Heartburn is a disease that is familiar to most of us. In medical practice, heartburn is also called gastroesophageal reflex disease, which occurs when the functioning of the esophagus is impaired. In the highly developed countries of the USA, Western Europe, about 50% of the population complain of heartburn. Therefore, most ask themselves the question: how to treat heartburn? According to a survey in Russia, a feeling of heartburn worries about 17–45% of the population.
Most modern publications indicate that the main cause of heartburn is ingestion of the contents of the stomach. There is also evidence that, in addition to HCl of gastric juice, proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes (pepsin, lipase), bile acids and pancreatic enzymes show a destructive effect on the mucous membrane of the esophagus. In case of violation of the esophageal valve, the contents of the stomach due to the retrograde (reverse) movement enters the esophagus. This process is accompanied by unpleasant sensations. There are some foods and drinks that provoke heartburn (fatty, fried foods, peppermint, coffee, chocolate, alcoholic and carbonated drinks). Some factors can also cause heartburn - tight clothes, exercise, pregnancy, smoking, stress. Often a feeling of heartburn occurs with the use of aspirin, sleeping pills, antispasmodic, antihistamines, sedatives. In women, when using contraceptive pills.
Signs of heartburn are manifested in the form of a kind of burning sensation in the upper abdominal cavity, this feeling is intensified with torso. If heartburn is manifested by additional symptoms - a feeling of fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting with blood, pain in the back and chest, increased sweating, you should immediately contact a specialist. Persistent signs of heartburn can indicate esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus), or cancer in the stomach and esophagus. It should be noted that even infants can feel a feeling of heartburn. This is due to the fact that infants (up to 6-12 months) after feeding can burp. In those children who have such a problem, heartburn can be accompanied by asthma, inflammation of the larynx and lungs.
Many gastroesophageal reflex disease is considered as one of the acid-dependent diseases, since hydrochloric acid acts as the main pathogenetic factor and the main symptom - heartburn, and esophagitis. Dysfunction of the lower food sphincter can develop against the background of scleroderma, pregnancy, as well as smoking, the use of pharmaceuticals that reduce smooth muscle tone (Theophylline, adrenergic blockers).
Medication for heartburn. Doctors restrict the use of fatty, fried foods, chocolate, coffee, strong tea, alcohol, citrus fruits, garlic, onions, etc. Therapy is aimed at stopping heartburn. For this, the patient needs to take antacid preparations (Megapack, Milanta, Maalox, Fosfalugel, Topalkan, Gaviscon) whose mechanism of action is aimed at reducing acidity in the stomach. It should be said that these drugs are characterized by speed, but the duration of action is small (about the spirit of the clock). For the purpose of prevention, experts recommend eating food often, in small portions, chewing it thoroughly (up to 30-40 times). After eating, you should not take a horizontal position of the body, do not engage in physical exercises.
Medication for heartburn: a conservative treatment. The effectiveness of treatment largely depends not only on the prescribed treatment regimen, but also on changes in the patient’s lifestyle. Doctors recommend changing the position of the body during sleep (for this the head end of the bed must be raised by 15 cm); abstain from smoking and drinking alcohol; some patients need to refuse to take medications (sedatives, tranquilizers, anticholinergics, calcium antagonists, drugs, progesterone); exclude loads that provoke an increase in intra-abdominal pressure.
Medications for heartburn: medication. To neutralize hydrochloric acid, antacids are prescribed that activate proteolytic enzymes, adsorb bile acids and lysophosphatidylcholine, and alkalize the stomach. The aluminum ions in the preparations have a cytoprotective effect. In modern medicine, people diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflex disease are prescribed medications for heartburn in the form of prokinetics, cytoprotectors, histamine H2-receptor blockers (Ranitidine, Famotidine, Nizatidine, Roxatidine). The latter actively block the secretion of pepsins, and also reduce the secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
Some people treat heartburn at home using traditional medicine: herbs (oregano, St. John's wort, caraway seeds, plantain) and vegetable juices (potatoes, cabbage, cucumber), etc.