Heartburn can be quite a bother for many Americans. It is unsetting and gets in the way of enjoying a beautiful summer day. Today, we are going to discuss heartburn and acid reflux.
The burning in your chest:
Have you ever felt a burning in your chest after eating? Many people have experienced this at some point in their life. Although it is not life threatening itself, it may need to be addressed swiftly.
There are ways to assist in avoiding heartburn. Lying down after eating usually increases the intensity of heartburn. This happens because you are lying flat.
The pain of heartburn may worsen when bending over or lying down. A bitter or acidic taste may be left in your mouth temporarily. We will explain the cause of this later.
Occasional heartburn is not alarming and should not be a cause of concern. It may be uncomfortable, so plan a visit to speak with our doctors at Gastroenterology Consultants of Central Florida.
With the help of a gastroenterologist or dietician, you may be able to cut out heartburn with a few simple lifestyle changes. It is best to speak to a medical professional before taking over the counter medicine. It may be fine once or twice, but repeated use can cause other issues down the road.
If heartburn is more frequent and interferes with your daily life, it may be a symptom of a more serious medical condition that requires immediate attention. Of course, seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe chest pain or pressure. If you also have pain in your or jaw, call an ambulance or get to the hospital as soon as possible.
Chest pain or difficulty breathing are known signs of a heart attack and other serious medical events. Make an appointment with us if you experience heartburn more than once or twice a week. If you have persistent nausea or vomiting, this is another reason to come speak with doctors about your diet.
People that experience weight loss because of a loss of appetite or difficulty swallowing may experience relief while being treated by your doctors.
What is the cause of this?:
When stomach acids back up in the stomach and travels upwards into the esophagus, a person experiences heartburn. As a review, the esophagus is the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Normally when a person is done chewing and swallows the food, a band of muscle around the bottom of your esophagus relaxes to allow food and liquid into your stomach.
That band is called the esophageal sphincter. Once the esophageal sphincter allows the food and liquid to pass through, the muscle tightens again. The issues arise when the esophageal sphincter weakens or relaxes abnormally.
This allows the stomach acid to flow the wrong direction, upwards. This acid reflux is the feeling of heartburn. The acid may travel upwards more easily when bending over or laying down.
How to avoid heartburn:
Avoid eating spicy foods if you experience heartburn often. Onions and other acidic foods may mess with someones stomach and cause this burning chest sensation. Extra burping may be an extra unwanted annoyance.
Citrus foods and beverages are very likely to cause heartburn for people that regularly experience acid reflux. Similarly, tomato products such as ketchup and spaghetti sauces should put on hold. Other foods should try to be avoided such as fried or fatty foods.
The density and nature of these foods do not sit well with most people in general. People which experience acid reflux should avoid it just that much more. Peppermint and chocolate are also dense ingredients which linger causing the particles to make their way back up.
Logically, you most likely did not think of it, but eating large portions make it hard for the food to stay down. When the stomach is stuffed, of course the food will not fit and then go back up into the esophagus. Alcohol, carbonated beverages, coffee, and caffeinated beverages can be avoided in strides of preventing heartburn.
Try out our tips and if these are not sufficient, come see our doctors for an in-person examination. Each case is different, and it is important to find a health condition as early as possible. Call to make an appointment today!
Staff Writer