Some people experience a rather unpleasant occurrence, such as heartburn in the throat. The reasons for this condition, from the point of view of medicine, are the contact of the gastric juice with the mucous membrane of the esophagus. As a result, a person experiences a burning sensation. How to get rid of it? It is necessary to study, so that heartburn in the throat is no longer tormented, the causes, methods of eliminating the unpleasant phenomenon.
Pathology characteristic
Heartburn is a burning sensation that occurs in the chest and throat. In this case, nausea, bloating, belching, bitter or sour taste may appear.
Heartburn affects up to 40% of people. For some, it is rare. Someone feels this unpleasant feeling systematically.
However, even those who are regularly tormented by heartburn in their throats, the reasons for this condition are in no hurry to find. They do not go to the doctor. At the same time, they believe that everyone has an unpleasant phenomenon and does not have any consequences. But if you do not treat this condition, then heartburn will become permanent. A person will not be able to eat normally and lead a familiar lifestyle.
You can neutralize burning by drinking a glass of water. If this does not help, take special medications. With the constant occurrence of heartburn, you must definitely consult a specialist. After all, this can be a symptom of gastritis, cholecystitis or ulcers.
Remember! If belching is accompanied by belching, then the source of the problem is most often gastritis or an ulcer.
Heartburn in the throat: causes
What can underlie the occurrence of this condition?
Burning in the esophagus occurs as a result of:
- increased acidity and sensitivity of the mucous membranes;
- stomach diseases, cholecystitis;
- frequent medication;
- pregnancy
- nervous conditions;
- weakening of the muscles of the esophagus;
- hiatal hernia;
- diabetes.
In addition, heartburn can be caused by bad habits and a wrong lifestyle:
- Snacks on the go, poor chewing of food.
- Overeating (the stomach stretches and releases a lot of acid).
- Smoking and alcohol.
- Passion for spicy foods, sugary dishes, chocolate, carbonated drinks and coffee.
- Eating just before bedtime.
- Excessive use of citrus fruits.
- Excess weight.
- Wearing corsets.
- Great physical activity.
Symptoms of Heartburn
Burning in the esophagus and throat, belching - you can get rid of these phenomena on your own at home. But if these sensations arise constantly, urgent consultation of a specialist is necessary. It is important to find out what is the reason for the occurrence of heartburn in the throat, and choose the appropriate treatment.
If an unpleasant condition is accompanied by bloody stools, vomiting with blood, chest and back pain, excessive sweating, then urgent medical attention is needed.
Symptoms of heartburn:
- sour or bitter belching ;
- burning in the upper region of the stomach and chest;
- rushing to the throat of an unpleasant fluid;
- heaviness in the stomach;
- lump in the throat;
- return of food to the oral cavity with narrowing of the lower part of the esophagus;
- vomiting
The consequences of pathology
What can cause heartburn in the throat? The reasons and consequences can be explained to you in detail by a doctor, on a visit to which you should not hesitate.
Heartburn leads to a number of serious complications:
- If gastric juice enters the esophagus, a burn may occur. This provokes weight loss, dehydration, bleeding. As a result, ulcers can form, which over time heal. They lead to a narrowing of the esophagus.
- With the formation of a large number of healed ulcers, even a fatal outcome is possible. This is most often caused by damage to the walls of the esophagus.
- Prolonged heartburn can also signal the development of stomach cancer.
- The appearance of caries is one of the consequences of this ailment.
Regular prevention and counseling with specialists will help prevent the effects of heartburn.
Diet for pathology
Initially, you should reconsider your diet, if you often suffer from heartburn in the throat. The reasons are the throwing of the contents of the stomach into the esophagus. So, you should choose a diet that will minimize such phenomena.
When burning in the esophagus, it is necessary:
- Remove from the diet spicy, fatty, smoked and sweet foods, citrus fruits, alcohol, coffee and tea, fatty dairy products, carbonated drinks.
- Steam dishes, boil or bake.
