Introduction: Heartburn
is a growing concern in modern day life as it is becoming wider spread than
before. It is a condition where the person suffering from it will feel
discomfort and a feeling of pain/burning sensation behind the sternum or the
breastbone on different occasions. Sometimes it could be after a meal and at
other times, it could be due to a sitting position.
Causes
The cause of heartburn
is acid reflux which means the acids flowing back into the esophagus thus
bypassing the sphincter. These sphincters or valves are in place in order to
prohibit the bi-directional flow of foods along with the juices. But due to
different reasons, when these sphincters fail to function as it should, the
acids will flow back into the esophagus reason and thus causes the burning
sensation along with the other symptoms.
Risks
There are various risks
associated with heartburn which could range from mild to severe ones. Since the
acids flow back into the esophageal region, hence esophagus is more susceptible
to the risks than other areas of the body.
1. The acids will cause inflammation of the
esophagus in the most occasions which is called esophagitis. These swelling of
the walls of the esophagus could very painful if left untreated. Hence,
Heartburn should be treated as soon as possible to avoid any kind of complicacy
that may occur if left untreated.
2. Along with inflammation, ulcers are also
not uncommon in case of heartburn. The acids will be flowing back into the
esophagus will cause ulcers and sometimes bleeding will occur which could be
very dangerous for the body.
3. Nausea, cough, chest pain is associated
with heartburn.
How
to treat heartburn?
When the question pops,
how to treat heartburn,
there are plenty of things come to mind. The treatment of heartburn depends
upon how severe the condition is. The less complicated circumstances require
less attention and more serious condition could require a surgical procedure.
1. Diet— This is perhaps
the best medicine in case of mild heartburn. Since the acid reflux disease is
associated with heavy meals, balancing your diet could make your body adapt
better to the acid secretions and hence less frequent heartburn. RefluxMD has
various recipes which you could incorporate in your diet for a better result.
2. Antacids— The
over the counter antacids will cause the acidity to be lower. And hence, the
person may feel the discomfort go away. Though this is a temporary measure and
shouldn’t be considered a permanent solution.
3. PPI—Proton Pump Inhibitors or otherwise known as PPI are type of acid
blockers which changes the acid secretion by the body. But long-term
of PPI use has its own side effects such as hypomagnesemia, the risk of
fractures etc.
4. There also medicines which reduces the
secretion of acid. These are known as H-2 receptor blockers such as cimetidine,
famotidine. They take time to act upon the receptors but they have a
long-lasting effect than the antacids. These H-2 receptor blockers are weaker
than proton pump inhibitors.
5. If medication fails to improve the condition
and frequent bleeding with ulcer formation does occur, then it is better to
consult with the doctors and prepare for surgery.
Comments
Post a Comment