How to get rid of heartburn

Heartburn is a burning sensation and discomfort behind the sternum along the esophagus,spreading in a direction from below upwards.

Similar symptoms are familiar to almost everyone - at the therapist's reception, according to medical statistics, almost 2/3 of the patients complain of heartburn and the unpleasant sensations associated with it.

Heartburn: Causes and Symptoms ^

There are quite a few causes of heartburn, but the mechanism of its appearance is one - throwing acidic stomach contents( food along with hydrochloric acid allocated for its processing) back into the esophagus.

Normally, this should not happen, because, after ingestion of food into the stomach, the esophageal sphincter( muscular ring) slams, which is a kind of physiological dam, preventing the reverse process. If the sphincter for some reason did not work and let the food back into the esophagus, hydrochloric acid begins to irritate its mucous membrane, causing pain and burning.

If this happens occasionally, it is most likely that the nutritional and lifestyle errors are to blame for heartburn:

• abuse of fatty, spicy, nutritious food,
• consumption of caffeine and alcohol,
• overeating,
• too rapid absorption of food,
• obesity,
• constipation,
• inactivity,
• stress,
• wearing too tight clothing, squeezing the lower intestine.

Some people have an individual reaction in the form of heartburn on certain foods, most often on acidic fruits, black bread and sour-milk products.

Often an unfavorable factor is the intake of too hot food, literally burning the esophagus. Thus, tea is traditionally drunk in Central Asia with the addition of pieces of fat that float on the surface and increase the temperature of the liquid above 100 degrees.

Under the influence of these damaging factors, the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter decreases and gastroesophageal reflux, or erosive esophagitis develops. If reflux is not treated, then acid can erode the mucosa of the esophagus and lead to the formation of inflammation, and then ulcers.

Causes of heartburn ^

• increased acidity of gastric juice, most often, with chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer of stomach, provoking increased production of hydrochloric acid. In such cases, measures are taken to reduce acidity. To determine whether the increased acidity is really to blame, the use of warm milk will help. At the first sign of heartburn, drink after eating small sips of warm milk. If the symptoms do not stop within a week, it means that acidity has nothing to do with other causes.
• heart and vascular disease can also give a burning sensation and discomfort behind the sternum. To understand this, it is enough to drink a tablet of nitroglycerin - if the pain and burning do not pass and do not decrease, then heartburn is not esophageal and a consultation of a cardiologist is needed.
• , when abruptly lifting weights, there is an increase in intra-abdominal pressure, due to which the contents of the stomach can be thrown into the esophagus and cause burning.
• with heartburn heartburn also happens, but is usually combined with a bitter taste in the mouth and the presence of a yellow coating on the tongue.
• severe stress can provoke a sharp spasm and throwing bile into the stomach. Heartburn in pregnant women often occurs around the fifth month of pregnancy. The main reasons are two - the increasing pressure of the growing uterus on the abdominal cavity, due to which the gastric valve closes loosely and food can get back into the esophagus and irritation of the esophagus with vomiting in late toxicosis( gestosis).To relieve the pain, you need to walk around, drink water or cook jelly.

Soda from heartburn ^

Everyone knows the effective folk remedy for heartburn at home - baking soda, diluted in warm water( 36 - 37 ° C)( 1/3 tsp per 1 glass of water).However, according to the doctors, soda from heartburn should be used occasionally and not more than 200 grams of soda per day to prevent excessive alkalization of the body - in case of an overdose, weakness, headache and vomiting are possible.

It should be noted that uncontrolled intake of soda is very harmful and can have detrimental health effects. Used as an ambulance, baking soda, really, quickly neutralizes the acid of gastric juice and relieves unpleasant sensations, but only for a short time. After its reception, a large amount of hydrochloric acid is formed in the stomach, irritating the walls and dramatically increasing its volume - in the scientific literature even cases of rupture of the stomach after taking a large amount of soda are described.

