Darrick Robles Heartburn occurs when stomach acid enters the esophagus. A painful burning sensation can be felt behind the breastbone. Coughing and abdominal pain can also occur. Heartburn is basically a sensation and not a disease in its own right. However, frequent heartburn can be the main symptom of reflux disease.
Heartburn symptoms
Heartburn can cause the following symptoms :
- Burning chest pains (especially after eating and at night)
- Sour or bitter belching
- lump in throat
- feeling of pressure in the abdomen
- Unpleasant taste in the mouth
- Increased amount of mucus in the throat
- Persistent cough (especially in the morning)
Patients often find that lying down makes heartburn symptoms worse .
Causes of heartburn
The typical heartburn symptoms are caused by gastric juice attacking the esophagus. When eating, the opening between the stomach and the esophagus is usually closed by muscles so that the stomach contents cannot flow back. In the case of heartburn, however, this sphincter muscle does not work properly, allowing gastric juice to leak out.
If you put pressure on your stomach, you are more likely to get heartburn. This can e.g. This can be the case, for example, during pregnancy, if you are overweight or if you lift heavy loads . Some medications can also cause heartburn symptoms, such as medicines that contain aspirin. Last but not least, alcohol, nicotine and heavy meals can promote heartburn.
Diagnosis of heartburn
Occasional heartburn is usually harmless. However, gastroesophageal reflux disease can be behind frequent heartburn . It is important to diagnose this clearly in order to initiate appropriate drug heartburn treatment if necessary.
In order to detect reflux disease, the doctor will first take the patient ‘s medical history . This may necessitate further investigations. This includes the examination of the stomach and esophagus , the measurement of esophageal pressure and the 24-hour pH measurement . The pH value in the esophagus is measured with a probe for a day.
You can do this yourself if you have heartburn
Anyone who has heartburn or suffers from reflux disease can actively support heartburn treatment. Here’s what you can do :
- Reduce alcohol and coffee
- Avoid high-fat, fried and spicy foods
- Lose weight if you are overweight
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals
- Stop smoking
- Elevate upper body when sleeping
- Avoid napping or sleeping at night immediately after eating
- Do not take medicines containing aspirin
There are over-the-counter medications in pharmacies that neutralize stomach acid.
Treatment options for heartburn
More severe heartburn is treated with prescription medications . They reduce acid production. In the case of a severe reflux disease or if medication does not work or is not tolerated, an operation can also be considered as a heartburn treatment .
This is how Med-Healths can help with heartburn
Do I only have heartburn or do I have reflux disease? Which heartburn treatment is right for me? A video consultation on Med-Healths can help with questions of this nature. Appropriate medication can also be prescribed if necessary.
Attention : If you experience the following symptoms in connection with heartburn, you should consult a doctor immediately . This is especially true if you’re over 50 and haven’t had any of these types of problems before:
- weight loss or decreased appetite
- Trouble or pain when swallowing
- Vomit