- Indicated for use: bread with bran, dark rice, durum wheat products, meat and fish, green tea, cereals. For dessert - bananas and fruit and berry compotes.
Treatment: methods and means
They struggle with this condition mainly by conservative methods. The patient is prescribed medications.
In exceptional cases, heartburn requires surgery. Such measures are taken when no other therapy helps.
Home Therapies
Of course, it is best to discuss the causes of heartburn after eating a throat with a doctor. And it is with the doctor to choose the best methods of dealing with this condition. But what if the unpleasant phenomenon was taken by surprise?
The most common way to get rid of heartburn at home is soda. It reduces burning and neutralizes acid. Take soda, dissolving one teaspoon of the product in water. But doctors do not recommend using this method of getting rid of heartburn often. The reason is that soda promotes water retention in the body and affects the elasticity of blood vessels. And this complicates the activity of the heart. Therefore, it can not be taken to people with high blood pressure.
Also, pregnant women are not recommended to use soda. After all, her admission contributes to the formation of edema, from which most expectant mothers already suffer.
There are other folk remedies for treating heartburn that do not do as much harm as soda:
- juices (freshly squeezed) - potato, carrot;
- still mineral water (alkaline);
- a teaspoon of vegetable oil;
- herbal tea (from St. John's wort, plantain, chamomile);
- tincture of centaury or calamus root;
- berries of viburnum (fresh, dried);
- walnuts;
- crushed eggshell;
- pumpkin seeds;
- peas, fresh or dried (chewed for a long time).
If the use of these drugs does not lead to the desired result, then start taking medications.
Pharmacy medicines
Initially, you should realize that without therapy for the underlying disease, heartburn in the throat is practically not eliminated. Causes and treatment are very closely interconnected. If you do not deal with the source of the problem, then heartburn, suppressed by drugs, will return again.
Medicines for the treatment of heartburn are divided into:
- Antacids. They neutralize hydrochloric acid. This group includes drugs: Almagel, Gastal, Fosfalugel, Gastatsid, Maaloks, Rennie, Venter. These drugs can have side effects, which include constipation or diarrhea. Therefore, before taking medication, a doctor’s consultation is necessary.
- Homeopathic remedies. They have no side effects. When these drugs are prescribed by a doctor who will calculate the dose, such drugs are effective. They are able to permanently relieve the patient from heartburn and related symptoms.
- Antisecretory drugs. Reduce the formation of gastric juice. This group includes drugs: Omez, Ortanol, Noflux, Omeprazole. Contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation.
- Drugs that reduce the volume of gastric juice. These include medications: “Ranitidine”, “Histak”, “Famotidine”. Assign during pregnancy with caution.
- Drugs that protect the mucous membrane of the epithelium. When they are taken, a gel film forms on the walls of the esophagus. These include the medicine "Gaviscon." It can be taken during pregnancy.
Expectant mothers without consulting a doctor to reduce heartburn can take:
- “Activated Carbon” and “Smecta”. These are natural preparations that cleanse the gastrointestinal tract.
- Digestion-improving medicines: Mezim, Pancreatin, Festal.
Also, pregnant women suffering from heartburn, you must follow the daily routine and diet.
Pathology Prevention
Doctors recommend that you follow a number of simple rules to protect your body from an unpleasant condition.
To prevent heartburn, you should:
- Eat a balanced and proper diet, limit the intake of food, which contributes to the appearance of heartburn. These are: citrus fruits, carbonated drinks, salty, spicy, fried foods, sweets, coffee, strong tea, alcohol. Do not overeat.
- Avoid excessive physical exertion.
- Endoscopic examination at the clinic regularly. This is a study that examines the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. In addition, a biopsy is done to determine the composition and structure of internal tissues.
As you can see, a rather unpleasant condition is heartburn in the throat. Reasons, treatment should be interpreted only by a doctor. But it is much better, so as not to deal with the complications of the disease in the future, constantly remember about prevention.