Health Conditions: Heartburn Can Be Serious

Heartburn, what is it? Well, first it doesn't have anything to do with the heart. Why does it use the word heart? I don't know but I do know that it can be a bother to a chronic problem.

Exactly what is heartburn, its when your stomach acid comes in contact with the lining of the esophagus, this causes irritation. You feel a burning sensation that begins in your upper abdomen and makes your chest feel like it is on fire. It can travel from your diaphragm to your throat and you can have a terrible taste in your mouth. It makes you feel like your food it coming back up instead of staying down. This is considered severe heartburn.

If you have heartburn only on occasion like once a mouth, this is considered a mind case. For moderate cases you have to have heartburn once a week but if you have heartburn everyday then this is considered severe.

Most mild cases can be dealt with by taking over the counter antacids, change of diet and weight loss. Some people that have heartburn once a week, these remedies will help also but people that have severe heartburn, these remedies only provide temporary relief.

What exactly happens when you have heartburn is that the lower esophageal sphincter valve that keeps the stomach acid where it belongs, in the stomach, relaxes or has been weakened over time and doesn't do its job. This is Gastro Reflux Disease, the most common. Certain things like pressure on the stomach, bending, tight clothing, lifting and obesity. Foods like, fried and fatty, alcohol, sugars, coffee, spicy can weaken the lower esophageal valve, eating large meals and eating to close to bedtime. Certain medications and stress can slow down the stomach from emptying and increase the acid production.

People, who suffer chronic heartburn several times a week to several times a day, can lead to severe complication if left untreated. It can cause scarring of the esophagus, which makes if difficult to swallow food because the esophagus is now too small. It can also lead to a condition where cells that are like the stomach lining develop in the lower esophagus, which causes severe damage. This damage puts people in a higher risk of developing cancer of the esophagus.

There are several things you can do to find relief from heartburn. These do involve changing you diet and lifestyle.

1. To help prevent excessive production of stomach acid, eat smaller meals instead of three large meals.

2. Slow down while you eat and chew your food thoroughly before swallowing; this helps your food to digest better and to produce less stomach acid. Your food isn't going anywhere!

3. Time your meals so you eat three hours before going to bed. When you lay down, this position is just an invite for heartburn. By waiting three hours, the acid levels have a chance to decrease.

4. Elevate the head of your bed by several inches. By having your head elevated, this prevents reflux during the night.

5. Avoid the things that gives you heartburn like: coffee, alcohol, fatty foods, caffeine-containing beverages and foods, citrus fruits or juices, tomatoes, chocolate, etc.

6. Looser clothing helps keep stomach content down unlike tight clothing tend to push up stomach content.

7. By loosing weight, this helps relieve the symptoms.

8. A short-term relief of heartburn is chewing gum. Gum increases saliva that dilutes and helps flush out the stomach acid.

9. Drinking a glass of something warm like, warm milk or herbal tea also dilutes and helps flush out the stomach acid.

This article must be considered non-medical advice. I write only on what I learned from when a relative was diagnosed with Gastro Reflux Disease. If you are having bouts of heartburn, seek the advice of your doctor or health care provider and do ask questions. Heartburn can be nipped-in-the-bud.