Introduction

Heartburn is a digestive problem that occurs when stomach acid comes into contact with the lining of the esophagus, causing irritation. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the heart though the discomfort may be confused with heart pain and vice versa and is the most common symptom of a condition called gastroesophageal reflux or acid reflux. It is sometimes called acid indigestion and usually occurs after meals and is a daily occurrence for about 10% of Americans and up to 50% of pregnant women.

Symptoms

Symptoms of acid indigestion and a heart attack may feel the same. One of the most common symptoms is spitting up. Heartburn symptoms are just flat-out uncomfortable and quite painful. However, many people will only experience the milder symptoms. Pay attention and treat it, especially if you feel symptoms often. The good news is that making changes to certain habits can go a long way to preventing acid indigestion and other symptoms of GERD.

Heartburn is usually easy to diagnose from the symptoms you describe to your doctor. If there is any question about the diagnosis, you may have the following tests to check for ulcers or other problems that might cause your symptoms: barium swallow x-ray study of the esophagus, complete upper GI (gastrointestinal) barium x-ray study of the esophagus, stomach, and upper intestine endoscopy: a procedure in which a thin flexible tube with a tiny camera is placed in your mouth and down into your stomach so your provider can see your esophagus and stomach.

To help reduce the symptoms you can try not to put a lot of pressure on the sphincter muscle. Seek emergency care if the following occur with the heartburn and do not go away within 15 minutes of treatment: shortness of breath; sweating; weakness; or arm, back, or chest pain.

Foods

To minimize attacks, a sufferer may find benefit in avoidance of certain foods that relax the opening between the stomach and esophagus, such as chocolate, peppermint, and chamomile tea shortly before bedtime. Restricting diet is very important, since 90-95% of sufferers of heartburn or esophageal disorder can link their symptoms to specific foods. If the person finds that certain foods tend to make the condition worse, or more frequent, they would be better served to avoid them, or at least talk to the doctor about products that can help reduce the amount of stomach acid that can cause acid reflux.

Conclusion

Heartburn usually is due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the rise of stomach acid back up into the esophagus. Acid indigestion and reflux are very common, with 10 percent of the population experiencing these symptoms at least once a week and can be brought on or worsened by pregnancy and by many different medications. It is common condition, and an occasional episode is generally nothing to worry about. Relief in the form of milk can be effective and drinking a small amount of milk regularly over a period of time can start to heal the effects as it washes acid back into the stomach.

A simple and relatively harmless way to treat a one time heartburn is to drink a solution of a small amount of Sodium bicarbonate mixed with water, which quickly neutralizes the acid that causes the pain. Chewing gum can provide short-term relief by stimulating the production of saliva, which dilutes and flushes out stomach acid. When heartburn occurs frequently, however, or becomes severe, you should consult your doctor.

Richard H. Ealom is the Author of this article and the creator of "Free Articles On Diseases: How To Prevent and Cure Them". Need more information Please visit our website @ http://rainydrops.com/a-heartburn/heartburn.php or http://rainydrops.com/alternative-orthodox.php

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