Each heartburn sensation describes in different ways, for example, as if the stomach is full or literally bursting from the inside. But basically it is a burning sensation behind the sternum or in the epigastric region. It is caused by the ingestion of gastric acid into the esophagus. She burns the mucous membrane of our esophagus, damaging it, causing the most that is a real chemical burn! The good news is that the acid in the stomach has a low concentration, so the burn, in fact, is tolerable. However, constant relapses can lead to serious damage to the esophagus.
What causes heartburn
This trouble occasionally occurs in every person. The only difference is that for someone this is a one-time occurrence, while someone is forced to suffer from a “fire” in the chest constantly. There are a lot of reasons why heartburn happens, because in itself it is not a disease! This is just a symptom of an ailment. Also, do not confuse heartburn with a certain burning sensation in the chest that occurs with a disease of the nervous system or, for example, with coronary insufficiency.
Antacids come to the rescue
One of the causes of heartburn is the use of fatty, spicy or sweet foods. A “fire” in the chest or throat usually occurs some time after eating, especially if the meal was plentiful.
The foods that cause heartburn in most people are:
- tomatoes (contain a lot of acid);
- hot or cold cakes;
- sweet tea;
- caffeine;
- brown bread, especially just baked;
- peppermint (even despite its calming effect);
- fried foods;
- alcohol;
- onion garlic;
- vinegar;
- citrus.
In this case, heartburn can be eliminated by taking antacid drugs, such as, for example, Rennie, Fosfalugel, Heartburn, Gastal.
Folk methods
In medicine, there have been cases when people could not cope with heartburn medications, as they continued to consume foods that provoke this unpleasant sensation. Therefore, traditional medicine came to the aid of the sufferers against sore throat: there is simply a huge number of homemade ways to eliminate heartburn - from Borjomi milk or mineral water to fried sunflower seeds and cigarette ash!
Be that as it may, but if antacids or folk remedies can "put out the fire" in the chest, then this does not mean the complete cure of a disease, from which there is heartburn. Remember that this is just a symptom, so people suffering from it must visit a doctor!
A separate case - heartburn during pregnancy
Women in position may have two answers to the question of what causes heartburn.
In the first case, this occurs due to hormonal changes in the body in the early stages. Such discomfort soon passes. If the gestational age is later, things are worse. The fact is that the growing uterus, as it grows, begins to support the stomach. And he begins to put pressure on the diaphragm, causing shortness of breath and provoking a reflux of gastric acid into the esophagus.
If you want to get rid of heartburn during pregnancy, review your diet by consulting a dietitian who will help you make an individual regimen. Sometimes heartburn is eliminated by the medication method. Talk to the doctor, but not with the nutritionist, but with the therapist. Do not self-medicate under any circumstances!