Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon CausesLife-Threatening CausesTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Common Causes
Life-Threatening Causes
Treatment
A burning sensation in your chest is most commonly due to heartburn.Heartburn causes a burning sensation in the chest that may move up to your throat. It can be a symptom of a condition such as acid reflux,gastroesophagealreflux disease (GERD), or simply a side effect of something you ate.
Other causes of a burning sensation in your chest include anxiety, inflammation in the body, and certain medical conditions involving the heart, lungs, and intestines.
Yurii Yarema / Getty Images
When should I be worried about burning my chest?Most of the time, symptoms of burning in the chest arenotdue to a heart-related condition. However, if you have other symptoms like pressure, tightness, or a squeezing sensation in your chest, seek emergency care right away.
When should I be worried about burning my chest?
Most of the time, symptoms of burning in the chest arenotdue to a heart-related condition. However, if you have other symptoms like pressure, tightness, or a squeezing sensation in your chest, seek emergency care right away.
Common Causes of a Burning Sensation in the Chest
The most common causes of a burning sensation in the chest are not serious and include:
Heartburn
Caffeine, along with food that is spicy or high in fat, can cause heartburn. Other causes include smoking, obesity, and pregnancy.
Acid Reflux
Acid reflux, also called gastroesophageal reflux (GER), is a condition that occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. Acid can make its way into your throat when thelower esophageal sphincter (LES)fails to close properly. This can cause a burning feeling in your chest and throat.
Heartburn is the most commonsymptom of acid reflux.
GERD
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)is a chronic form of GER. This digestive disorder occurs when triggers like spicy foods, high caffeine intake, obesity, and smoking cause repeated bouts of gastrointestinal reflux. When gastric fluid backs up into the esophagus, it causes damage to the lining of the esophagus, which can result in a burning sensation in the chest.
Other common symptoms of GERD include:
GERD is highly preventable without the need for medication if you are willing to make a few lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, avoiding trigger foods, eating smaller meals, avoiding laying down shortly after eating (within 2 to 3 hours) and limiting your intake of alcohol.
Esophagitis
Esophagitisoccurs when injury or irritation causes inflammation of the cells that line your esophagus. Additional symptoms of difficulty and pain while swallowing may accompany your chest pain. Gastroesophageal reflux is the most common culprit of esophagitis. Other causes include:
Stomach Ulcers
Peptic ulcersare sores that develop in the lining of the stomach or theduodenum, the first portion of the small intestines. They can cause gnawing abdominal pain and be associated with a burning sensation in the chest.Peptic ulcer symptomsare sometimes hard to distinguish fromangina, trauma, or aheart attack.
Anxiety
This heightened anxiety can lead to chest pain. This is because stress triggers the body to produce fight-or-flight hormones (cortisol), which can lead to physiological changes such as a racing heartbeat and muscle tightness in the chest.
Other symptoms that may accompany a panic attack include:
Asthma
Asthmais a chronic lung disease that occurs when your airways narrow, making it harder for air to move into and out of the lungs. Chest discomfort may be a presenting symptom of asthma. It is usually described as a feeling of pressure, tightness, pain, or less commonly, a burning sensation in the chest.
The most common symptoms of asthma include:
Life-Threatening Causes of Chest Pain
While the occasional burning sensation in your chest is not usually life-threatening, it can sometimes be a symptom of a serious condition requiring immediate medical care.
Heart Attack
A burning sensation in the chest can sometimes be aheart attack symptom(and may be misdiagnosed as one at first). You may be able to tell the difference between heartburn and a heart attack based on the type of pain and the presence of other symptoms.
Females can have atypical symptoms that can often mimic reflux. If you have any concerns, seek medical attention.
Risk Factors for a Heart AttackA heart attack is more likely to be the possible explanation of your symptoms if you haveheart attack risk factorsincluding include:Older ageObesityHigh blood pressureHigh cholesterol levelsA family history of heart disease
Risk Factors for a Heart Attack
A heart attack is more likely to be the possible explanation of your symptoms if you haveheart attack risk factorsincluding include:Older ageObesityHigh blood pressureHigh cholesterol levelsA family history of heart disease
A heart attack is more likely to be the possible explanation of your symptoms if you haveheart attack risk factorsincluding include:
Trauma
Any traumatic injury to the chest that impacts the chest wall muscle, diaphragm, and ribs can cause damage to the lungs, heart, and other vital organs.
Infection
Infectious diseases, such as the reactivation of theshingles virus (herpes zoster)can injure muscles in the chest. This can potentially cause a burning sensation.Lung infections such as pneumonia may also cause a burning sensation in the chest, especially when breathing.
Pulmonary Embolism
Treatments for burning chest pain are based on the underlying cause. Non-lethal causes of chest pain usually resolve on their own or with self-administered treatment.
Home Remedies for HeartburnWhen paired with dietary and lifestyle changes, certainheartburn home remediesmay help soothe heartburn:HoneyGingerBaking sodaLicoriceTurmericApple cider vinegarBecause there is limited research to support the use of many of these remedies, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider before trying any natural treatments or supplements.
Home Remedies for Heartburn
When paired with dietary and lifestyle changes, certainheartburn home remediesmay help soothe heartburn:HoneyGingerBaking sodaLicoriceTurmericApple cider vinegarBecause there is limited research to support the use of many of these remedies, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider before trying any natural treatments or supplements.
When paired with dietary and lifestyle changes, certainheartburn home remediesmay help soothe heartburn:
Because there is limited research to support the use of many of these remedies, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider before trying any natural treatments or supplements.
If the cause is asthma, using an inhaler and limiting your exposure to environmental triggers might work best. When using an inhaler, your symptoms will likely resolve within an hour (but usually much sooner).
In stressful situations, you may use a deep breathing technique or leave a stressful situation if you sense heightened anxiety.
No matter the case, treating the underlying cause is usually the most effective means of resolving your chest burn.
Summary
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
American College of Gastroenterology.Non-cardiac chest pain.
American Academy of Family Physicians. Familydoctor.org.Heartburn.
National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Acid reflux, heartburn, and GERD: What’s the difference?
Harvard Health.9 ways to relieve acid reflux without medication.
Grossi L, Ciccaglione AF, Marzio L.Esophagitis and its causes: Who is “guilty” when acid is found “not guilty”?.World J Gastroenterol. 2017;23(17):3011-3016. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i17.3011
American Lung Association.What is Asthma?
Schulz RM, Ahuja NK, Slavin JL.Effectiveness of nutritional ingredients on upper gastrointestinal conditions and symptoms: A narrative review.Nutrients. 2022;14(3):672. Published 2022 Feb 5. doi:10.3390/nu14030672
Math MV, Khadkikar RM, Kattimani YR.Honey–a nutrient with medicinal property in reflux.Indian J Med Res. 2013;138(6):1020-1021
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Sodium bicarbonate.
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