Heartburn symptoms are usually suggestive of acid reflux or GERD.
But they can also occur with intestinal motility and cardiac problems.
Pregnant women, too, complain of heartburn especially during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Regardless of the nature, heartburn symptoms are essentially the same.
What Is Heartburn? First, you may want to know exactly what heartburn is.
Well it does not literally mean your heart is burning, although it pretty much feels like it.
Heartburn is acid indigestion; it means that instead of the acid getting digested in the stomach, it flows back to the esophagus, causing irritation.
Now, the acid regurgitating happens because your lower esophageal sphincter or LES is relaxed or becomes weak possibly due to a medical condition or too much consumption of chocolates, coffee, spices, fatty foods, fried foods, peppermint, and alcoholic beverages.
Heartburn Symptoms Heartburn symptoms are often described as: · A burning sensation that usually starts from the diaphragm or behind the breastbone and then radiating all the way to the throat.
This feeling typically occurs after eating spicy foods, fatty and fried foods, foods with caffeine and sugar, and drinking alcoholic beverages.
· Sour tasteor burning in the throat.
· Difficulty swallowing.
· Sore throat, chronic cough, and chronic hoarseness.
· Chest painwhen lying down or bending low.
Chest pain is a more severe manifestation of heartburn.
It can be confused with heart attack.
But you can usually tell if the chest pain is due to heartburn or heart attack when the pain: o Occurs below the breastbone and rarely radiates to the arms, shoulders or neck.
(If it's a heart attack, the pain can be sharp and usually radiates to the arms, shoulders or neck, and may be accompanied by dizziness and shortness of breath.
) o Happens after eating.
(If it's a heart attack, the pain can be sudden and can occur anytime.
) o Is relieved by taking antacids.
(If it's a heart attack, the pain is relieved by nitroglycerin.
) o Is not accompanied by cold sweats.
(If it's a heart attack, the pain is accompanied by cold sweats.
) Heartburn Prevention Heartburn can be mild, moderate or severe.
Mild cases typically occur once a month, moderate heartburn occurs twice a month, while severe heartburn can happen everyday.
Regardless of severity, heartburn is annoying and preventing it becomes a priority.
Sure, there are medications that control heartburn symptoms, but do you really like the idea of taking medications for the rest of your life? To prevent heartburn: · Take note of what you eat.
Find out which foods seem to trigger an attack and avoid them.
Most people with heartburn react negatively to caffeinated foods, garlic and onions, spicy foods, and acidic foods.
· Cigarette smoking can cause heartburn (as well as numerous medical conditions) so better quit the habit while you still can.
· If you are taking aspirin, talk to your doctor of an alternative medication.
Or make sure to take it with meals.
Aspirin can irritate your stomach and trigger heartburn attacks.
· Eat small, frequent meals.
This is actually a good idea even if you do not have heartburn.
Eating smaller but more frequent meals encourages more production of enzymes and juices that help your digestion.
At the same time it also keeps your metabolism going so more waste is eliminated.
· Eat properly.
Be in an upright position when eating.
This helps to prevent the backflow of food.
· Don't lie down right away after eating.
Keep in mind that it usually takes hours for the food to be digested and until it does there is always the possibility of it regurgitating back if you are already prone to develop heartburn symptoms.
But they can also occur with intestinal motility and cardiac problems.
Pregnant women, too, complain of heartburn especially during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Regardless of the nature, heartburn symptoms are essentially the same.
What Is Heartburn? First, you may want to know exactly what heartburn is.
Well it does not literally mean your heart is burning, although it pretty much feels like it.
Heartburn is acid indigestion; it means that instead of the acid getting digested in the stomach, it flows back to the esophagus, causing irritation.
Now, the acid regurgitating happens because your lower esophageal sphincter or LES is relaxed or becomes weak possibly due to a medical condition or too much consumption of chocolates, coffee, spices, fatty foods, fried foods, peppermint, and alcoholic beverages.
Heartburn Symptoms Heartburn symptoms are often described as: · A burning sensation that usually starts from the diaphragm or behind the breastbone and then radiating all the way to the throat.
This feeling typically occurs after eating spicy foods, fatty and fried foods, foods with caffeine and sugar, and drinking alcoholic beverages.
· Sour tasteor burning in the throat.
· Difficulty swallowing.
· Sore throat, chronic cough, and chronic hoarseness.
· Chest painwhen lying down or bending low.
Chest pain is a more severe manifestation of heartburn.
It can be confused with heart attack.
But you can usually tell if the chest pain is due to heartburn or heart attack when the pain: o Occurs below the breastbone and rarely radiates to the arms, shoulders or neck.
(If it's a heart attack, the pain can be sharp and usually radiates to the arms, shoulders or neck, and may be accompanied by dizziness and shortness of breath.
) o Happens after eating.
(If it's a heart attack, the pain can be sudden and can occur anytime.
) o Is relieved by taking antacids.
(If it's a heart attack, the pain is relieved by nitroglycerin.
) o Is not accompanied by cold sweats.
(If it's a heart attack, the pain is accompanied by cold sweats.
) Heartburn Prevention Heartburn can be mild, moderate or severe.
Mild cases typically occur once a month, moderate heartburn occurs twice a month, while severe heartburn can happen everyday.
Regardless of severity, heartburn is annoying and preventing it becomes a priority.
Sure, there are medications that control heartburn symptoms, but do you really like the idea of taking medications for the rest of your life? To prevent heartburn: · Take note of what you eat.
Find out which foods seem to trigger an attack and avoid them.
Most people with heartburn react negatively to caffeinated foods, garlic and onions, spicy foods, and acidic foods.
· Cigarette smoking can cause heartburn (as well as numerous medical conditions) so better quit the habit while you still can.
· If you are taking aspirin, talk to your doctor of an alternative medication.
Or make sure to take it with meals.
Aspirin can irritate your stomach and trigger heartburn attacks.
· Eat small, frequent meals.
This is actually a good idea even if you do not have heartburn.
Eating smaller but more frequent meals encourages more production of enzymes and juices that help your digestion.
At the same time it also keeps your metabolism going so more waste is eliminated.
· Eat properly.
Be in an upright position when eating.
This helps to prevent the backflow of food.
· Don't lie down right away after eating.
Keep in mind that it usually takes hours for the food to be digested and until it does there is always the possibility of it regurgitating back if you are already prone to develop heartburn symptoms.