With such an unpleasant phenomenon as heartburn, many people are faced. Some people have a burning sensation in the epigastric zone. In others, this condition reaches almost the throat. What can cause heartburn? If this phenomenon rarely occurs, it signals a disturbed diet. But if an unpleasant symptom worries a person constantly, you should go to the doctor. Since without diagnosis it is extremely difficult to determine what can cause heartburn. Constant discomfort can indicate quite serious health problems.
Principle of occurrence
Consider from the point of view of physiology, from which there may be heartburn. A burning sensation occurs in the esophagus when the functioning of the sphincter is impaired. This is a muscle ring that prevents food from entering the esophagus from the stomach.
But as a result of some reasons (we will talk about them later), the sphincter does not fulfill its main task. In this case, acid content is thrown from the stomach into the esophagus. This is the main cause of heartburn.
The hydrochloric acid in the stomach is an extremely aggressive medium. However, in the case of normal functioning of the body, it does no harm. Since the gastric mucosa is reliably protected from its effects.
The membrane of the esophagus is more sensitive. Therefore, when acidic contents get into it, a person has a burning sensation, discomfort and pain.
Causes of occurrence
There are a lot of sources provoking an unpleasant symptom. Therefore, it is very difficult without the help of a doctor to determine what heartburn is and how to deal with it.
Most often, unpleasant symptoms are provoked by the following factors:
- Preference for drinks and food that negatively affect the functioning of the sphincter. Heartburn can provoke fatty, spicy dishes, abuse of alcohol, chocolate, and frequent coffee intake. Sweet carbonated drinks bring great harm. They give a load on the stomach, liver and pancreas.
- The use of certain medications. The active substances of certain medicines can affect the functioning of the sphincter. It should be remembered from which there may be heartburn. This side effect has drugs for hypertension, bronchial asthma, heart failure.
- Tight tight clothing.
- Smoking immediately after eating or on an empty stomach very often provokes the occurrence of heartburn. Cigarette smoke irritates the gastric mucosa. Such a negative factor leads not only to unpleasant symptoms. It can become a source of quite serious pathologies, such as ulcers, gastritis, oncology of the digestive system.
- Overweight.
- Physical overvoltage. Tilts, weight lifting and other loads immediately after eating lead to the throwing of gastric juice into the esophagus. As a result, the patient experiences heartburn.
- Violation of the motility of the esophagus and the functioning of the sphincter as a result of some pathologies. This picture can be observed with diabetes mellitus, a variety of inflammatory processes in the esophagus, hernias.
- Pregnancy. As a result of increased pressure on the peritoneal organs, a woman can experience quite unpleasant sensations.
- Sleep immediately after eating.
Initial Correction Methods
In most cases, it is the wrong diet that underlies the occurrence of unpleasant symptoms. Therefore, it is quite simple to determine why heartburn is and how to deal with it.
To eliminate the unpleasant phenomenon, it is recommended to slightly adjust the lifestyle:
- Watch out for food. Refuse to eat large amounts of fried and spicy foods. Minimize intake of acidic foods.
- It is recommended to eat food in small portions. In this case, the number of meals should be increased.
- If possible, eliminate all bad habits. Stop drinking alcohol, smoking. Do not eat right before bedtime.
- Avoid physical activity immediately after eating. Do not rush to take a horizontal position after eating.
- Try to lead an active life and work diligently (if necessary) to reduce weight.
Such simple rules will allow most patients to get rid of heartburn.
As evidenced by constant discomfort
If even after giving up many products, the patient does not feel relief, then with this symptomatology it is necessary to consult a doctor. A full examination will be needed to determine what heartburn can cause from every day.
Unpleasant symptoms can be triggered by a number of pathologies and factors. Among them:
- gastroesophageal reflux;
- diaphragm hernia;
- esophagitis;
- prolonged use of NSAIDs;
- peptic ulcer;
- obesity;
- excessive intake of alcohol;
- systemic scleroderma;
- abuse of caffeinated drinks and chocolate;
- pregnancy;
- smoking;
- heart ischemia;
- violation of motility of the esophagus;
- pericarditis;
- osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
- biliary tract disease.
The reason for oncology
In addition, doctors determined what constant heartburn can be. Today, the relationship between this unpleasant phenomenon and the occurrence of esophageal cancer is completely established. The development of cancer is accompanied by several other symptoms that need attention:
- hypersalivation (increased salivation) ;
- dysphagia (pain during swallowing or inability to swallow food);
- dyspeptic disorders;
- digestion disorder.
In order to exclude serious pathologies, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination.
If heartburn occurs after eating
Many people who are uncomfortable do not try to find the causes of this pathology at all. As a rule, of interest are ways to eliminate painful symptoms. This is completely wrong. Since you can get rid of this phenomenon only by understanding what heartburn after eating can be.