In addition, the arbitrary intake of soda can lead to a violation of the acid-base balance, extensive gastritis and ulcers, so with constant heartburn, you do not need to "quench" it with soda, but in time to consult a gastroenterologist to treat the disease, and not just take it offsymptoms.

According to the doctors, if heartburn occurs more often than once a week, at night, then a visit to the doctor in no case should be postponed until later, since the risk of getting the esophagus carcinoma increases by a factor of 10.

Treating heartburn ^

Despite the fact that heartburn is not considered a serious illness and all such effective folk remedies for heartburn as baking soda and warm milk are well known, do not be frivolous about the disease. It is necessary to consult a doctor who can understand the causes and prescribe a competent treatment for heartburn.

Doing self-medication, you can, despite the removal of pain symptoms, further aggravate the disease. For example, taking antispasmodics, we achieve a reduction in pain by inhibiting the motor function of the gastrointestinal tract, whereas, on the contrary, it is necessary to stimulate a reduction in the inactive sphincter. The competent doctor, having understood with the symptoms of heartburn, will write out not antispasmodics, and preparations - prokinetics, stimulating motility.

Another common mistake is to take enzymes with heartburn. It should be understood that enzyme preparations will help digestion, but in no way restore the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, making them even more "lazy."Like any other muscle of the body, they need to be trained, giving regular motor and secretory exercise by eating at the same time.

As a treatment and for the prevention of heartburn, patients are often prescribed antacids - medicines that not only neutralize the acid, but also have adsorbing and enveloping action, bind bile acids and prevent flatulence.

Hydrocarbonate alkaline or sulphate mineral waters - Borjomi, Slavyanovskaya, Smirnovskaya, Kislovodskiy narzan - are good for relieving the symptoms of heartburn and reducing the excessive acidity of gastric juice. They are taken either 1 hour before meals, or 30 to 40 minutes after it, when the most likely occurrence of heartburn.

How to get rid of heartburn ^

A competently formulated diet for heartburn and proper diet are often necessary and sufficient condition for cessation of pain and discomfort in the esophagus.

• Nutritionists are advised to eat often( 5 to 6 times a day) and gradually to prevent excessive stretching of the stomach.
• For the same reason, you can not rush and swallow food in large pieces - eat slowly, thoroughly chewing food before swallowing and make sure that air does not get into the esophagus. In addition, with fractional nutrition, you will get rid of a constant feeling of hunger and hydrochloric acid will be produced in much smaller quantities.
• In the menu it is useful to include low-fat protein products( boiled meat, fish, hard-boiled eggs), dairy products( fermented milk, kefir, butter, low-fat cheeses), cereals, whole wheat bread.
• In addition, the diet must necessarily introduce products rich in fiber and dietary fiber( cabbage, watermelons, apples, almost all fruits), as they actively absorb nitrites, often provoking attacks of heartburn.

Patient should know the list of products that cause an increase in the acidity of gastric juice and exclude their use until complete recovery. These include:

• pepper, seasonings,
• alcohol,
• sodas,
• black bread,
• tea, strong coffee,
• fried foods,
• rich broth,
• pickles,
• drinks and chewing gum with mint.

If you want for dessert something sweet, instead of chocolate and ice cream, eat fruit jelly( not a semi-finished product).

doctors - gastroenterologists are advised to keep a diary, which records all eaten meals and the backlash against them, including increased flatulence, belching with a sour taste, a feeling of heaviness in the stomach. Thus, it is possible to determine as accurately as possible individual "problem" products, to exclude them from the diet and not to aggravate unpleasant symptoms.

should not forget about the medicinal properties of ordinary water, which is vital for heartburn, as partially reduces the concentration of gastric acid and is washed from it esophageal wall, back flushing into the stomach. Each person needs to drink at least two liters of water per day, distributing this amount evenly throughout the day. After

meal should not immediately go to better remain upright - stand, walk, or, in extreme cases, to sit, as acid longer retained in the supine position. For the same reason, we do not need to have dinner later than 2 - 3 hours before bedtime, and preferably on the back bed, lifting an upper part of the body using high pillows - it protects against acid and its discharge delay in the esophagus.