Top Non-Cardiac Causes of Chest Pain

Chest pain that increases after eating and can be felt in the back, neck and arms is one symptom of achalasia, a rare esophageal disorder. With achalasia, the lower esophageal sphincter, which normally relaxes during swallowing, stays closed during swallowing, causing a reflux of food. It is a persistent problem that manifests with difficulty swallowing, regurgitation of undigested bitter food and heartburn. Untreated, achalasia leads to malnutrition and pneumonia. Minimally invasive laparoscopic esophagomyotomy, a surgical procedure known as the Heller Myotomy or botulinium toxin infections are treatment options.