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