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Excessive burping while working out on the treadmill.

I bought a trendmill in December 2005 and I've been jogging on it almost everyday. I exercise on moderate settings (6mph) until the calorie count reaches 500.

Today, I continued my usual trendmill workout when suddenly, around the 7 minute mark, my chest started hurting. I freaked out, close the machine, and paused for a second. It felt as if there was pressure in my chest. I decided to stop running on the machine and took a small rest. After several minutes passed, the pain in my chest subsided a little. However, I then noticed that I began burping excessively. It wasn't that I couldn't controlling the burping; I just allowed the burping to continue because to me, it felt as if the burping relieved the pressure in my chest somehow. It's been 2 hours since my chest started hurting, and my chest pain has been relieved greatly. However, I still feel some pressure when I bow my head, and it appears that coughing relieves that pressure but appears again when the coughing stops. Does anyone know that's wrong?

I remember I felt the SAME EXACT CHEST PAIN before. I think I felt it when I first started runnning on my trendmill. Of course, I just assumed it was because I wasn't use to jogging (I also believed the pain disappeared after a night's rest). However, I've been on the trendmilll now for more than 3 months, so I can't blame my lack of jogging skills for this chest pain incident.

Can anyone help me? As far as I know, I don't have any health issues.
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Avatar universal
i have the exact same problem 20% of the time when i go running. i get so scared i stick to main roads incase i have a cardiac arrest while running! if its too bad i just walk back home. however it isnt all the time. so this says to me is musnt be serious. Also i have IBS and chronic constipation so my theory is that it is most likely a gastro/ intestinal issue but feels like my heart. for example heart burn, or some sort of spasm in my oesophagus which is technically a muscle so i suppose it could spasm and cramp. I havnt seen a doctor but i am a nurse, and because i dont get light headed and the chest pain stops when i stop running, i can assume it is not cardiac pain. i try running on an empty stomach and it helps
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Avatar universal
did you have any further follow up with this?  Any more advancements or relief?
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Avatar universal
I have the something and my massage therapist told be my Pectoral Minor muscles were JACKED!  Meaning they were really shortened from leaning forward from computer work and from lifitng at work and always  leaning forward. Then when I fill up my lungs with air during excessive I am streaching the muscles and the sides of my chest get tight and pull creating the pain. The burping is from not enough room in the chest cavity. So massage only on the chest for 30 minutes on each side - and it hurts a lot. Then go back after 5 to 7 days. Hope this helped, Ed
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Avatar universal
I get it too, but instead of chest pain, I get nausea and burping and I know mine is due to acid reflux. I have to admit I do have a spare tyre so think I need to get rid of it as I'm determined not to give up running.
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Avatar universal
You should have a cardiac stress test--they hook you up to an EKG machine and you run on a treatmill. they monitor the EKG while you run. you tell them if that feeling is coming back. If your stress test is normal, it is probably not your heart. The typical one minute EKG is not a good enough test. It only tells you your heart looks normal for that one minute. Get yourself a stress test!
(My brother had a heart attack at 45 yo the day after his primary MD told him he was fine because his EKG was OK. He had symptoms like yours!)  cjbb
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Avatar universal
bozeefus -

You are describing what happens to me to a tee.

In the past 3 months, I've seen my doctor 2x, and then I made a special trip to a gastroentologist.  The gastroentologist ordered and endoscopy, but didn't find anything over-the-top.  He pretty much said "use pepcid AC" to control the symptoms.  Argh.

I wish I knew what it was, cuz (for me) the symptoms escalate.  At some point after I start running, I get a chest pain that feels like a bubble right near my heart.  If I just wait for my body to start burping naturally, the bubble sensation and the pressure eventually go away.  Note that I cannot FORCE myself to burp.  Forcing burps do not relieve the symptoms!  So, I get freaked out waiting for the natural-burping process to occur, then I have a panic attack because I think I'm having a heart attack.  

I've been to the hospital 3x because of these symptoms - hooked up to a heart monitor - and I've been assured that I am, in fact, NOT having a heart attack.  I'm a 37 year old female, overall-healthy, not overweight, and do not smoke.

If you crack this nut, you've gotta let me know.
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Avatar universal
my advise to you is suck it up and dont worry about it. i run on a tread mill every week. 3miles in 19 minutes so im hauling ass. while i run i get chest pain, cramps, legs hurt and all. but thats just part of the territory. dont over do it and run every day cause you'll injure yourself. i used to run everday and now i have a non union fracture on my foot that will never heal and i still run on it. but when u do run go all out u wont die trust me. so like i said suck it up and if youre worried then see a doctor
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Avatar universal
It sounds a lot like acid reflux, which is relieved by burping and is aggravated when you bend over or don't keep your head elevated.  Also, you said that you are "fairly fit."  What do you mean by "fairly fit?"  Do you have any excess weight, especially around your midriff?  (I ask that because acid reflux is more common among people who are somewhat overweight, especially when the weight settles around the middle.)  See if you notice any difference if you wait a while to exercise after you eat, and keep an eye on what you eat.  Spicy foods, acidic foods, or foods high in fat can all contribute to acid reflux.  (Mexican food and pizza and other food with tomato sauces are notorious for causing acid reflux.)  Suppose you keep a diary of what you eat and when you have the pain.  If you can, sleep with your head elevated above your chest.  Keep in mind that the more anxious you become about the pain, the more pain you are likely to feel; you could be having acid reflux, then fear that you are having a heart attack, then the anxiety can create a "tight" feeling in your chest.  I agree with LukeL; odds are it is acid reflux and not cardiac trouble, but like he said, bring it up with your doctor if you're concerned.  If anything, the doc. might be able to relieve your concerns and suggest a good antacid.  Good luck.
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Avatar universal
At your age cardiac problems are almost 0 but any pain that comes on with exercise could be angina and should be looked at by a doctor. More likely then not it is GERD or acid refulx and your anxiety is making the pain worse. Of course I am not a doctor and you should discuss this with a doctor in person.
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Avatar universal
Alright. I'm starting to worry now. After a night's rest, the pain is still persisting. When bow my head, it feels as if there is pressure in my chest. When I try to bend over, it feels as if there is pressure in my chest. I feel as if burping helps relieve the pressure although I am not toooo sure.
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Avatar universal
Oh yeah. I'm 18 years old and I'm fairly fit.
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