Causes of Heartburn, common symptoms, how to manage?

February 22, 2021June 21, 2021 Helal Medical

Heartburn is a common problem that arises from a condition called Acid Reflux,(stomach acidic contents are pushed back into the esophagus). Acid Reflux results in a burning pain in the lower chest, with variable duration from case to case. There many causes of heartburn , That I will discuss later.

Persistent acid reflux that occurs more than twice a week is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). When stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, (the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach), the patient feels burning and pain in the lower chest. The burning and pain ranges from mild to severe.

Causes of Heartburn, common symptoms, how to manage?

Fast facts about heartburn

– Eating unhealthy foods is one of the most heartburn causes, that also includes obesity, and lack of exercise. That to say, it is common among those who ignore a healthy lifestyle.
– Patients present with symptoms, the most common is a burning sensation (heartburn) in the throat or chest.
– In many cases, heartburn does not affect overall health.
– There are different lines of treatment available in drug stores and hospitals, including PPI (proton pump inhibitors), which are considered one of the most effective medicines for treating heartburn.

Acid reflux occurs when stomach acidic contents go back to the esophagus, called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

How common heartburn is?

According to estimates by the American College of Gastroenterology, at least 15 million Americans suffer from heartburn every day. It is not only the Americans who suffer from this condition, but it is a common condition all over the world.

The disease affects people of different ages, and from different nationalities. The cause is often linked to a person’s lifestyle, such as smoking, low level of physical activity and overweight (obesity).

Causes of Heartburn

Heartburn is pain in the lower chest due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Occasional heartburn is normal, rarely it is due to an illness that requires attention.In such cases, the person suffers heartburn infrequently, gets better on his own, or by taking non-prescription antacid medications. While recurrent acid reflux, indicates the presence of GERD disease. Patients suffer repeated heartburn, daily or 2-3 times a week. GERD is caused by a defect in the valve between the stomach and the esophagus (LES), that may lead to serious health complications. Physiologically there are 2 reasons, which can be among causes of Heartburn, either due to increased gastric secretion of hydrochloric acid, or due to a problem (weakness) in the valve between the stomach and esophagus (LES).

الحموضة المعوية ، وما هي أهم الأسباب والأعراض وطرق العلاج؟

Symptoms of heartburn

Symptoms include a burning sensation in the middle of the chest, and sometimes in the chest and throat. There are other symptoms, including the following:
Pain that escalates, that may reach the jaw. Also, the person may suffer from stomach pain in the form of cramping or cramping.
Foul, stinging taste in the mouth.

Treating heartburn

The main treatment for heartburn is to reduce stomach acid production, mainly by avoiding causes of Heartburn. There are several treatment lines, based on lifestyle changes, among which are the following:
Eat a healthy diet, with a limited amount of fat , with smaller meals
Avoid eating before lying down or sleeping, sit up straight while eating
Avoid heavy lifting and straining
Watch for and avoid triggers that increase acidity, such as alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, soft drinks, and acidic foods (such as lemon, or orange juice).
Avoid smoking
Reduce your weight, if you are overweight
Staying fit with exercise