Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with GoogleGet your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
Why Am I Getting Pain In My Chest When I Swallow Food Along With Frequent Hiccups?
I’m getting pain in my chest when I swallow food. And frequently hiccup. It feels like I’ve swallowed something huge but I haven’t. Is there something wrong with my esophagus? I’ve had GERD in the past but never this pain higher than my stomach
Sat, 31 Dec 2022
Hello,
You are suffering from pain in your chest. when you swallow food. You also get frequent hiccups. Frequent hiccups may be indicative of hyperventilation, hiccups are triggered when carbon dioxide levels in the blood decrease. Avoid taking hot or irritating food or liquids. However, frequent or persistent hiccups may have serious causes like irritation of the diaphragm due to pneumonia, chest or stomach surgery.
It may occur due to waste products that accumulate in the blood when the kidneys malfunction (uremia). Hiccups may develop due to brain tumor or stroke that interferes with the breathing center in the brain. Sometimes, neurological problems may also cause it. You are suggested to get clinically examined by a GP or neurologist, get required tests and investigations done so that the treatment can be started at the earliest. Since you have GERD, you are suggested to take PPIs, for relief. Avoid spicy, oily food, do not skip meals.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Nupur K., General & Family Physician
You are suffering from pain in your chest. when you swallow food. You also get frequent hiccups. Frequent hiccups may be indicative of hyperventilation, hiccups are triggered when carbon dioxide levels in the blood decrease. Avoid taking hot or irritating food or liquids. However, frequent or persistent hiccups may have serious causes like irritation of the diaphragm due to pneumonia, chest or stomach surgery.
It may occur due to waste products that accumulate in the blood when the kidneys malfunction (uremia). Hiccups may develop due to brain tumor or stroke that interferes with the breathing center in the brain. Sometimes, neurological problems may also cause it. You are suggested to get clinically examined by a GP or neurologist, get required tests and investigations done so that the treatment can be started at the earliest. Since you have GERD, you are suggested to take PPIs, for relief. Avoid spicy, oily food, do not skip meals.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Nupur K., General & Family Physician
I find this answer helpful
Hello,
1) Mid-chest pain while swallowing and hiccups with prior history of GERD, suggest you might have GERD secondary to hiatus hernia.
2) Hiatus hernia is hernia of small portion of upper part of stomach near esophagus. This causes weakening of valve mechanism between the stomach and the esophagus and it allow gastric content to reflux into esophagus (which generally should not happen). Gastric content is highly acidic in nature and causes microscopic damage to inner layer of esophagus (esophagitis).
3) Esophagitis secondary to hiatus hernia produces symptoms of mid-chest / throat pain, difficulty in swallowing, occasional hiccups.
4) Since you have prior history of GERD, it would be highly recommended to consult specialist for assessment and possible requirement of endoscopy.
5) You can control severity of symptoms to certain extent with few non-pharmacological measures, which are avoid any form of nicotine / caffeine, drink small quantity of cold milk before sleep, do not lie down immediately after taking food, take meals in small quantities multiple times.
6) In addition to above mentioned non-pharmacological measures, sometimes patients also require long-term treatment of acidity (to reduce gastric acid output) which indirectly help to treat esophagitis.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Happykumar Kagathara, Gastrointestinal Surgeon
1) Mid-chest pain while swallowing and hiccups with prior history of GERD, suggest you might have GERD secondary to hiatus hernia.
2) Hiatus hernia is hernia of small portion of upper part of stomach near esophagus. This causes weakening of valve mechanism between the stomach and the esophagus and it allow gastric content to reflux into esophagus (which generally should not happen). Gastric content is highly acidic in nature and causes microscopic damage to inner layer of esophagus (esophagitis).
3) Esophagitis secondary to hiatus hernia produces symptoms of mid-chest / throat pain, difficulty in swallowing, occasional hiccups.
4) Since you have prior history of GERD, it would be highly recommended to consult specialist for assessment and possible requirement of endoscopy.
5) You can control severity of symptoms to certain extent with few non-pharmacological measures, which are avoid any form of nicotine / caffeine, drink small quantity of cold milk before sleep, do not lie down immediately after taking food, take meals in small quantities multiple times.
6) In addition to above mentioned non-pharmacological measures, sometimes patients also require long-term treatment of acidity (to reduce gastric acid output) which indirectly help to treat esophagitis.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Happykumar Kagathara, Gastrointestinal Surgeon
I find this answer helpful
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer.
For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service
[Sample answer]
Related questions you may be interested in
Loading Online Doctors....