Heartburn is a feeling of burning in your esophagus and behind the breast bone, as stomach acid comes back in your esophagus (a pipe that contains food which travels from your mouth to stomach). This condition can be avoided by taking precautionary measures like exercising regularly and following a specific diet that trigger this condition. It occurs due to the frequent consumption of fried food, citrus fruit, and sugary juices with artificial flavors. In this article, we will provide you with complete guide regarding the causes,symptoms, prevention and treatment of Heart burn often termed as GERD (GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease)
Table of Content
What is Heartburn?
Heartburn is an uncomfortable burning sensation behind your breast bone. It occurs when stomach acid travels towards the food pipe which is known as esophagus. Its common symptoms are the burning and irritation in your throat and chest. It often lasts for a few minutes to some hours, as it depends on its severity. If you notice these symptoms, you should contact your health care provider immediately to bring this condition to normal.
Why Does Heartburn Happen?
Esophagus is a pipe which connects the throat to the stomach with a lower esophageal sphincter which opens when food passes from your throat to stomach and closes afterwards. In some persons, Esophageal sphincter does not close or open as required, which results in malfunctioning. It causes the stomach fluids to leak in the esophagus that causes burning sensation of chest and throat known as Heart Burn.
Foods That Cause Heartburn
There are multiple food types from which heartburn occurs. You must prevent yourself from eating such types of food. It is essential for you to know what meals, fruits, deserts and other items cause heart burn. It is often observed that wearing tight clothes, eating too much food and lying immediately after eating are the major symptoms of heart burn. Here are the foods listed below:
- Tomato
- Artificial Sweet Flavors
- Sweets
- Deserts
- Fried Items
- Chocolates
- Spicy Meals
- Citrus Fruits (Orange & Lemons)
- Alcohol
Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Heartburn
Heartburn can be avoided by making some changes in your lifestyle.
- Consuming small meals.
- Taking exercise and weight loss management.
- Elevate your head by using a pillow during sleep to prevent the entrance of acid in your esophagus.
- Avoiding caffeine intake.
- Quit smoking.
- Minimize alcohol consumption.
Medications That Prevent Heartburn
Antacids are the medications that cure heart burn by neutralizing stomach acids and provide instant relief. Here are some medications that you can take to cure heartburn:
- Proton Pump Inhibitors.
- The medications act by stopping or reducing the amount of acid production in the stomach which results in relief from heart burn.
- These medications include omeprazole magnesium, omeprazole, sodium bicarbonate, and esomeprazole.
- Consuming Omeprazole Capsules.
How Do Antacids Work?
Antacids work by neutralizing the acids which are present in the stomach offering instant relief from heartburn. Antacids include the compounds of magnesium and sodium bicarbonate that neutralize the stomach acid.
Heartburn medications like antacids and proton pump inhibitors cure the symptoms of heartburn. However, they also come up with side effects like dizziness, headache, diarrhea and indigestion. Seek medical advice instantly from your doctor before using any medications. It is also advisable to tell your doctor about the allergies and other medical treatments you are taking with.
What Are The Symptoms of Heartburn?
There are multiple symptoms of heartburn that you need to know. Many people are not aware of these which can lead to breathing difficulties. It is recommended to consult a doctor if you have any of the below defined symptoms. It is also observed that the heart burn symptoms often be mistakenly taken as heart attack due to the common diagnosis symptoms. Some severe symptoms of heartburn are:
- Dizziness
- Difficult breathing.
- Pain in lower jaw.
- Feeling pain in the left arm, leading towards the shoulder.
Diagnosis of Heartburn
You can consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis of heart burn. You must take proper medications recommended by doctors. Here are the recommended tests for severe heartburn conditions:
Esophageal PH Monitoring
This test is used to identify how much the stomach acid is coming into the esophagus. You can also analyze how much the acid is removed from your stomach. However you can feel a slight discomfort in your throat and nose during the test.
Ambulatory Acid (PH) Probe Test
In this procedure, doctor inserts a probe through nose with sensor that measures the acid present in your esophageal tube
X-Ray
You can take a chalky liquid on doctor’s advice which will cover your esophagus and doctor examines the X Ray imaging to look for the esophagus in the stomach and intestine.
Endoscopy
In this type of analysis, the doctor inserts a small camera tube in your mouth downwards to the esophagus to examine ulcers of the esophagus and stomach.
Esophageal Manometry
In this diagnosis, a tube is passed through your nose towards esophagus to check for the contractions when you swallow food
Complications with Heartburn
An occasional heartburn is not a sign of worry that goes away with medicine or lifestyle changes but the major concern lies in its recurrence and severity. If you have periodic heart burn symptoms then it is a concern for you to get the professional medical examination and checkup. Heartburn might be an early sign of Stomach Ulcers, Stomach disorders, and Esophagus inflammation which can lead to esophageal cancer in the long run.
Conclusion
Heartburn is a common disease which can occur due to eating too much, having sugary drinks and spicy fast food. It can be avoided by taking preventive measures and avoiding the food which causes heartburn. Heartburn can be a major sign or warning if you suffer from it over time. A well timed analysis with proper treatment can help you to live a happy and healthy life. The severity of heart burn completely depends on the symptoms and its occurrence.
