Burning Chest Pain Symptoms, Causes & Common Questions

Read below about burning chest pain, including causes and common questions. Or get a personalized analysis of your burning chest pain from our A.I. health assistant. At Buoy, we build tools that help you know what’s wrong right now and how to get the right care.

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7 Potential Burning Chest Pain Causes

Disclaimer: The article does not replace an evaluation by a physician. Information on this page is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes.

  1. 1.Acid Reflux Disease (Gerd)

    Acid reflux disease, also known as GERD, occurs when the acidic contents of the stomach come back up into the esophagus. The most common symptoms are heartburn and regurgitation.

    With proper treatment, symptoms may be relieved within days & at most several weeks.

    Rarity:
    Common
    Top Symptoms:
    nausea, sore throat, pain below the ribs, cough with dry or watery sputum, deep chest pain, behind the breast bone
    Urgency:
    Primary care doctor

  2. 2.Chronic Gastritis

    Chronic gastritis is longterm inflammation of your stomach. If it doesn't go away, this can become an ulcer. Causes include taking a medication that affects the stomach, an infection by a bug called, "H. Pylori", or your immune system reacting to yourself

    With appropriate treatment, prognosis is very good.

    Rarity:
    Common
    Top Symptoms:
    nausea or vomiting, stomach bloating, loss of appetite, moderate abdominal pain, mild abdominal pain
    Urgency:
    Primary care doctor

  3. 3.Uterine Fibroids

    Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors in the uterus. They are common in women of childbearing age.

    Treatment ranges from medication to surgical removal of the fibroid.

    Rarity:
    Common
    Top Symptoms:
    vaginal bleeding, pelvis pain, abdominal cramps (stomach cramps), painful periods, irregular period
    Urgency:
    Primary care doctor

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  4. 4.Acute Gastritis

    Acute gastritis is the sudden onset of nausea, vomiting, and/or upper abdominal pain that's caused by inflammation of your stomach lining. If it doesn't go away, this can become an ulcer. Causes include taking a medication that affects the stomach, an infection by a bug called, "H. Pylori", or your immune system reacting to yourself.

    Prognosis is great with the appropriate treatment

    Rarity:
    Uncommon
    Top Symptoms:
    nausea or vomiting, nausea, stomach bloating, loss of appetite, mild abdominal pain
    Symptoms that never occur with acute gastritis:
    fever
    Urgency:
    Primary care doctor

  5. 5.Autoimmune Inflammation of the Esophagus

    This condition, officially known as eosinophilic esophagitis, occurs when a certain type of white blood cell (eosinophil) builds up in the lining of the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. The buildup leads to inflammation of the tissue, causing pain and difficulty swallowing.

    This is a chronic (life-long) condition but does not decrease life expectancy.

    Rarity:
    Rare
    Top Symptoms:
    chest pain, trouble swallowing, burning chest pain, feeling of a lump in the throat, trouble swallowing solids
    Urgency:
    Primary care doctor

  6. 6.Achalasia

    Achalasia is a disorder of the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. This condition affects the ability of the esophagus to move food into the stomach.

    Relief after surgery in 80-85% of people

    Rarity:
    Rare
    Top Symptoms:
    pain below the ribs, regurgitation, unintentional weight loss, heartburn, deep chest pain, behind the breast bone
    Urgency:
    Primary care doctor

  7. 7.Spasm of the Esophagus

    The esophagus is the muscular tube that passes behind the heart, and carries food, liquid, and saliva from the mouth to the stomach. In a condition called diffuse esophageal spasm (DES), the tube contracts uncontrollably, causing trouble swallowing and chest pain.

    Symptoms are intermittent and unpredictable, but condition often resolves on its own.

    Rarity:
    Rare
    Top Symptoms:
    dry cough, deep chest pain, behind the breast bone, heartburn, trouble swallowing, burning chest pain
    Symptoms that never occur with spasm of the esophagus:
    shortness of breath
    Urgency:
    Primary care doctor

Questions Your Doctor May Ask About Burning Chest Pain

  • Q.Any fever today or during the last week?
  • Q.Do you currently smoke?
  • Q.Have you been feeling more tired than usual, lethargic or fatigued despite sleeping a normal amount?
  • Q.Do you notice your heart beating hard, rapidly, or irregularly (also called palpitations)?

If you've answered yes to one or more of these questions, try our burning chest pain symptom checker to find out more.

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Burning Chest Pain Symptom Checker Statistics

  • People who have experienced burning chest pain have also experienced:

    • 6% Rib Pain
    • 5% Rib Pain on One Side
    • 4% Tight, Heavy, Squeezing Chest Pain

  • People who have experienced burning chest pain had symptoms persist for:

    • 50% Less Than a Day
    • 23% Less Than a Week
    • 13% Over a Month

  • People who have experienced burning chest pain were most often matched with:

    • 13% Acid Reflux Disease (Gerd)

    • Source: Aggregated and anonymized results from visits to the Buoy AI health assistant (check it out by clicking on “Take Quiz”).

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