chest, regurgitaion of food, acidic or salty taste in the mouth, a hoarse sounding voice and a sore throat are other symptoms of heartburn. Heartburn symptoms usually present themselves soon after a meal and can last from a few minutes to a few hours. Symptoms can very often worsen if you lie down. In most cases, antacids will lessen or erradicate your heartburn. Pain that does not lessen with antacid treatment should be evaluated by a medical professional.

Many heart conditions have been mistaken for heartburn; it is important to therefore seek medical help if the pain appears suddenly and you experience things like dizziness, lightheadedness and cold sweats. 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. Learning to distinguish between the different symptoms of indigestion and heartburn is really important as you need to know when the conditions are more serious. If you encounter unusual symptoms you may otherwise have mistaken for symptoms of heartburn and indigestion, you should seek medical attention immediately.