Question

A patient experienced severe vomiting for three days and now is having chest pains that she says feel like she had swallowed a small apple whole. She attributed these symptoms to the stress of being in finals week and eating too much pizza. Assuming that her cardiovascular function is normal, what is probably causing her pain? Be specific about the mechanisms involved.

Answer 1

The severe vomiting and chest pain in the above condition could be probably occuring due to Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) or acid reflux has been induced due to the stress and heavy food diet. It might feel like uncomfortable burning sensation and pain the chest area and regurgitatation of food and liquid from stomach to mouth, difficult swallowing.

In this condition ,the mucular circular band the lower oesophageal sphincter doesn't work properly and prevents the proper relaxation and open during swallowing of food.The closure of the lower oesophageal sphincter and acid reflux results into back flow of the food materials from stomach to the oesophageal region ,and it feels like heavy there (like swallowed a small apple whole).