Foods that can aggravate symptoms of reflux

Dear Ask The Doctor: Im 22 ans iv been getting a sore chest in the middle and on the left hand side of it to. i can sleep its generally when im in bed my back does be sore to. hard to breath some times and my heart feels like its going to stop. even as i type this talking about it makes it worse. i get heart burn all the time to. could this be drink related? my hangovers have been getting worse to

Dear James: There are many causes of chest pain, including pain arising from the heart, lungs, upper gastrointestinal system and chest wall. The symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease can often mimic those of cardiac chest pain, which would be very unusual in someone of your age. The symptoms of heartburn and reflux may be exacerbated by fatty foods, chocolate, peppermint, and excessive alcohol, which reduce lower oesophageal sphincter pressure. Also a number of beverages have a very acidic pH and can exacerbate symptoms including; colas, red wine, and orange juice. Based on the history you provide I would advise that you attend your family physician for a more detailed history and examination. Based on this, he may wish to consider performing a heart tracing (EKG) and routine blood work. It may be helpful to note in a diary how often the pain is occurring, at what time of the day, what you are doing when the pain starts, how long it lasts for and what relieves the pain.