Indigestion and chest discomfort

Indigestion may bring upper-abdominal discomfort, fullness, belching, sour fluid or burning that follows food or worsens when lying down. Reflux, gastritis, gallstones, a hiatus hernia, Helicobacter pylori infection and a peptic ulcer can overlap with this pattern. Chest discomfort is not specific to digestion, however. Heart-related pain can feel like pressure, heaviness, squeezing or burning and may spread beyond the chest.

Note whether the discomfort follows meals, changes with posture, appears during exertion, or comes with sweating, nausea, weakness or breathlessness. Those details help a clinician judge urgency.

If symptoms are mild, sit upright, avoid a large meal and keep track of what happened before the discomfort began. Do not exercise through unexplained chest symptoms. A pharmacist can advise whether an indigestion treatment is appropriate, but relief after a remedy does not rule out a heart cause. Arrange a review when episodes recur, change pattern or are not settling.

Call emergency services for chest pressure or pain that is severe, persistent or brought on by exertion, especially with sweating, faintness, nausea, breathlessness or pain in the arm, jaw, back or shoulder. Seek urgent care for vomiting blood, black stools or sudden severe abdominal pain. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint or seriously unwell.

Could this pattern be reflux or something outside the digestive system? Do I need heart checks or other tests? What should I do if the discomfort returns?