Heartburn
Heartburn is a burning discomfort that is felt just behind the breastbone – the feeling that someone has started a fire in your chest. It
is acid indigestion intensified. And, although it can mimic the actual
chest pain of angina or a heart attack, heartburn has absolutely
nothing to do with the heart - it is a digestive problem. Neglecting
or ignoring this pain can be potentially dangerous. You need to make
sure it is actually heartburn and NOT heart pain.
Medically, heartburn in not a disease – it is the major symptom of
acid reflux disease or GERD,
gastroesophageal reflux disease. Almost
everyone experiences heartburn sometime; acid reflux disease occurs
when stomach acid refluxes or goes back up the esophagus often enough
to impact your daily life and/or damage your esophagus. The stomach
has a protective lining and contains acid to aid in digesting food.
The esophagus does not have a protective lining so when it is exposed
to acid, it can become inflamed and painful. Generally this occurs
when the lower esophageal sphincter muscle – the natural valve that
keeps stomach acid in the stomach – relaxes or does not function
properly.
Symptoms of Acid Reflux
There are other symptoms of acid reflux disease including, but not
limited to:
- a painful discomfort when swallowing
- a sour, bitter
taste from food coming back up
- hoarseness
Some
symptoms might get worse after eating or when lying down
or bending over. Episodic or infrequent heartburn can usually
be managed with lifestyle changes and/or over the counter medications. Frequent (two or more
days a week) or sever heartburn occurrences require medical attention.
Sleeping elevated on a wedge pillow to use gravity to keep acid down
and following physician suggestions in 10
Lifestyle Changes for Acid Reflux or GERD can certainly
help relieve your symptoms and maintain a healthy digestive system.
Most important, please see your physician or health care professional
for a diagnosis and treatment suggestions. Left untreated,
acid reflux disease, can be serious.
Acid
Reflux Articles
|