And the reasons are sometimes hidden in inflammatory pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract:
- gastritis;
- ulcers;
- cholecystitis;
- disorders of the biliary system;
- hernia of the diaphragm.
It is obvious that in such cases it is necessary to fight not with heartburn, but with the disease that provoked it.
However, this phenomenon does not always signal the pathologies of the body. Sometimes heartburn is manifested as a result of malnutrition.
Nutritionists argue that the discomfort that occurs 2 hours after eating indicates a fairly dense meal and the use of "wrong" foods. Heartburn is often triggered by overly spicy or oily foods. Such products, having entered the stomach during the indicated time, make themselves felt discomfort.
Heartburn, which occurred an hour after a meal, indicates that a person eats heavily and often or eats a lot, but rarely eats.
Heartburn in the throat
Discomfort can be felt not only in the abdomen and chest. Sometimes it even reaches the throat. Heartburn is manifested by burning pain in the throat and many unpleasant sensations. As a rule, it occurs once and disappears very quickly.
What can cause heartburn in the throat? Such discomfort occurs in the patient when both esophageal sphincters (valves) are weakened - both the upper and lower. As a result of the pathology, the contents of the stomach are capable of being thrown into the esophagus and pharynx, causing a strong burning sensation.
Most often, such symptoms indicate the development of the following unpleasant diseases in a patient:
- chronic gastritis;
- ulcer;
- chronic cholecystitis;
- diaphragm hernia.
Heartburn in pregnant women
When carrying a child, this condition is considered the norm. Doctors, explaining what can cause heartburn during pregnancy, associate this phenomenon with physiology. The fetus is closely adjacent to the stomach and, accordingly, presses on it. Therefore, a woman has heartburn.
Despite the fact that this is absolutely normal, it gives a lot of unpleasant sensations. Therefore, you should not ignore it. But taking medications on your own is also not recommended.
In this case, a pregnant woman should review her diet and consult with her doctor.
Where to start?
So, having understood what pregnant women can have heartburn, we will consider what methods should be used to combat this phenomenon. Until today, a tool that would completely fix the problem has not been developed. However, compliance with some rules can greatly alleviate the condition.
Doctors recommend the following to prevent heartburn during pregnancy:
- Eat often enough - about 5-7 times a day. But the portions should be very small. It is strictly forbidden to "dry your hands".
- After eating for half an hour in no case do not go to bed.
- Follow a diet. Exclude salty, fatty foods, marinades, coffee, fried foods, black tea from your diet. In addition, analyze which foods trigger heartburn. They should be abandoned.
- Sleep on your left side. This position weakens the manifestation of heartburn. In addition, it promotes the necessary blood circulation in the placenta.
- Heartburn helps to get rid of: grated carrots, milk, jelly, almonds, oatmeal. Sometimes chewing a piece of ginger is beneficial.
- Try not to bend unnecessarily.
- Choose special, spacious clothes for pregnant women.
If these simple recommendations could not help eliminate heartburn, your doctor will recommend certain medications. In pharmacology, there are special antacid medicines that are safe for pregnant women. However, you can take any of these funds only after the appointment of a doctor.
Drug treatment
If all the methods described in the article do not eliminate the unpleasant symptoms, you should go to the doctor. After examining, he will establish the cause of the discomfort, and recommend how to get rid of heartburn.
It is extremely undesirable to choose medications yourself. Since drugs for heartburn affect the body in different ways. Some remedies eliminate this condition by neutralizing the acid. Such medicines include bismuth preparations. Other drugs reduce the production of gastric juice. They are also called antisecretory. These include Ranitidine, Omeprazole.
Each group of drugs has advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, in order not to harm your body and not aggravate the pathology that provokes heartburn, these funds should be chosen exclusively with a doctor.
Among modern medicines that are in great demand and perfectly eliminate this phenomenon, the following are distinguished:
- Gaviscon. This drug is a natural suspension, based on seaweed. The tool is allowed for children over 12 years of age, pregnant women (if prescribed by a doctor). No effect on acidity.
- Almagel. Complex drug for heartburn. It is produced in the form of a suspension. The medicine envelops the stomach, thereby relieving the patient from heartburn. Suspension is not used in case of impaired renal function. It is forbidden to combine this medicine with sulfa drugs.
- "Maalox." The drug is available in several dosage forms: suspension, powder, tablets. It is strictly forbidden to use with renal failure. In addition, the medicine cannot be combined with tetracyclines.
- Gastal. The drug is made in the form of tablets. At one time, 2 pills should be taken. It is recommended to dissolve them slowly. It is unacceptable to take this drug with renal failure.
Conclusion
Heartburn is a condition that you should not endure. Moreover, one does not need to hope that it will pass on its own. This is the first “bell” of the body that it needs help. Do not ignore such signals, and good health will be provided to you!