Many people with stomach problems report symptoms such as heartburn and belching. Reasons, treatment of the underlying ailment are discussed in this article. Nevertheless, many still doubt whether heartburn and belching are interconnected.
Why appear?
Belching is a symptom of expelling gases from the stomach and intestines through the mouth. Heartburn - throwing the contents of the stomach into the esophagus with irritation of the mucosa and the appearance of an unpleasant burning sensation behind the sternum or in the stomach.
With many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, heartburn and belching can occur. The reasons for their appearance may be associated with food, food inaccuracies, or disturbances in the functioning of the stomach, small intestine, or gall bladder. Belching and heartburn can not always be diagnosed as independent symptoms. In most cases, in the complex they accompany various diseases of the stomach.
Belching after eating - aerophagy
This symptom can be independent or compulsory. Air, as a rule, enters the esophagus and causes belching. This usually does not cause discomfort and does not lead to bloating.
Reasons for swallowing air:
- fast food or drink;
- mouth breathing;
- nasal congestion;
- hyperventilation associated with anxiety;
- regular chewing of chewing gum;
- poorly fitting dentures.
Carbonated drinks such as soda and beer can cause gas to build up in the stomach and esophagus. Some antacids cause the formation of carbon dioxide as a by-product of the neutralization of stomach acid and cause a condition that accompanies heartburn and belching. The reasons for the treatment of these symptoms depend on which products were taken by the patient. Changing the nutritional regime normalizes the function of the digestive tract.
Esophageal hernia
A hiatal hernia is a protrusion of part of the stomach into the chest cavity due to a weakening or rupture of the diaphragm. The protrusion and contraction of the stomach causes a number of gastrointestinal symptoms.
The exact causes of the appearance of a hiatal hernia are unknown, but there are a number of provoking factors:
- obesity;
- pregnancy;
- smoking;
- physical exercises with weights;
- chronic respiratory disorders, which are manifested by persistent coughing;
- surgical procedures affecting the diaphragm;
- congenital malformations or defects.
A hiatal hernia may not manifest itself for a long time. Acute symptoms include pain in the epigastrium or behind the sternum, discomfort after eating, a feeling of overeating after small meals, dyspepsia, sour taste in the mouth, constant heartburn and belching. The causes and treatment are well understood, therefore various therapies have been developed.
With a hernia of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm, some pain in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen in the stomach and diaphragm is determined by palpation.
Diagnostics
As a rule, only fluoroscopy is enough to identify a hernia. In order to isolate and determine organs translucent for rays, internally radiologically active substances such as barium are used.
Diet and remedies
So, we consider the appearance of such unpleasant symptoms as heartburn and belching, causes. Both methods of treatment and its methods include the appointment of products that do not irritate the mucosa. Carbonated drinks, sour and spicy foods, coffee and strong tea can aggravate a painful condition.
It is recommended that you stop taking foods that may aggravate symptoms such as heartburn and belching. Methods of treatment in advanced cases are surgical intervention.
Helicobacter pylori infection
What else can cause constant heartburn and belching? The causes (and treatment) are well understood with Helicobacter pylori. This infection affects the stomach, causing increased formation of stomach acid and ulceration of the walls of the stomach. This causes the patient to have symptoms such as heartburn and belching. The reasons for treating H. pylori infection depend on the degree of infection with this bacterium, which absorbs ammonia and emits carbon dioxide. In chronic infections, a large contamination of H. pylori bacteria can contribute to the formation of a significant amount of carbon dioxide in the stomach. Infection often causes peptic ulcers.
Diagnosis and treatment
A gastric mucosa biopsy is one of the most effective methods for detecting H. pylori infection, which should be done in a clinic or hospital.
Diet and remedies for Helicobacter pylori infection include many drugs. Many studies have shown that garlic is quite effective in treating H. pylori infection when used in combination with omeprazole.
Antibiotic therapy
It is advisable to treat infections with antibiotics in combination with proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole. Proton pump inhibitors can help in the treatment by acting and soothing the gastric mucosa, while antibiotics kill bacteria and prevent further growth of the microorganism population. This leads to the elimination of such an initial, as heartburn and belching, causes. And the consequences in case of timely treatment will not appear in the form of gastric ulcer.
Therapy usually leads to a full recovery, but the proton pump inhibitor must be used for a long time. The chances of a relapse are high, so treatment should be constantly monitored.
