The mildest case of heartburn feels downright life threatening. The common, non-dangerous condition can feel like agony. Accompanying symptoms can seem like the least of your worries. Sometimes that’s true and sometimes it isn’t. When you talk to your doctor about heartburn, be sure to mention other symptoms that go along with it occasionally. A pairing like heartburn and nausea can mean something far more sinister.
Sometimes Yes, Sometimes No
Heartburn is not a permanent condition – it comes and goes. It can be caused by temporary conditions, too. Every mom knows that pregnancy means heartburn and it can bring along very unpleasant friends. Once baby is large enough to block the stomach, the stomach can fill up very quickly. An overfull stomach triggers the emptying of excess air to make more room. The air that comes up from the stomach is accompanied by acid which causes heartburn for the mom-to-be.
As for the nausea, it’s hard to say whether that’s because of the heartburn or just because of the pregnancy. The good news is that a pregnant woman sees a doctor regularly and can mention the heartburn and nausea. Often, the problem disappears when the baby appears making two reasons to celebrate.
The flu can cause stomach problems, too. Sometimes the heartburn is caused by too much lying down. Gravity is a huge help in getting food down and keeping it down. While suffering from the flu, heartburn and nausea can seem like only a minor problem.
If there is no acute cause for the heartburn and nausea, then a visit to the doctor is definitely in order. When heartburn is accompanied by nausea, the reason may be gastritis. While heartburn is caused by damage to the esophagus, the burning from gastritis is caused by damage to the stomach lining or part of the small intestine.
This can lead to ulcers where the tissue is damaged by gastric acid. Over the counter medication will not help this condition. You will need a diagnosis from a doctor which can mean x-rays, endoscopy, biopsy or other methods. The treatment will depend on your doctor’s evaluation.
The occurrence of heartburn and nausea for the diabetic can mean gastroparesis, a condition in which the stomach takes too long to empty. The slow to digest food can lead to serious problems including fluctuating glucose levels. The condition can be caused by nerve damage preventing normal movement of the food. Heartburn is a medical condition, but it is also a symptom. The burning sensation may be what it seems to be, but when heartburn and nausea come together, they could be symptoms of something more serious.
