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Causes and symptoms of heartburn, what to do?

Description of the disease

Contents:

Heartburn is the sensation of discomfort or feelings of heat, burning in the chest, extending upward from the upper abdominal (epigastric) region along the esophagus. The appearance of heartburn occurs periodically, mainly through hour after a meal, especially if food was plentiful and sharp. It rarely occurs during exercise, when the body is tilted or in horizontal position.

Usually to withdraw (to stop) heartburn, drink enough water, you can stop heartburn by taking antacids (substances that neutralize the acid). However, the bouts of heartburn can be repeated often enough to disrupt the normal way of life.

Heartburn, bother people more than three times per week significantly impairs quality of life. Although there is some dependence between the occurrence of heartburn duration esophageal clearance and the presence or absence of mucosal damage of the esophagus, it is not always clear enough. Some patients with severe esophagitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the esophagus), do not complain of heartburn.

Heartburn may be accompanied by gastritis with high acidity, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, cholecystitis, toxemia of pregnancy, occurs in diaphragmatic hernia, the intolerance of certain food substances. If the indigestion associated with belching (especially acidic), it can be a sign of gastritis or gastric ulcer. If the pain increases in the supine position, it is likely that the problem is in the esophagus.


Causes of heartburn

Causes of heartburn is acidity of the stomach, at least – the special sensitivity of the mucous membrane of the esophagus and the stomach at low pH. Often heartburn is accompanied by diseases of the stomach, but can also occur in neuropsychological disorders after a meal.

Improper diet and unhealthy lifestyles aggravate heartburn and is one of the most common causes.

  • Smoking, alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee and hot spices in large quantities irritate the stomach, it causes more acid and relaxes the stomach valve.

  • Heartburn triggers eating large quantities of citrus, tomatoes, various pickles, fresh bread, pies and fried foods.

  • Overeating leads to a stretching of the stomach and provokes a copious secretion of acid.
  • Use of such drugs as aspirin, ibuprofen, ortofen, and certain other provokes the intensification of kislotoproduktsii in the stomach and reflux of acid contents into the esophagus.
  • Wearing tight belts, heavy lifting, pregnancy, obesity contribute to increase in abdominal pressure that causes heartburn.
  • Cause of heartburn can sleep after eating.

  • Stress, neuroses, especially accompanied by anxiety, are also one of the reasons.


"Triggers" for heartburn

  1. Food in large quantities, especially fat.

  2. Overweight.

  3. Rest in a horizontal position after eating.

  4. Smoking.

  5. Alcohol.

  6. Soda drinks.

  7. Mint.

  8. Chocolate.

  9. Strong coffee and tea.

  10. Medicines to lower blood pressure and relax smooth muscles.


Heartburn after every meal

Regular heartburn after eating should not be viewed as an individual problem. This unpleasant symptom mainly indicates diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

A list of some diseases and conditions that cause heartburn after every meal:

  • peptic ulcer stomach or 12-duodenum;

  • hernia food aperture, where part of the stomach, and in some cases, and bowel loops displaced into the chest cavity through the food hole at the bottom of the esophagus. Wheninsufficient work of the obturator mechanisms the main accompanying symptom of this disorder is regular heartburn after eating;

  • chronic gastritis with hypersecretion, is also accompanied by a painful and persistent heartburn after eating due to the penetration of acidic stomach contents into the esophagus;
  • duodenitis – inflammation duodenal ulcer;

  • inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis);

  • obesity– excess fat in the abdominal cavity creates significant pressure inside the stomach, resulting in its contents flow into the esophagus;

  • gastro-esophageal-reflux disease (GERD), in which the disrupted lower esophageal sphincter, and stomach contents regularly thrown into the esophagus;
  • the effects of removing the gallbladder, part of the duodenum or of the stomach in the surgical treatment of peptic ulcer and of cancer of the stomach are also the cause of the receipt of the juice that contains the enzymes of the liver and pancreas into the esophagus;

  • pregnancy, as obesity leads to the increase in intragastric pressure. In addition, changes in hormone balance can also have an impact on the adequate functioning of the lower sphincter of the esophagus and digestive tract as a whole;

  • angina is accompanied by specific pain can be confused with heartburn.

Regular heartburn after eating is a major cause for the consultation with the gastroenterologist. The self, in this case, is not permissible because it can lead to severe consequences.


