Heartburn

One of the most common medical problems associated with digestive disorders is heartburn. Heartburn occurs when the esophagus is swollen and irritated due to the hydrochloric acid that passes through it from the stomach. Its most prevalent symptom is a throbbing pain that originates at the back of the ribs and spreads out up to the throat. Generally, the pain is experienced after each meal. The sufferer may feel that as if there is a liquid in his stomach that goes up his throat. In some instances, he may feel that there is a pungent or vinegary taste in his mouth. Also, each time he stoops or sleeps the pain is aggravated. Aside from that, there are other symptoms of heartburn such as burping or bloating. In case the heartburn is caused by GERD, the sufferer may experience symptoms such as asthma, severe coughing, laryngitis, sore throat, bad breath, sinus infection and others.

The symptoms of heartburn are very different from that of the heart attack. A person suffers from heart attack when there are chest pains. The pain is usually centered on the area around the chest and branches out to the left portion of the shoulders, neck as well as arms. Patients also feel weak and woozy accompanied by unsettled stomach, vomiting and out of breath.

Serious cases of heartburn happen when it is coupled with abdominal pain or hemorrhage. This may be attributable to other diseases such as gastritis, ulcer or gall bladder problem. The condition is indicative of hemorrhage in your stomach or throat, especially when you throw up blood. This is the reason why people under this condition have darker stools compared to the normal one.

There are several tests conducted to prove and verify the harshness of heartburn in connection with GERD. These tests include the so-called GI endoscopy, esophageal manometry and others. Although some of the symptoms are easy to determine, severe heartburn may be indicative of a more severe medical problems such as esophagitis, hiatal hernia or cancer of the esophagus.

By and large, heartburn is a form of pain felt at the back of the breastbone spreading out towards the throat. The pain is a result of the loosening of the lower esophageal sphincter muscle. Other contributing factors include digestive juices together with hydrochloric acid entering the esophagus from the stomach. This in turn inflames the defenseless lining found in your esophagus, thereby resulting to heartburn. Another condition that may be attributable to heartburn is indigestion. Among the consequences of indigestion are bloating, unsettled stomach, vomiting, dizziness, abdominal pain and others.

In order to remedy the effects of heartburn, sufferers usually take antacids. Antacids are known to be very effective in counteracting the acid in the stomach and the throat. However, the use of these medicines may have a great effect on the digestive process since they lessen the effect of the acids. Indigestion may take place when you have a weak stomach muscle. As a result, majority of the people suffering from heartburn also experience indigestion. Hence, whatever the cause of the indigestion maybe, it is of the essence to practice a rigorous diet once you undergo heartburn medication.

Understanding Heartburn Recommended Resources:

University of Virginia

Harvard Health Publications