Sometimes, after you have had a large meal, you experience a burning pain within your chest. This pain can be felt just behind your breastbone close to your heart. What you are experiencing might be heartburn. However, heartburn is not a condition regarding your heart. Rather it is a digestive disorder as heartburn pain occurs when stomach acids flow upwards into the esophagus, and is also called gastric reflux.
When does gastic reflux occur?
Heartburn or gastric reflux is due to the back flow or reflux of food juices and stomach acids passing into the esophagus. The esophagus is a tube within our body that connects our throats to the stomach. This tube is separated from the stomach by a valve which is called LES - lower esophageal sphincter. Usually the LES muscle remains tightly closed after we have eaten, but for a few people the valve becomes weak or it malfunctions.
In the case that the lower esophageal sphincter or LES does not work properly then sometimes the digested food acids reflux into the esophagus. These stomach acids are very corrosive and the esophagus is unable to deal with their effects on the delicate lining of the esophagus. The corrosive acids can irritate and inflame the walls of the esophagus. This inflammation is called gastric reflux.
Why do people suffer from gastic reflux?
A lot of people ask themselves why they suffer from gastic reflux. For many other diseases there might not be a real reason, but for gastic reflux the reason for the problem might lie in the lifestyle and eating habits of the reflux sufferer.
Sometimes eating large amounts of food especially in the night can trigger a heartburn attack. Other causes of heartburn include being overweight, bending at the waist, lifting heavy objects, being in stressful situations as well as being pregnant. All these situations can all induce gastric reflux.
And then there are so many foods that people love to eat, but which might have substances in them that can cause the acid levels in our stomach to increase. These foods include oranges, tomatoes and colas. Also drinking beverages like coffee, tea, alcohol and fortified wines and spirits can relax the LES valve and cause the stomach acids to rise and reflux into the esophagus thereby causing heartburn.
A lot of people actually experience gastric reflux without our even realizing it. Usually gastric reflux can be reduced by swallowing your saliva repeatedly.
However, you should be aware that if gastric reflux is not checked and treated it can develop into a more severe form. Chronic gastric reflux can have complications leading to the inflammation of the esophagus. There could also be an increased risk of esophageal cancer, anaemia and also esophageal ulcers.
Therefoe as with all heartburn aliments you should consult with your doctor and treat your gastric reflux. He will tell you about over the counter heartburn drugs that might work for your gastric reflux or if you will need prescription strength medication. Furthermore you doctor will be able to give you advice on what you should do at home to correct your condition.
Should your gastric reflux be of a more serious condition, then your doctor will be able to let you know what are the medical therapies and medical treatments that are available for you. Catching and treating the symptoms of gastric reflux early on, can prevent it from developing into the GERD.