Heartburn Causes, Risk factors, Symptoms, Prevention and Medication

What is heartburn?

Heartburn is a sharp chest pain felt in the mid-lower chest due to reflux of the stomach acid into the esophagus and a bitter taste in the mouth or throat.

Causes of heartburn?

It may be caused by:

• A person suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• A weakened cardiac sphincter or one which is no longer functioning
• A person with hiatal hernia
• In pregnancy, it is due to progesterone which causes relaxation of the cardiac sphincter
• Eating spicy foods
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol intake
• overeating
• Intake of some foods and drinks such as chocolate caffeine
• Obesity and overweight
• Certain medicine such as Ibuprofen and Asprin
• Stress
• When one is anxious
• After eating one lays down

Risk factors of heartburn

Here are some of the predisposing risk factors

•  Obesity or being overweight.
• During pregnancy.
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Smoking
• Stress and anxiety
• When one is suffering from hiatus hernia
• Lying down immediately after a meal
• Eating large quantities of food
• Eating food with high-fat content
• A person suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• A weakened cardiac sphincter or one which is no longer functioning
• Taking of drinks with high caffeine

Signs and Symptoms of heartburn

The following are some of the symptoms one might experience;

• A bitter taste in the mouth and throat
• Pain in the chest especially after eating
• The pain increases when lying down

Diagnosis of heartburn

A  visit to your doctor/physician, you might expect the following;

• An X-rays
• An endoscopy
• PH testing
• Manometry

Treatment of heartburn

After a diagnosis, your doctor might prescribe the following:

• Antacids
• Histamine 2 receptor blockers such aspiring cimetidine
• proton pump inhibitors

Complication of heartburn

If left untreated for long, it might lead to:

• Recurrent irritation
• Inflammation of the esophagus
• Ulceration

Prevention of heartburn

in order to prevent the reoccurrence, its advisable to do the following;

• Avoid over-drinking of alcohol
• Lying down immediately after eating increases the chances
• Do not overeat
• Maintenance of the normal BMI
• Avoid smoking
• Avoid drinks that have caffeine