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Get to the Heart
of Heartburn
Ever get a warm, heated or burning feeling that starts from your upper abdomen and
spreads upwards into your throat? Is this pain sometimes accompanied by a sour taste
in the mouth, burping, nausea or bloating? Sounds like heartburn.
Heartburn is caused by the abnormal backflow (reflux) of food and stomach juices
into the esophagus, the tube between your throat and stomach. The part where the
esophagus meets your stomach is called the lower esophageal sphincter or LES. When your LES relaxes, that
may cause contents in your stomach to back up. Some of the
foods we eat can cause the LES to weaken or relax, such as chocolate, peppermint,
fried or fatty foods, coffee, carbonated drinks or alcohol. Also, pressure on the
stomach can cause reflux of stomach acid to the LES. Some causes of this pressure
include obesity, frequent bending over/lifting, vigorous exercise, tight clothes
and pregnancy. Other factors such as stress and certain medications can irritate
the esophagus and cause heartburn.
About 20% of all adults get heartburn about once a month. More than half of these
people are between 45 and 64 years old. Heartburn is considered mild if it occurs
less than once a month. Heartburn that occurs once a week is considered moderate.
Both mild and moderate heartburn is not usually a cause for much concern and the
discomfort can be relieved by non-prescription medication. Severe heartburn occurs
every day and can cause other problems such as swallowing difficulties, bleeding
or weight loss. Severe heartburn can be a sign of a more serious condition such
as heart disease, peptic ulcer disease, gallbladder disease, tumor, tears or inflammation.
Severe heartburn should always be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
Tips to prevent heartburn:
Eat slowly
Do not overeat
Do not got o bed on a full stomach
Avoid being overweight
Stop smoking
Avoid alcohol
Drink warm liquids
Wear lose fitting clothes
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