The use of antibiotics may aggravate the inflammation of the gastric mucosa, and repeated courses may be required. Long-term use of antibiotics can also affect intestinal activity, and a suitable probiotic is needed for complex treatment.
Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis is a paralysis of the abdominal muscles that prevents or delays the movement of the contents of the stomach into the small intestine. The causative factor can affect the innervation of the muscles of the stomach.
Causes of gastroparesis:
- diabetes (type I or II);
- anorexia nervosa;
- damage to a nerve or muscle due to surgery or other injury;
- thyroid disease;
- pancreatitis
- scleroderma;
- condition after a viral infection.
Symptoms of gastroparesis:
- a feeling of fullness of the stomach quickly or after small meals;
- nausea, vomiting;
- unintentional weight loss;
- heartburn and belching.
The causes of the appearance and treatment methods for gastroparesis will determine the correct diagnosis. The endoscopic method is the most accessible and harmless. It allows you to determine the presence of benign tumors and cancerous tumors.
Diet
Liquid and semi-liquid dishes are recommended. Large amounts of fat in the diet are not shown, because they require a significant increase in intestinal motility and the production of an increased amount of enzymes by the liver and pancreas. Alcohol is not recommended for gastroparesis, as it may slow gastric emptying.
Treatment of paresis of the stomach
The treatment of gastroparesis is complex and combines a diet, drug therapy and a surgical method.
Heartburn and belching: how to treat it depends on the cause that caused these symptoms.
- Intolerance to certain foods can arise from digestive disorders or malabsorption in the intestines.
- Lactose intolerance occurs due to the lack of the digestive enzyme lactase.
- Hereditary fructose intolerance is similar to lactose intolerance in that there is a hereditary deficiency of enzymes.
- Malabsorption of fructose and sorbitol can lead to a decrease in the absorption of these carbohydrates by the intestine, allowing intestinal bacteria to consume it. The consumption of lactose, fructose and sorbitol by intestinal bacteria leads to the accumulation of gases.
Symptoms of food intolerance and absorption are nausea, bloating, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, heartburn and belching. Reasons, treatment depend on the intolerance of which enzyme is available. For example, a lack of fructose can cause more serious symptoms if the diet is not followed. Excessive intake of fructose and / or sorbitol can lead to vomiting, jaundice, fatigue, enlarged liver, and convulsions.
Food Intolerance Treatment
Diet with her is important. If lactose intolerance, dairy products should be stopped. Fructose intolerance will also require a change in diet.
Bacterial growth in the small intestine
With this ailment, the number of pathogens in the small intestine increases, which leads to an accumulation of gas in the intestine, respectively belching, bloating, diarrhea, and sometimes to heartburn. In this case, there is a shortage of nutrients.
Causes:
- diabetes (type I or II);
- anorexia nervosa;
- damage to a nerve or muscle due to surgery or other injury;
- thyroid disease;
- pancreatitis
- scleroderma;
- intestinal obstruction;
- diverticulums.
For diagnosis, a sample of fluid is taken from the small intestine, which will show the degree of contamination with bacteria.
Treatment. Antibiotics are usually effective in treating this disease. Various nutritional supplements may be prescribed to make up for nutritional deficiencies.
Biliary Dyskinesia
Bile is necessary for the breakdown of fats when food enters the intestines. Bile reflux is the return flow of bile from the small intestine to the stomach and esophagus.
Causes of stagnation of bile:
- gallstones
- cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder);
- cholecystectomy;
- gall bladder cancer;
- hepatitis;
- cirrhosis;
- other liver disease;
Causes of biliary reflux gastritis:
- pyloric dysfunction - the valve that separates the small intestine from the stomach;
- peptic ulcers;
- cholecystectomy.
Symptoms of biliary tract disease: pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, nausea, vomiting of bile, bloating, weight loss, anorexia, heartburn and belching.
Reasons, treatment during pregnancy
The symptoms discussed in the article are often found in healthy pregnant women. They are caused by mechanical compression of the growing uterus and constant irritation of the gastric mucosa with toxicosis. Treatment consists in eating food in small portions and the use of drugs "Rennie", "Gastal", "Maalox." Without treatment after delivery, heartburn and belching pass on their own.
