What Causes Chest Pain after Eating and How to Treat It?
Do you experience pain in the middle of your chest right after the meals? Is the chest pain after eating more often? If yes, you need to know the underlying causes pain in the chest after eating.
Chest pain can be due to eating large meals or not chewing the food properly. Another reason which can contribute to the pain can be sleeping right after your meals.
Chest pain can be a cause for concern. It can be associated with other severe health conditions and hence it is always better to take medical help.
Let’s look into the causes, symptoms and some natural treatments that can relieve chest pain.
Symptoms Associated with Chest Pain after Eating
Paying attention to your body is very important as it tries to talk to you through some specific symptoms. Chest pain after eating may be due to swallowing large meals or eating hot foods that lead to acid reflux.
The pain in your chest caused due to these reasons is not very intense and short-lived. But if you experience other symptoms then it is a matter of concern.
Here are some symptoms which are signs that the chest pain after meals needs to be looked into seriously.
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness or sometimes fainting
- Severe nausea
- Intense abdominal pain
- Vomiting, especially projectile vomiting or bloody vomitus
- Sharp pain that does not respond to antacids
If you are experiencing a stabbing pain in the chest after eating along with these symptoms, it is important to consult a doctor.
What Causes Chest Pain after Eating Food?
The majority of the causes of chest pain after eating are related to digestive tract problems. Digestive issues may cause many problems including chest pain after eating.
So here are some of the factors that can cause chest pain after meals:
1. Acid reflux
Acid reflux is the reflux of acid from the stomach to the esophagus. It can cause heartburn which can be a reason why your chest hurts after meals.
This may occur when you exercise or sleep right after the meals or consume excessive amounts of alcohol. This heartburn may lead to nausea, regurgitation of food from the stomach and even bloating.
2. Esophageal ulcers
Esophageal ulcers are caused due to excessive acid refluxes. They are characterized by a distorted and eroded esophageal lining.
These ulcers cause chest pain after eating because every time food travels down the esophagus these ulcers obstruct the path causing pain. If your chest hurts after eating there may be many different causes of it some of which can be gastroesophageal reflux or esophageal cancer.
3. Achalasia
The area between the lower esophagus and the stomach is called the esophageal sphincter. This part allows food to pass from the esophagus to the stomach.
But during achalasia, this junction remains closed even if food gets accumulated in the esophagus. This accumulation can cause chest pain as it causes uneasiness and discomfort during the intake of food.
4. Esophageal tear
This condition is a call for an emergency. A tear in the esophagus can be caused due to severe vomiting after a meal. It causes a constant chest pain. Eating or drinking just intensifies the pain further. Seeking medical help is a must in this situation.
5. Hiatal hernia
Our upper body is divided into two parts- thoracic cavity and the abdominal cavity separated by a sheet of muscle called diaphragm. The esophagus passes through the layer through a hole present in the layer to reach the stomach.
In this condition, the stomach protrudes into the thoracic cavity through this hole and thus causes continuous chest pain. The chest hurts after eating, and the pain subsides only after the stomach becomes empty.
6. Angina
This condition occurs due to insufficient blood supply to the chest. People with cardiovascular problems are more prone to this condition.
If you are experiencing a stabbing pain after eating this can be the cause of your pain. It also causes crushing pain or a burning pain sensation. Nausea, shortness of breath and dizziness often accompany this condition.
7. Heart attack
Myocardial infarction, known as a heart attack, can be a primary cause of chest pain. It occurs due to the complete or partial stoppage of blood supply to the heart muscle.
This can cause a sharp pain in your chest which can travel to the left arm, back, jaw and the neck. Profuse sweating always accompanies this condition, and it needs immediate medical help.
8. Thoracic aorta dissection
Aorta is the primary artery which receives blood from the heart. It distributes the blood to different parts of the body. In thoracic aorta dissection, there are tears in the walls of the aorta, and the blood flows between the layers of the blood vessels causing dissection.
Natural Treatments for Chest Pain after Eating
There are some natural remedies that can help relieve chest pain after eating. Some of them include:
1. Garlic
Garlic has a lot of health benefits which include reduction of high cholesterol and regulating the flow of oxygen rich blood. There are two simple ways in which garlic can be consumed to treat chest pain after eating.
You can add garlic juice in hot water and drink it. Eating two to three cloves of garlic in the morning on an empty stomach can also help.
2. Ginger
Consuming ginger is an easy way to deal with chest pain. It regulates the cholesterol levels and protects the blood vessels from any damage caused by cholesterol.
You can add ginger to your tea when you feel pain in the chest. Or you can boil grated ginger in water and let it steep for few minutes. Eating a small piece of ginger in the morning on an empty stomach also helps.
3. Turmeric
Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties which help to relieve the pain in the chest. It also has anti-oxidants which help clear clot formation and plaque build-up.
Turmeric also helps reduce cholesterol oxidation. You can consume turmeric by adding a half teaspoon of it to warm milk and honey mixture.
Drink it while it is warm to relieve chest pain after eating. You can also add turmeric to your recipes or take turmeric supplements with a proper prescription.
4. Cayenne pepper
Cayenne pepper is a good solution to treat your chest pain as it has a high concentration of capsaicin. It has anti inflammatory properties and helps regulate blood circulation.
This helps in relieving the chest pain. You can add cayenne pepper to milk or fruit juice and then drink it. Or you can take supplements after consulting your doctor.
5. Basil
Basil is an excellent home remedy for chest pain as it has a high concentration of magnesium. Magnesium helps the heart and blood vessels to relax. Vitamin A in basil helps prevent the cluttering of cholesterol on the walls of the blood vessels. You can drink basil tea or chew few basil leaves when you experience pain.
You can also consume basil in the form of juice. Add honey to basil juice and have it empty stomach to reduce the pain.
These are some of the home remedies you can use to treat chest pain after eating. Taking care of your heart health and being alert to the symptoms helps to prevent chest pain after meals.
Regulate your diet to avoid cholesterol build up and enrich your blood with oxygen. A good blood circulation can solve chest pain problems efficiently.
Sources:
Dr. Chris, “Chest pain After Eating, List of Causes When Eating, After the Meals”, Health Hype web site; http://www.healthhype.com/chest-pain-after-eating-list-of-causes-when-eating-after-meals.html, last accessed Aug 01, 2017.
“Chest pain after eating-causes of chest pain after a meal,” Phaa web site; https://www.phaa.com/chest-pain-after-eating-causes-of-painful-chest-after-a-meal.htm, last accessed Aug 01, 2017.
Briggs, A., “Chest Pain after Eating,” Superfoods Living web site; https://superfoodsliving.com/chest-pain-after-eating, last accessed Aug 01, 2017.
Sara, “Top 10 Home Remedies for Chest Pain”, Rapid Home Remedies web site, September 4, 2014; http://www.rapidhomeremedies.com/remedies-for-chest-pain.html.
“Home Remedies For Chest Pain (Angina)”, Top 10 Home Remedies web site; http://www.top10homeremedies.com/home-remedies/home-remedies-chest-pain-angina.html, last accessed Aug 01, 2017.
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