Heartburn Symptoms
Heartburn is a condition that affects almost every individual some time or the other. It is a pain or a burning sensation which causes great discomfort to the person.
The burning sensation usually occurs behind the breast bone which is called sternum. It can also be felt in the mid-line of the back at almost the same level and sometimes higher up as far as the neck. This burning sensation is termed as heartburn as it is felt in the same region as the heart. However, it has nothing to do with the heart and is generally a result of a posture or a digestive problem.
The heartburn might also be the result of the harsh acids from the stomach flowing back into the gullet, also known as the oesophagus. It is a tube-like structure connecting the mouth to the stomach and coming into contact with its delicate inner lining.
The pain can be relieved by using remedies for indigestion. Usually heartburn occurs right after meals or while sleeping and lying down. This is because of stomach acid reflux. The medical terms it is known as Pyrosis. The acid reflux that occurs in the stomach then causes heartburn.
Types of heartburn pain
If a person is feeling pain in the region of the heart this can be of two types.
The first kind is felt not only in the chest but sometimes also in the upper part of the abdomen. This is known as angina and is due to the temporary shortage of oxygen which is supplied by the blood to the muscles of the heart. This type of pain, angina, can be detected when the pain is felt during any type of exercise but is relieved by rest.
The second type of pain to of a more severe variety and is felt for a prolonged period of time. This type of pain is felt in the centre of the chest and spreads sometimes to both the arms, more commonly to the left arm and to the lower jaw. The pain is severe and sometimes gives a feeling of heavy pressure on the chest. This type of pain is an indication of an imminent heart attack.
Acid reflux (GERD)
Heartburn is also a very common symptom of Acid Reflux or Gastro-Esophageal Reflux known as GERD. This condition is caused by the delayed closing of the specialized muscle called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter. This special muscle opens when the food is being swallowed. The opening allows the food to pass from the gullet to the stomach, but sometimes the action is not fast enough and the stomach juices to enter the esophagus causing heartburn. It is also sometimes called acid Indigestion.
Causes of Heartburn
Large intake of food is sometimes responsible for heartburn. If people eat a large quantities of food, especially fatty food remains in the stomach for a longer time before passing on to the intestines. This condition also increases the risk of stomach acids moving into the food pipe thus causing heartburn. The physiologicl conditions that cause heartburn are numberous and varied. Pregnancy can cause heartburn. The enlarged womb puts pressure on the stomach, which increases the pressure inside the stomach thereby causing acid reflux.
Obesity may be one of the factors where the fat on the abdomen exerts more pressure on the stomach resulting in high pressure inside. This can result in the contents of the stomach being pushed into the food pipe causing heartburn.
Hiatus Hernia can also be the cause of heartburn. In this case as the upper part of the stomach has passed through the hole in the diaphragm and the muscle fibers of the sphincter are not able to put pressure on the lower part of the gullet as a result the lower part of the esophagus remains open even when it is supposed to be closed.
Curing Heartburn
In most of the cases heartburn doesn't pose a great risk to a person's life. However, serious cases can occur where acid reflux can result in injury to the lower part of the gullet. The person will then require medical treatment.
Generally, you can control or avoid heartburn if you pay attention to all of the causes of obesity mentioned above. Eating habits are one of the main causes of heartburn and should therefore be reviewed by any person suffering from acid reflux problems.
For example, avoiding coffee and other food intake with acidic content also helps prevent heartburn. There are also a lot of different drugs to cure heartburn available that you might think about taking.
Heartburn should not be ignored and should be given due attention before it burns bigger holes in your pockets and life.