Stomach upset
A feeling of overcrowding, pain, or burning in the upper abdomen is unpleasant. Symptoms are temporary and do not differ in the chronic course. It:
- stomach ache;
- heartburn;
- belching;
- nausea;
- taste in the mouth;
- discomfort in the stomach;
- constipation or diarrhea;
- decreased or lack of appetite.
Indigestion has many causes, including medical conditions, medications, a violation of diet and lifestyle.
Tests for the diagnosis of the stomach include blood tests, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, endoscopy, colonoscopy, CT and MRI of the abdominal cavity, analysis of feces and gastric juice. Only then can it be ascertained what causes the symptom of "heartburn after eating". And treatment with folk remedies also gives a good effect.
Treatment with folk remedies
The beginning of treatment in case of indigestion is:
- lifestyle changes, meal by the hour in small portions;
- slow chewing of food;
- refusal of alcoholic beverages, tobacco and coffee;
- exclusion of undesirable foods from the diet;
- compliance with the regime.
Medications for treating indigestion include antacids and acid blockers. Treating an upset stomach focuses on addressing the underlying cause. The prognosis for an upset stomach is generally good if it is caused by lifestyle factors. The prospects for indigestion caused by a disease or health condition vary depending on the resolution of the condition.
What diseases or conditions cause indigestion?
A disease or condition that can cause an upset stomach includes:
- ulcers (stomach or duodenum);
- GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) ;
- esophagitis;
- hiatal hernia;
- gallstones
- last trimester of pregnancy;
- pancreatitis
- gastritis;
- food poisoning;
- irritable bowel syndrome;
- gastroparesis;
- enzyme intolerance;
- heart disease: angina pectoris, heart attack;
- thyroid disease;
- depression;
- stomach cancer.
What medicines cause heartburn or belching
- aspirin and many other painkillers, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
- Prednisolone, Methylprednisolone, Medrol;
- estrogen and oral contraceptives;
- antibiotics such as Erythromycin and Tetracycline
- thyroid medications;
- blood pressure lowering drugs;
- statins
- some painkillers.
All of these drugs, if used improperly, can cause symptoms of stomach and intestinal dysfunction, such as heartburn and belching (causes).
Treatment with folk remedies
Some recommendations will help get rid of heartburn and belching.
1. Strive for a healthy weight.
While heartburn can happen to anyone, GERD is most common in adults who are overweight or obese. In these cases, increased pressure on the stomach. As a result, you are at an increased risk of throwing gastric juice into the esophagus.
2. Know which foods should not be consumed.
No matter how much you weigh, there are some foods that can increase the risk of unpleasant symptoms. Try not to consume:
- tomato sauce and other tomato-based products;
- fatty foods (e.g. instant foods);
- roast;
- citrus juices;
- soda;
- caffeine;
- chocolate;
- garlic;
- bow;
- peppermint;
- alcohol.
By limiting or avoiding them altogether, you can alleviate your condition. You can also keep a food diary to identify problem foods.
3. Eat little, but for a long time.
Chewing food thoroughly creates less pressure on the stomach, which can prevent the backflow of stomach acid. In doing so, you can reduce heartburn by eating less overall.
It is also important to avoid sleep after eating. It can also cause heartburn and burping. It is not recommended to go to bed immediately after eating. If this is unavoidable, then after you go to bed, try raising your head higher to avoid nightly heartburn.
4. Eat foods that help.
First, low-fat, high-protein foods are recommended. Reducing dietary fat can further reduce your symptoms, while getting enough protein and fiber will provide the right amount and prevent overeating.
After each meal, you can chew gum without peppermint - this will increase the amount of saliva in your mouth and prevent acid from esophagus.
5. Quit smoking.
In non-smokers, the function of the lower esophageal sphincter, which is responsible for preventing the reflux of gastric acids, is in good shape and functions normally.
Secondhand smoke can also cause problems if you are struggling with symptoms of heartburn and belching.
6. Drink herbal infusions.
The following herbs are used to eliminate unpleasant symptoms:
- chamomile;
- liquorice;
- marshmallows;
- slippery elm.
Apply both in the form of tincture, and in the form of tea.
7.Avoid tight clothing.
Wearing clothes too tight on your stomach can increase heartburn. This is especially important in the case of hard belts.
8. Try relaxation techniques.
Yoga is good for healing and relaxation. Her exercises will normalize the soul and body. Even if you are not a yogi, you can try silent meditation and deep breathing for several minutes several times a day to reduce stress.