INTRODUCTION: Heartburn is a digestive condition that occurs when stomach acid comes into contact with the lining of the esophagus, creating irritation. It has absolutely nothing to do with the heart even though the discomfort may be confused with heart pain and vice versa and is the most common sign of a problem called gastroesophageal reflux or acid reflux. It is occasionly called acid indigestion and normally occurs after meals and is a daily happening for about 10 percent of Americans and up to 50 percent of pregnant women.
SYMPTOMS: Signs of acid indigestion and a heart attack may feel the same. One of the most common symptoms is spitting up. Heartburn symptoms are just flat-out uncomfortable and very painful. However, many people will only experience the milder signs. Pay attention and treat it, particularly if you feel symptoms often.
The good news is that making changes to certain habits will go a long way to stopping acid indigestion and other symptoms of GERD.
Heartburn is normally easy to diagnose from the signs you describe to your MD. If there is any question about the diagnosis, you can have the following tests to check for ulcers or other conditions that might produce your symptoms: barium swallow x-ray study of the esophagus, complete upper GI (gastrointestinal) barium x-ray study of the esophagus, stomach, and upper intestine endoscopy: a technique in which a thin flexible tube with a tiny camera is placed in your mouth and down into your stomach so your MD can look at your esophagus and stomach.
To help decrease the signs you can try not to put a lot of pressure on the sphincter muscle. Seek emergency treatment if the following occurs with the heartburn and do not go away within fifteen minutes of treatment: shortness of breath; sweating; weakness; or arm, back, or chest pain.
FOODS: To minimize attacks, a sufferer may find benefit in avoidance of certain foods that relax the opening between the stomach and esophagus, such as chocolate, peppermint, and chamomile tea shortly before bedtime.
Restricting diet is very important, since 90-95 percent of sufferers of heartburn or esophageal disorder can link their signs to specific foods. If the sufferer finds that specific foods tend to make the problem worse, or more frequent, they would be better served to avoid them, or at least talk to their MD about products that can help reduce the quantity of stomach acid that can produce acid reflux.
CONCLUSION: Heartburn normally is due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (aka GERD), the rise of stomach acid back up into the esophagus. Acid indigestion and reflux are very common, with 10 percent of the population experiencing these signs at least once a week and may be brought on or worsened by pregnancy and by various medications.
It is common condition, and an occasional episode is generally nothing to worry about. Relief in the form of milk can be effective and drinking a small amount of milk regularly over a period of time can start to heal the effects as it washes acid back into the stomach.
A simple and relatively harmless way of treating a one time heartburn is to consume a mixture of a small amount of Sodium bicarbonate an water, which quickly neutralizes the acid that creates the pain.
Chewing gum can produce a short-term relief by stimulating the creation of saliva, which dilutes and flushes out stomach acid. When heartburn occurs often, however, or becomes severe, you should see your MD.
