Take one bite of warm, gooey pepperoni pizza and your digestive system kicks into action. Acid flows into your stomach, preparing to break down your meal. In many people, a defective valve-like structure allows these acids to get out of control, causing a burning sensation in the chest. Heartburn is an extremely common symptom. More than 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month.
To understand what causes heartburn, let's retrace the path of that pepperoni pizza. Once you swallow a mouthful, it travels through the esophagus to your stomach. A valve-like ring of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter opens to let food in. It should then close again to prevent stomach acid from slipping into the esophagus.
In some people, the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus does not work properly. This allows acid to leak into the esophagus (called acid reflux), causing pain and irritation. Not everyone with acid reflux has heartburn, and some people with "heartburn" symptoms don't actually have acid reflux but may have some other condition that causes the pain.
Heartburn usually does not pose a serious threat to your health. However, severe, frequent, and persistent acid reflux can cause complications. If you have severe heartburn or heartburn two or more times a week, you may have a condition called GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and you should see your doctor. If left untreated, chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease can lead to inflammation, ulcers, and scarring. GERD may also cause changes in the cells lining the esophagus. These changes are called Barrett's esophagus and can increase the risk of esophageal cancer.
Heartburn can happen to anyone, but certain lifestyle factors can affect how well your sphincter works and how much acid your stomach produces. People who are overweight, eat large meals, wear tight clothing, or smoke tend to be more susceptible.
You can manage mild heartburn by making a few changes to your daily routine. Start by eating small, frequent meals. Eat dinner at least three to four hours before bed and avoid late-night snacks. (Lying down with food in your stomach can trigger acid reflux symptoms such as heartburn.)
Some foods are known to cause heartburn by bringing extra acid into the stomach or by relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter. Stay away from foods that may cause you problems. Your symptoms may improve if you avoid tomatoes, onions, garlic, chocolate, mint, fatty foods, and citrus fruits, including oranges and grapefruit. If you find that spicy foods are triggers, try milder versions instead of giving up your favorite foods entirely.
Certain drinks can also cause heartburn. These include coffee, tea, soda, alcohol, tomato juice and orange juice. However, you don't have to avoid them unless they cause you to experience acid reflux symptoms.
For occasional heartburn, take something that works immediately, such as a liquid antacid. As the name suggests, antacids neutralize stomach acid. This can temporarily relieve heartburn and quickly empty the stomach. It is important to follow instructions carefully because overuse of antacids can cause serious side effects. And as heartburn symptoms prolong, antacids may not help.
Heartburn Remedies: Antacids and H2 Blockers For occasional heartburn, take something that works immediately, like a liquid antacid. As the name suggests, antacids neutralize stomach acid. This can temporarily relieve heartburn and quickly empty the stomach. It is important to follow instructions carefully because overuse of antacids can cause serious side effects. And as heartburn symptoms prolong, antacids may not help. Also available over the counter, H2 blockers work differently than antacids. Rather than eliminating acid after it occurs, these medications reduce stomach acid production. If taken about 30 minutes before a meal, this can help prevent heartburn caused by acid reflux. Stronger doses are available in prescription form.
We can also use Meta Hunter to choose the right supplements to prevent heartburn.
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