Why Do I Have Heartburn?
Heartburn is characterized by a burning in the esophagus, right below the breastbone, that can also be painful. It is usually a product of the regurgitation of gastric juices. The pain can even radiate into the back, neck and jaw.
Heartburn is a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Despite being given the name “heartburn”, it has nothing to do with a problem of the heart. It is called this due to the location of the burning, which happens near or around the heart. Sometimes symptoms of a heart attack, however, do feel like a burning sensation.
There are many things one can do to prevent the onset of heartburn. One way to minimize attacks is to avoid certain foods that cause an excess of stomach acid to be produced. The foods to avoid are fruits that are more acid in nature, fatty foods, coffee, onions, chocalate, tea and foods that are spicy.
Some foods can also cause relaxation of the opening between the stomach and esophagus, more likely allowing food to back up into the throat.
Avoid eating big meals as they can also cause excess acid production. Eating smaller and more frequent meals instead of large ones can help to alleviate attacks of heartburn. This is especially true for dinner, your last meal of the day.
Wearing tight clothing around the abdomen will increase the likelihood of heartburn because of the pressure it puts on the stomach. This pressure can cause stomach acids to reflux into the lower esophagus.
One of the ways to relieve heartburn at night is to raise the head of the bed or to raise the upper body with pillows. It is important to raise the whole upper body, not just the head. This will cause strain on the neck and do little, if anything, for heartburn.
Clearly, dietary changes are very important in the treatment of heartburn. In fact, 90-95% of heartburn sufferers can link their symptoms to certain foods. Managing your diet is a likely way to treat your heartburn.
