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What Causes Discomfort In Upper Chest Area Before Eating Food?

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Posted on Mon, 29 Aug 2016
Question: I have been having upper chest discomfort before I east. Once I eat it goes away. This has been going on for several days. Otherwise everthing else is OK.
Thank You, XXXXXXX
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Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Likely to be from hyperacidity.

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

The most likely explanation for this is that you are having acid reflux or pain from your stomach when your stomach is most empty or when your stomach produces acid in anticipation of food coming. Once there is food in your stomach, the acid works on the food and isn't irritating your stomach lining or esophagus.

It may have been set off by something that irritated your stomach, such as ibuprofen, alcohol, very acidy citrus or tomato, but sometimes we don't know what starts this.

As it has been going on for several days, I recommend taking Zantac 150 mg twice a day to reduce acid production. Take this for a couple weeks and then see how you are doing. Also decrease the irritants that I listed above. Coffee and chocolate should be reduced too. Eat more frequently but smaller amounts at a time.

Zantac is a safe acid production reducer, with less risk of side effects and rebound, compared with the proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec or Nexium.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3134 Questions

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What Causes Discomfort In Upper Chest Area Before Eating Food?

Brief Answer: Likely to be from hyperacidity. Detailed Answer: Hello XXXXXXX The most likely explanation for this is that you are having acid reflux or pain from your stomach when your stomach is most empty or when your stomach produces acid in anticipation of food coming. Once there is food in your stomach, the acid works on the food and isn't irritating your stomach lining or esophagus. It may have been set off by something that irritated your stomach, such as ibuprofen, alcohol, very acidy citrus or tomato, but sometimes we don't know what starts this. As it has been going on for several days, I recommend taking Zantac 150 mg twice a day to reduce acid production. Take this for a couple weeks and then see how you are doing. Also decrease the irritants that I listed above. Coffee and chocolate should be reduced too. Eat more frequently but smaller amounts at a time. Zantac is a safe acid production reducer, with less risk of side effects and rebound, compared with the proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec or Nexium. I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.