Heartburn is a digestive problem that is created when stomach acid comes into contact with the lining of the esophagus, causing irritation. It has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the heart though the effect may be confused with heart pain and vice versa and is the most common sign of a disease called gastroesophageal reflux or acid reflux. It is frequently called acid indigestion and usually takes place after meals and is a daily occurrence for about ten percent of Americans and up to 50% of pregnant women.
Symptoms
Signs of acid indigestion and a heart attack may feel the same. One of the most commonly occuring symptoms is spitting up. Heartburn symptoms are just plain uncomfortable and quite painful. However, a lot of people will only experience the milder signs. Pay attention and treat it, particularly if you feel symptoms often. The good news is that making alterations to certain habits can go a long way to stopping or halting acid indigestion and other symptoms of GERD.
Heartburn is typically easy to diagnose from the description you give to your physician. If there is any question concerning the diagnosis, you may have the following tests to check for ulcers or other conditions that might be causing your symptoms: barium swallow x-ray study of the esophagus, total upper GI (gastrointestinal) barium x-ray study of the esophagus, stomach, and upper intestine endoscopy: a procedure in which a thin flexible tube with a small camera is placed in your mouth and down into your stomach so your physician can see your esophagus and stomach.
To help diminish the symptoms you can try not to put a lot of pressure on the sphincter muscle. Go for emergency care if the following occur with the heartburn and does not go away within 15 minutes of treatment: shortness of breath; sweating; weakness; or arm, back, or chest pain.
Foods
To minimize attacks, a person may find benefit in staying away from certain foods that relax the opening between the stomach and esophagus, including chocolate, peppermint, and chamomile tea shortly before bedtime. Restricting diet is very important, because 90-95% of sufferers of heartburn or esophageal disorder can link their symptoms to certain foods. If the person notices that certain foods tend to make the condition grow worse, or more frequent, they would be better served to avoid them, or at least speak to the physician about products that may help diminish the amount of stomach acid that can create acid reflux.
Conclusion
Heartburn routinely is due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the rise of stomach acid back up into the esophagus. Acid indigestion and reflux are extremely common, with 10 percent of the population experiencing these signs at least once a week and can be produced or worsened by pregnancy and by various medications.
It is common malady, and an occasional episode is generally nothing to be concern about. Relief in the form of milk can be effective and consuming a small amount of milk regularly over a period of time can begin to heal the effects as it washes acid back into the stomach.
A simple and relatively safe way to treat a one time heartburn is to consume a solution of a small amount of Sodium bicarbonate mixed with water, which quickly neutralizes the acid that creates the pain. Chewing gum can provide short-term relief by stimulating the production of saliva, which dilutes and flushes out stomach acid. When heartburn occurs often, however, or becomes severe, you should consult your health care provider.
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