Healing Heartburn

We’ve all been there. It’s Friday night and you decide to top the end of the work week with a pizza (okay, veggie pizza for me, I’m vegetarian). About an hour after downing that tasty morsel with the works, you feel it. Indigestion, an acidy uncomfortable feeling in your chest. No it’s not a heart attack. It’s heartburn.

Heartburn describes that burning feeling that happens when stomach contents reflux or back up into the esophagus, the tube that takes food into the stomach. The stomach contents irritate the lining of the esophagus and next thing you know you feel like your stomach and/or chest area is building a small fire. You may also experience a bitter taste in your mouth.

In the United States, more than 60 million people experience heartburn at least once a month and about 25 million suffer with it daily. Approximately 40 percent of patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms of heartburn and dyspepsia will consult a family physician regarding their symptoms. Even more, over 2 million outpatient visits per year and almost 40 percent of referrals to gastroenterologists are linked to heartburn. Roughly $900 million is spent annually on over-the-counter antacid sales and more than $10.2 billion per year is spent overall on heartburn medications.

Heartburn happens when gastric juices that digest food in the stomach for energy go up to the esophagus. Normally, the esophagus is protected by a valve-like sphincter that opens and closes to allow food to pass into the stomach and keep out that acid. But things like certain types of food (e.g. fried foods and chocolate) and smoking can cause the sphincter to relax and allow that troublesome acid to pass through.

Actions such as lying down after eating may also cause heartburn because gravity usually keeps stomach contents from backing up into the esophagus. Even eating too fast may overwhelm the sphincter and cause heartburn.

Some symptoms of heartburn include that burning sensation in your chest or upper abdomen right after eating, annoying pain that gets worse when you bend over or lie down, and a bitter or acidic after taste in your mouth. While heartburn is common and no cause for concern, frequent heartburn may be sign of a more serious condition like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a digestive disorder which is caused by a hiatal hernia.

Your doctor may do a chest X-ray or use an endoscope (a thin tube inserted in your mouth and fed into your esophagus) to diagnose the cause of heartburn. Heartburn is not a serious condition and can managed effectively through over-the-counter remedies like antacids that get rid of heartburn by neutralizing stomach acids. If necessary, your doctor may prescribe stronger medicine for a chronic condition to reduce stomach acids. Left untreated, chronic heartburn leads to chronic inflammation of the esophagus, which can cause scarring or hemorrhaging.

If you feel you are vulnerable to this condition, there are some other steps you may take decrease your susceptibility such as avoiding certain types of foods like tomato-based, peppermint, citrus, high-fat foods. In addition, try not to lay down after eating. Definitely remain in a seated position and take advantage of gravity to properly digest your food. Try eating lighter meals in the evening. If you have frequent heartburn and it occurs in bed, try elevating the head of your bed by six to 10 inches (stick a book or two underneath). Of course, stop smoking and if obese, try to lose weight (it takes the pressure off the muscle at the base of the esophagus).

As with anything is life, moderation is key. You don’t have to indulge in heavy, high-fat meals seven days a week. By making certain lifestyle choices, you may be able to stop heartburn in its tracks.