HealthDuties

Your diet has a direct impact on heartburn. Chocolate, peppermint, caffeine, fried foods and alcohol are some substances that cause heartburn. Spicy foods, citrus fruits and smoking are known to directly irritate food-pipe. Starving yourself of food for long hours causes unutilized acid secreted in the stomach to create a burning sensation.

One should seek medical advice if blood comes from your mouth, you experience weight loss or begin to have difficulty swallowing. Heartburn may actually be confused with serious heart disease so one should seek medical advice if sweating or breathing difficulty.

A glass of cold milk, protein supplements in any liquid base or some solid food can help utilize the excess acid. Medications such as ranitidine and cimetidine block acid production & antacids can also help. Metclopromide is another option.

Sometimes surgery is needed in which the part of the stomach close to the food pipe is wrapped and sutured to provide extra strength.

Heartburn is a commonly felt discomfort in your chest just under the breastbone. Despite the pain in the chest it has nothing to do with the heart. Stomach acid regurgitates back to the food pipe through a weakened cardiac sphincter that normally prevents the back flow of food and gastric juice. When heartburn occurs repeatedly it is named gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Nearly 30% population and 1/4th of pregnant women experience heartburn.

Acid is protective and digestive in nature but its strength can damage tissue easily even while the stomach has a protective layering and the cardiac sphincter prevents upper food tract. Once this sphincter is weakened, acid regurgitates and causes pain. In later stages, permanent damage or ulcers may develop in the esophagus leading to serious consequences.