Introduction to heartburn
Heartburn is caused by the acid reflux usually, and it is something that affects millions of people around the world on a regular basis.
Heartburn, of course, has nothing to do with the heart, but since it causes pain and irritation in the chest area, some people have deemed it heartburn, though the real origin of the name is not really known.
Acid reflux occurs when acid from the stomach is not contained there, but instead travels up and back into the esophagus. This usually results from the fact that the muscle which is supposed to keep the esophagus safe from this, the esophageal sphincter, is not working properly.
Though the stomach has a lining that makes it possible for the acid to remain in there without causing damage to the stomach, the esophagus does not have such protective lining.
Therefore, when the acid goes back up into the esophagus, a person will feel discomfort and pain from this, which is usually referred to as heartburn.
Heartburn occurs mostly in the chest are, but can also be felt in the throat as well. The pain will usually be even worse at night and when a person is trying to sleep, because the position of a person lying down will make it even easier for the stomach contents to make their way back up into the esophagus.
These problems are usually caused by the fact that a person is not eating as healthy as they should. Things that are known to cause acid reflux include greasy and fatty foods, alcohol and cigarettes.
It is also important to note that there are many medications that can lead to heartburn as well. For example, sedatives that treat anxiety or insomnia, beta blockers that treat blood pressure and heart disease, calcium channel blockers used for high blood pressure, progestin used for birth control, dopamine for Parkinson’s disease, and trcyclic antidepressants can all cause heartburn.
Stopping heartburn
As stated earlier, there are foods that can cause heartburn, therefore, it is very important to change the diet in order to avoid all foods that can potentially cause problems that will result in acid reflux and heartburn.
Citrus fruits and juices needs to be avoid, as do tomatoes, tomato sauces and ketchup, alcohol, chocolate, hot dogs and mustard sauce, fast food, greasy food, spicy food and fatty food, processes meat, French fries, potato chips and all other kinds of junk food as well.
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