Heartburn and stomach pain

Almost all of the above condition or disease, with minor differences, can cause heartburn and stomach pain, consider them in detail:

  • chronic hyperacid gastritis is always accompanied by persistent heartburn, which occurs as a result of reflux of gastric juice containing acid, into the esophagus, irritating it and vespasia mucosa. In some cases heartburn may be equivalent to the pain that occurs a half or two hours after a meal;
  • duodenitis – the pain is felt constantly, but especially worse after eating in the "errors" in the diet, their loyal companion is heartburn. However, the pain gradually reduced, and the heartburn and bloating remain, of course,negatively affect the quality of life;
  • chronic cholecystitis is characterized by a combination of heartburn and pain in the right upper part of the stomach. Usually they occur after ingestion of meals of fatty foods or jolting during driving;
  • peptic ulcer disease. Heartburn and stomach pain can indicate the disease;
  • food hernia of the diaphragm opening. In this case, the pain comes when a person takes a horizontal position or when bending. It is localized in the stomach and may radiate to the chest or in the back and be accompanied by heartburn, but the pain will go away as soon as a person takes a vertical position;
  • GERD is also accompanied by pain in the upper part of the stomach and heartburn;
  • pregnancy. Companion this condition may be gastritis with high acidity, accompanied by all the characteristic symptoms;
  • disorders of the digestive system. Most often causeless pain in the stomach accompanied by heartburn, belching, and sometimes nausea, a lot of the young. They can be caused by a violation of the reduction of the walls of the gall bladder, stomach or intestine, and the production of excessive amounts of acid.

Feeling of heartburn in throat

This phenomenon occurs due to contact with gastric juice on the mucous membrane of the esophagus when violations motility of the duodenum, stomach or esophagus when the lower sphincter works poorly.

The PH of the walls of the esophagus is at a neutral level, and acid contained by the stomach acid irritates and burns mucous membrane of the esophagus.

Acid triggers inflammation, which can lead to erosions and ulcers of the esophagus. The result can be bleeding and in some severe cases, even ruptures the walls of the esophagus, life-threatening.

Scarring of ulcers leads to a narrowing of the esophagus in which a person feels in the throat impenetrable ball and has difficulty swallowing food. This condition does not just bring discomfort in life, but can become an indication for complex operations and increases the risk of developing cancer of the esophagus.

Feeling of heartburn in the throat can experience and absolutely healthy people with various violations in the diet. However, the seizures in these cases are extremely rare.

Pregnant women, as mentioned above, are also very often suffer from heartburn. Heartburn is typical for the second half of pregnancy, when the fetus is already a major pressure on the esophageal sphincter, opening it.

Learn more aboutheartburn during pregnancy

How to get rid of heartburn?

The following recipes can be used to facilitate "attacks" heartburn, or used as ancillary drugs in the treatment of disorders of the digestive system, accompanied by heartburn. But the main treatment prescribed by the specialist, they can not replace.

First and foremost, you need to organize the food and diet. To facilitate you can use decoctions of various herbs, which help reduce acidity and restore the body as a whole:

  • Infusion of chamomile medicinal. 2-3 tablespoons of chamomile collection pour a glass of boiling water and infuse for 10-20 minutes, strain and drink in small SIPS. To drink at least three glasses a day. Suitable and conventional chamomile tea.

  • Linseed. A teaspoon of seed, pour a little boiling water. Easier to cook in the evening to the morning of the infusion was ready. Before use, bring the volume of the resulting drink a full glass and drink on an empty stomach at least 14 days. You can use a more simple recipe. Flax seeds to grind and as soon as heartburn, a teaspoon of powder, pour a glass of warm water and drink in small SIPS.

  • Infusion of dried roots, leaves and seeds of Angelica grind to a powder state. Needed a pinch of powder per Cup of boiling water. After 15-20 minutes, the infusion is ready, it can be consumed three times a day.

  • The infusion of the seeds of anise, fennel and dried fennel. Take all the ingredients of a teaspoon and dissolve a Cup of boiling water. Drink a teaspoon until, until you stop heartburn. This means you can use a maximum of two weeks.

  • A good effect has freshly prepared juice of potatoes. It helps to get rid of stomach pain, heartburn and belching. Suitable for this purpose is potatoes with a personal garden or bought from truckers, tubers, had lain all winter in storage, do not use. During the ripening of the new crop in the fall, you can take several courses. To cook in the morning, before Breakfast (which is allowed and often used, to 3-5 times a day): potatoes to grate, squeeze the juice, you will need 1/2 Cup of juice, and immediatelydrink on an empty stomach. Then lie down for 30 minutes and after you can have Breakfast. The course of treatment is 10 days, a break is ten days, then the course may be repeated.

