Heartburn or burning sensation in the chest area is a primary symptom of return (reflux) of gastric acid, and the condition that occurs because of the repeating episodes of the acid return is called gastroesophageal reflux disease or shortened GERD. This desease is usually a consequence of muscle weakness, lower esophageal sphincter (LES). LES, like a ring, surrounds the lower part of esophagus, a pipe that takes food to the stomach. LES opens with swallowing and enables food to enter the stomach. However, LES needs to be closed so the gastric acid doesn’t go – return – to the esophagus. When the acid is back in the esophagus, you feel a burning sensation.
Causes
A large number of things can loosen LES: certain medication, some food, emotional stress, smoking, fast eating, inadequate chewing or lying down after a meal. Even when LES is firm, heartburn can occur as a result of pressure upon the muscle from too much eating, tight clothes, pregnancy or obesity.
Who suffers from it?
Someone who often uses non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (e.g. acetylsalicylic acid), or some other medication, pregnant women, little children (physiologically up to 10 months).
Symptoms
You enjoy your meal – but not what happens after it. You lay down to rest, and then you wake up with a painful sensation of burning in your chest. Sometimes the pain is so severe that people are scared that they are getting a heart attack (and sometimes people with a heart attack think that they are having heartburn). Both conditions cause chest pains. It usually occurs within one hour after a meal.
When is the time to go to a doctor?
If the episodes of heartburn are often and are in your way of doing everyday activities or if you feel heartburn chronically and for a long time, you should go to a doctor.
Treatment
Antacids are drugs that neutralize gastric acid, relieve pain and burning in your chest which are main symptoms of the gastric acid return. Antacids usually start working within 15 minutes, and their effect lasts for one or two hours – if they are working. Medication that can affect heartburn to occur are: non-steroidal medication against inflammation (e. g. acetylsalicylic acid), estrogen, narcotics, some antidepressants, some tranquilizers and asthma remedies. If you are taking any of these medication and you often have heartburn, ask your pharmacist about effective substitutes. Do not smoke or drink alcoholic beverages. Both loosen LES and increase secretion of gastric acid.
Responding antacid
There is a large selection of antacids in pharmacies , so you can choose which one suits you the best. Gastal is one of them, especially suitable for pregnant women.
Treatment – specialized
If you are experiencing two episodes of heartburn per week or more, or you feel it chronically and for a long time so it is in your way of doing everyday activities, you should go to a doctor. Even the taking of antacids is not helpful in some cases. The doctor might send you to an examination with a probe that he retracts through your mouth to your stomach (esophagogastroscopy) so he can determine the damage degree of the mucosa of the esophagus. You might have pepsin or bile reflux. After a long-term acid abrasion of the mucosa of the esophagus inflammation of the esophagus can occur (esophagitis), so the doctor will prescribe medication that block acid secretion so the inflammation can be calmed and the symptoms alleviated.
Prognosis
If you are pregnant, the symptoms will probably go away on their own after the birth. Taking the antacids is also helpful. If the heartburn is caused by obesity, then losing weight is the solution. Consuming of the alcoholic beverages and smoking spur heartburn, so quitting should be taken into consideration.
Prevention
The best way to fight heartburn is to try to prevent it. Relax while you eat. Stress increases the production of gastric acid. Sit. Eat slowly. Enjoy every single bite. Listen to relaxing music. Eat slowly and don’t take huge amounts of food. Big meals overfill the stomach and they can drive the acid even through a firm LES. Try to eat four or five smaller meals instead of three big ones. Avoid hot and spicy food. Some sorts of food increase the secretion of gastric acid: citrus, garlic, sodas, spicy food and tomato based food. Some sorts of foods cause releasing of the compounds similar to hormones that loosen LES: fatty foods, chocolate, tea, coffee and alcoholic drinks. Avoid eating before going to bed. Do not lie down after a meal. If you suffer from heartburn during the night, do not eat anything several hours before going to bed. Lose weight. Being overweight increases the pressure on the stomach and can drive the acid to the esophagus. Because of that, a lot of pregnant women have heartburn. Loosen your belt. Tight clothes increases the pressure on your stomach. Chew gums. They increase the production of saliva, which helps to decrease the burning feeling in the esophagus and sends the acid back to the stomach.