by Char Brar

Created on: April 16, 2009

Heart burn is a symptom of acid reflux. Normally the food you eat goes through a food pipe (esophagus) via the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) into the stomach. The stomach has digestive juices or acids that help it to break down the food for digestion. Stomach and the esophagus are separated by the LES, because LES is a valve or a door that is supposed to keep the acid from backing up into the esophagus. When you overeat, eat heavy foods rich in fat or oils, or consume acidic foods, then the acid rises back into the food pipe and causes irritation of the food pipe. This irritation of the food pipe leads to symptoms called as heart burn. Obesity, sleep apnea, pregnancy, missing meals, bulimia, and smoking are some of the other causes of heart burn. Certain foods such as citrus fruits, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, mint flavored foods, spicy foods and tomato-based foods, like pasta sauce, salsa, chili, and pizza can also lead to heart burn symptoms.

Because of the proximity of the heart to the stomach and the food pipe, heart burn symptoms may mimic heart attack symptoms. Usually heartburn feels like a burning sensation in the chest, or throat. In some cases, the heart burn symptoms can be very painful and intense like a tight band around the chest, suffocation or pain in the mid-chest, behind the breast bone, and in the mid-abdomen. The symptoms may be relieved by drinking cold milk or walking around. Most children under 12 years and some adults, may just experience a dry cough, asthma symptoms, or trouble swallowing. Caution: whenever not sure of the chest pain, go to the nearest emergency room because heart attack symptoms can mimic heart burn symptoms..

Treatment of the heartburn depends on the frequency of your symptoms. See your doctor if you have been using antacids or other over-the-counter reflux medications for more than 2 weeks. Your doctor may refer you to heart burn specialist, a gastroenterologist. Your doctor may also advise you to make some lifestyle changes such as:

1) Avoid missing your meals, and eat at regular intervals.

2) Eat very small meals six times a day.

3) Sit down, and eat slowly- chew your food well. Gulped down food takes longer to digest, and leaves one feeling hungry still- one of the causes why people tend to overeat.

4) Stop smoking and avoid alcohol

5) Lose weight

6) Avoid foods rich in chocolate, mint, caffeine, as well as carbonated drinks

7) Avoid lying down for 3 hours after a meal

8) go for walks, as they help with digestion

9) Put 2 bricks or wooden block under your headboard to raise the head of the bed(HOB). Pillws do not raise your torso, so they will not help. Reason to raise HOB is to keep the food pipe elevated above the stomach and prevent passive back flow of the acid into the food pipe.

10) Avoid wearing clothes that are tight around your belly or at waist

11) Lose weight, especially belly weight.

Depending on the intensity and frequency of your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe antacids, H2 blockers, Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), Prokinetics, or Foaming agents. Antacids, such as Alka-Seltzer, Maalox, Mylanta, and Rolaids are usually the first line of drugs to relieve heartburn symptoms. H2 blockers, such as cimetidine, famotidine ,and ranitidine can decrease acid production. PPIs such as omeprazole, lansoprazole, and esomeprazole are more effective than H2 blockers. They can relieve heart burn symptoms and heal the esophageal lining.Foaming agents such as Gaviscon, work by covering your stomach contents with foam to prevent reflux. Prokinetics such as bethanechol and metoclopramide can help st

Learn more about this author, Char Brar.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.