Heartburn is a common symptom. It may be caused by irritation of the esophagus, which is the tube connecting the throat to the stomach. It may also be caused by too much stomach acid, causing a burning sensation in the stomach. The heartburn may be worse after eating or when lying down. Although it is a common symptom, if it occurs frequently and interferes with your daily activities, you should see a doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
What does heartburn feel like?
Heartburn is a burning sensation in the upper abdomen. It usually occurs when stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus, the tube connecting the throat to the stomach, which can cause a burning sensation in the stomach. If the symptoms occur more than 2 times a week, it may be a sign of acid reflux disease that should be treated immediately. In addition, other factors such as certain foods, alcoholic beverages, and certain medications can also cause heartburn.
Other symptoms that may occur along with heartburn
When heartburn occurs, these symptoms may also occur:
- The mouth tastes bitter or sour.
- Difficulty swallowing
- Chest pain after eating
- The burning pain may be worse when lying down.
However, if you have pain, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, have trouble eating, have a loss of appetite or difficulty eating leading to weight loss, and have not gotten better with over-the-counter medications, or have heartburn more than 2 times a week, you should see a doctor.
Causes of heartburn
These factors may cause heartburn.
- Stomach acid flows back into the esophagus.
- Eating certain foods, such as spicy foods, greasy foods, fried foods, garlic, onions, and citrus fruits, can increase acidity, leading to excess acid in the stomach.
- Drinking alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, or caffeinated beverages
- Side effects of certain medications, such as ibuprofen
- Stress and anxiety can affect your digestive system, causing more stomach acid, or acid reflux.
- Smoking can stimulate the secretion of stomach acid, causing the stomach to contract more slowly or less, which can cause acid to reflux into the esophagus.
Diagnosis of heartburn
Your doctor may diagnose heartburn in the following ways:
- Endoscopy to check for abnormalities in the digestive system, such as the esophagus and stomach.
- X-rays : Patients must take a barium sulfate solution before undergoing an X-ray of the digestive system to provide clearer images of the digestive system, which may make it easier for the doctor to diagnose heartburn.
- Esophageal pH measurement to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Treatment of heartburn
Heartburn can be treated with over-the-counter medications, such as:
- Antacids may help reduce stomach acid, relieve heartburn, and may also help relieve stomach pain and indigestion.
- Gastric acid inhibitors are drugs that work by inhibiting the amount of acid secreted by the stomach, such as omeprazole and lansoprazole.
Preventing heartburn
Heartburn can be prevented by making the following lifestyle changes:
- Avoid eating foods that may trigger acid reflux, such as spicy foods, greasy foods, and caffeinated beverages.
- Divide your meals into small portions and eat them on time.
- Avoid eating late at night.
- Avoid smoking
- Do not lie down immediately after eating. Wait at least 3 hours for the สมัคร ufabet food to digest. If you do lie down, use a high pillow.
- Wear loose clothing that is not too tight.
- Get enough sleep and try not to be stressed.