Discover What Causes Heartburn And How You Can Treat It

"What causes heartburn?", we hear so many people cry. The simple answer is that there is no one specific cause, and that heartburn is one of those symptoms which can be caused by many different factors. Some of those factors are considerably more likely than others, and the most likely of all is a condition known as gastro-esophageal reflux disease. This condition occurs when acid which is used to digest food is then thrust upwards into the esophagus and then into the mouth. The condition is treatable by natural means, by synthetic drugs, and by surgery, and the patient can usually be returned to normal health again.

This disease is so commonly the cause of heartburn that the term is often used to describe the disease itself. This is not strictly accurate, but it is such common usage that it needs to be understood. Gastro-esophageal reflux disease is always the most likely cause for any outbreak of heartburn, especially if it is not the first or only time this happens. The underlying cause of this is a progressive weakening of a muscle in the stomach known as the lower esophageal sphincter muscle. This is the muscle which takes food into the stomach, and if it is not closed tightly enough following this it can allow acid to escape.

Heartburn can also be caused by a simple build up of acid, which is often the result of eating extremely heavy food loaded with saturated fat. It can also occur when you overeat, although this will again tend to be exacerbated by eating too much fat. There are also other symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux disease which can be used to confirm the diagnosis. These include a sour taste in the mouth, which is caused by the same acid, and uneasy digestion. Sometimes, more than one of these will occur simultaneously.

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There are many ways to treat the symptoms of heartburn naturally, and once you realize what causes heartburn you will understand why. It is possible to relieve the symptoms in some cases just by drinking pure water. This helps to dilute the acid which is regurgitating through the body, and can calm down the burning sensation. Fruit juices can also help, because although they are acidic the body produces alkalies to digest them. Avoiding heavy meals and anything which contains saturated fats will allow the stomach muscles to relax back into position, although if the muscles are actually damaged this may not bring relief.

Once you understand how heartburn develops, you can easily understand why some drug treatments can immediately be effective. If you cannot get the result you need from water or other natural remedies, you can usually quickly relieve pain with an antacid. This drug, a more powerful way to alkalize the body, will hold down the acid in the stomach and prevent it from rising. Although these drugs are powerful and work well, it is not wise to rely on them for an extended period of time as they are only masking the cause of the difficulty.

If the causes of heartburn are firmly enough entrenched, even drug treatments may only be of limited use. This is, for example, when the lower esophageal sphincter muscle is weakened and damaged. To prevent the acid leakage, it will be necessary to repair this damage, and this can only be done with surgery. This surgery is obviously going to be invasive and difficult, and the after effects of it will be painful. As the body needs food to survive, the stomach has to be used even when it is recovering from surgery, so painkillers may be needed in the short term.

There are certain danger signals to look out for, which mean you are far more likely to suffer from heartburn. The most important of these is a tendency to overeat, as this will invariably put pressure on the stomach muscles. When the need is there to digest more food than the body is used to, the muscles will have to expand to accommodate this. Eating excessive amounts of fat, which those who are overweight tend to do, will also put extra pressure on the system. Smoking, alcohol consumption, and irregular living and sleeping patterns are also potentially harmful.

Once you understand what causes heartburn, and what can exacerbate the condition, you can begin to formulate a plan to reduce your chances of suffering with it. A diet which is rich in raw fruits and vegetables, which alkalizes the bloodstream and which is easy for the body to digest, will be the most important development you can make. If you know you habitually do things which aggravate the acidity of the body, you will need to find a program which can help you to stop. Only if you have a defect with the stomach muscles themselves should you need drugs or surgery, as you can administer your own health plan once you understand what causes heartburn.

 


 

 

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