“I have a weird sensation in my upper chest and throat. Is it a sign of concern?”

Doesn't seem too concerning. Might be acid reflux. See if it gets better with over-the-counter Prilosec or Nexium.

Depending on your age, other illnesses, body habits, etc., it could be a sign of something significant. It suggests gastroesophageal reflux disease.

If you have a high fever or chills or shortness of breath, go to the emergency room. You need to exclude pneumonia.

This sounds like heartburn. I would start with taking a simple antacid like famotidine and see if this helps. There are several diet modifications that can be done as well. This includes not lying down for at least 2 hours after eating, eating small meals, and limiting caffeine. More details can be discussed with your doctor. If symptoms persist, then you need further work up.

It is more likely, as you indicated it to be acid reflux disease. A short trial of over-the-counter omeprazole for 2-4 weeks will help to see if this is acid reflux disease or needs to be investigated by X-ray and endoscopy if it does not work.
Also, if you are at a high risk for hearing disease, getting a baseline EKG and even stress test if indicated by your family doctor in case the medication does not work will be reasonable.

The symptoms that you are describing are most consistent with gastroesophageal reflux disease, especially the subtype known as LPR, or laryngopharyngeal reflux. While this is typically a benign condition, it could be a signal of more serious underlying conditions such as ulceration of the esophagus, or even early malignancy. Other possibilities include infectious agents such as yeast, inflammatory changes caused by the use of other medication or other inflammatory conditions such as the development of a stricture or a condition known as eosinophilic esophagitis. With these type symptoms, it is advisable to see a gastroenterologist and to undergo an upper endoscopy to diagnose the actual condition and therefore allow more personalized therapy.


Mark Noar

Your symptoms can be a sign of acid reflux disease and other esophageal disorders however, cardiac disease does need to be ruled out first. Is there any coronary disease in your family? Do you have any risk factors for coronary artery disease? Only a medical evaluation can distinguish between a serious and a not so serious condition, so I suggest that you visit your physician for workup soon.