  • Another great adjunct in the treatment of diseases of the digestive tract – the birch fungus or chaga (based on the fungus produced the drug befungin). How to grow mushroom chaga?

  • Oats napar. Used in heartburn and pain in the stomach. Washed and dried oats with peel ground. Then one tablespoon of oatmeal powder is placed in the thermos and poured 1.5 cups of boiling water. The drink is brewed for five hours, then strain it carefully through, folded in several layers of cheesecloth, and take the fourth part of the Cup for 20 minutes before meals and at bedtime.

Other methods that can help you quickly get rid of heartburn


What to do when severe heartburn?

Herbal infusions is definitely good. But what to do when severe heartburn attacks at precisely the moment when there is not enough time for the preparation of infusions and decoctions, urgent to get on reception to the doctor, too, will fail and need relief right now?

A kind of "first aid" when severe heartburn can become:

  • it is not strange sounds, almonds. It is capable of neutralize stomach acid. Thorough chewing this nut is a very effective remedy for heartburn. The almonds need to rinse with boiling water to the skin easier shot, and chew. A little bit of patience – and heartburn "as arm lift".

  • Good results shows the use of oats or barley. Or other grain just enough to chew on just a few minutes, constantly swallowing saliva.

Important! In any case, do not "extinguish" heartburn baking soda or milk. The effect after using the soda, as the acidity really is sharply reduced. But in response, the stomach begins to produce hydrochloric acid with twice the aggression, and heartburn increases. Long-term use of soda may cause alkalosis (alkalinity of the blood) and peptic ulcer disease. Milk contains proteins and calcium, which act as stimulants of acid secretions in the stomach causing heartburn.

If traditional recipes from severe heartburn does not give the expected result, it is possible to turn to antacids. Their choice pharmacies are now quite large. Mostpopular:

  • Rennie
  • aluminium phosphate gel,
  • Almagell,
  • gaviscon,
  • Maalox and other medications.

But we should not forget about its side effects: constipation, diarrhea and other unpleasant consequences. In addition, they wash the body of calcium.

Therefore, we recommend not to self-medicate frequent heartburn. It is better to consult a doctor, undergo a detailed examination and carrying out correct treatment.


Diet with heartburn

Understand, what products should be preferred heartburn and what food should be discarded.

Much healthier meals, steamed, and baked and boiled vegetables:

You must include in your menu foods containing complex carbohydrates:

  • pasta of durum wheat;
  • branny or corn bread
  • brown rice.

Your "right" diet is incomplete without:

  • low-fat cheeses, sour cream and cottage cheese;
  • fish;
  • lean meat;
  • eggs, hard-boiled or soft-boiled;
  • various cereals: semolina, buckwheat, oats;
  • apples and bananas;
  • still mineral water (preferably alkaline), the juice of sour berries and fruits, green tea.

Than have to sacrifice:

  • fried, salty, spicy and oily, no "salsa with prozaikami" or shpikachki;
  • fat sour cream, cottage cheese, kefir;
  • oranges, lime and lemons. They contain acid that significantly increases the acidity of the stomach;
  • pastries and confectionery;
  • chocolate;
  • hot spices and seasonings;
  • scrambled eggs and fried omelette;
  • tomato paste;
  • strong coffee and tea;
  • alcohol;
  • sodas.

But diet is half the battle. The reason for heartburn can be overeating. The food you eat properly:

  • Eat smallportions, but often, 5-6 times a day.
  • The process must be slow, allowing you to chew your food.
  • The last meal before 19.00.
  • For at least 40 minutes after a meal should not take a horizontal position.
  • You should drink about 2 liters of water a day, evenly distributing this amount.

Tips for heartburn

How to avoid heartburn? Here are some tips:

  • during meals drink mineral water without gas, it will wash away the acid from the walls of the esophagus;
  • try to eat more often but in small portions;
  • limit yourself to these foods that trigger heartburn;
  • follow the rules of taking medicines;
  • if you feel the need to lie down after eating, raise the head of the bed by 10-15 cm.
  • in neurotic conditions will help a psychologist or therapist;
  • if you have constant heartburn – should see a doctor.

Be careful about your health. Listen to yourself. Because symptoms such as heartburn can be a signal of dangerous diseases.