Heartburn is a burning sensation that occurs at the lower regions of your chest leaving an unpleasant taste in your throat and mouth. It may also include the sensation of food or liquid coming up into the throat or mouth (regurgitation).
These symptoms may be accompanied by a bitter or pungent taste. It usually occurs after a heavy meal, lasts a few minutes or hours and then goes away. The problem arises when it fails to go away.
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What causes heartburn?
The food you eat travels down your throat and through your food pipe (also called the esophagus), before it goes into your stomach. The opening between the esophagus and the stomach has a 'valve' or sphincter, called the esophageal sphincter, which generally remains closed, except while swallowing. When you swallow, the esophageal sphincter relaxes or opens and allows the food and liquid to flow down into your stomach.
Normally, as soon as food is passed into the stomach, this opening closes. When it fails to close, the acid that is released in your stomach can cross its boundary and enter your esophagus through this opening.
This condition is called reflux. The acid from your stomach irritates your esophagus causing heartburn.
Click here to view an animation on how heartburn occurs.
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| Heartburn triggers |
| Heavy meals |
| Tight clothing that presses into your stomach |
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Cigarette smoking |
| Alcohol consumption |
| Stress |
| Beverages that contain Caffeine such as coffee, soft drinks, etc. |
| Certain fruits and vegetables such as oranges, lemons, tomatoes, onions, etc. |
| Chocolates, candies and cocoa products |
| Spicy or fat-rich foods |
| Lying down too soon after eating |
| Excessive body weight (obesity) |
| Certain over-the-counter and prescription medications | | |
Pregnancy and heartburn
During pregnancy, the Hormone Progesterone causes the esophageal sphincter to relax or expand, thus allowing the stomach acid to flow into the esophagus causing irritation and burning sensation. During the third Trimester of pregnancy, heartburn and digestive disorders are more common as the growing Uterus presses against the intestines and the stomach. The pressure on the stomach may also thrust food and acid back up into the esophagus.
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When is heartburn serious?
- Heartburn that occurs several times a week.
- Heartburn that returns soon after the effect of the antacid taken by you wears off.
- Heartburn that disturbs your sleep.
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Some tips to preventing heartburn
- Keep your head in an elevated position at 45 degrees when sleeping.
- Go to bed after an interval of about 2–3 hours after dinner.
- If you are overweight, lose weight. Excess body weight puts pressure on your abdomen and causes acid to flow back into your esophagus.
- Do not have heavy meals. Eat smaller meals to reduce pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter.
- Avoid stooping or bending, especially soon after eating.
- Avoid fat-rich diet.
- Do not wear tight clothing. Loosen your belt one notch before lunch at the office.
- Do not eat foods that are known to give you heartburn.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol. Smoking may increase the amount of stomach acid. The air swallowed during smoking may also worsen belching and acid reflux. Alcohol and nicotine also increase your risk of esophageal cancer.
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Treatment
If lifestyle changes do not help relieve symptoms of heartburn, consult your doctor.
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