What is heartburn?
Heartburn is a sharp chest pain felt in the mid-lower chest due to reflux of the stomach acid into the esophagus and a bitter taste in the mouth or throat.
Causes of heartburn?
It may be caused by:
- A person suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- A weakened cardiac sphincter or one which is no longer functioning
- A person with hiatal hernia
- In pregnancy, it is due to progesterone which causes relaxation of the cardiac sphincter
- Eating spicy foods
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol intake
- overeating
- Intake of some foods and drinks such as chocolate caffeine
- Obesity and overweight
- Certain medicine such as Ibuprofen and Asprin
- Stress
- When one is anxious
- After eating one lays down
Risk factors of heartburn
Here are some of the predisposing risk factors
- Obesity or being overweight.
- During pregnancy.
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Smoking
- Stress and anxiety
- When one is suffering from hiatus hernia
- Lying down immediately after a meal
- Eating large quantities of food
- Eating food with high-fat content
- A person suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- A weakened cardiac sphincter or one which is no longer functioning
- Taking of drinks with high caffeine
Signs and Symptoms of heartburn
The following are some of the symptoms one might experience;
- A bitter taste in the mouth and throat
- Pain in the chest especially after eating
- The pain increases when lying down
Diagnosis of heartburn
A visit to your doctor/physician, you might expect the following;
- An X-rays
- An endoscopy
- PH testing
- Manometry
Treatment of heartburn
After a diagnosis, your doctor might prescribe the following:
- Antacids
- Histamine 2 receptor blockers such aspiring cimetidine
- proton pump inhibitors
Complication of heartburn
If left untreated for long, it might lead to:
- Recurrent irritation
- Inflammation of the esophagus
- Ulceration
Prevention of heartburn
in order to prevent the reoccurrence, its advisable to do the following;
- Avoid over-drinking of alcohol
- Lying down immediately after eating increases the chances
- Do not overeat
- Maintenance of the normal BMI
- Avoid smoking
- Avoid drinks that have caffeine