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Heartburn What is heartburn? Heartburn refers to the symptoms you feel when acids in your stomach
flow backward into the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that carries food
from the back of your mouth to your stomach. Heartburn, also called gastroesophageal reflux or GERD, is a common
problem. Despite its name, it has nothing to do with the heart. How does it occur? At the bottom of the
esophagus is a ringlike muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter. When you
swallow food, this muscular ring opens to let the food pass into the stomach.
The ring then closes to prevent the stomach contents from going back into the
esophagus. When this sphincter muscle is not working properly, stomach acid and
food flow backward into the esophagus. Because the esophagus does not have the
protective lining that the stomach has, the acid causes pain. What are the symptoms? The main symptom of
heartburn is a burning pain in the lower chest, usually close to the bottom of
the breastbone. Other symptoms you may have are: •
acid or sour taste in your mouth •
belching and the sensation of bloating or fullness of the stomach. These symptoms tend to
occur after very large meals and especially with activity such as bending or
lifting after meals. The symptoms may be made worse by lying down or by wearing
tight clothing. Heartburn is very
common during the last few months of pregnancy. The weight of the baby pushes on
the stomach and can cause the sphincter to allow acid to flow back into the
esophagus. How is it diagnosed? Usually heartburn can
be diagnosed from your medical history. If there is any
question about the diagnosis, the following tests allow your health care
provider to check for ulcers or other problems that might cause your symptoms: •
~ barium x-ray study procedure in which a thin flexible tube
with a tiny camera is placed in your mouth
and down into your stomach so your provider can see your esophagus. How is it treated? To help prevent heartburn you
can: •
Try to not put a lot of pressure on the sphincter muscle. Eating light
meals, wearing loose clothing, and losing any excess weight will help. •
Take nonprescription antacids (tablets or liquid) after meals and at
bedtime. •
Avoid substances likely to make symptoms worse, for example, alcohol,
nicotine, caffeine, aspirin, acidic food and drinks (orange juice), and spicy
foods. •
Raise the head of your bed or use more than one pillow so your head is
higher than your stomach. This may allow gravity to help reduce symptoms. If the simple measures
described above do not relieve the symptoms, your health care provider may
prescribe medicine. The prescription medicines help reduce stomach acid. They
also help stomach emptying. How long will the effects
last? Heartburn symptoms are
usually relieved by treatment in just a few days. However, the symptoms may
recur from time to time, especially if you gain weight or increase your use of
nicotine, alcohol, or caffeine, or if you eat more spicy foods. What can be done to help
prevent heartburn? The best prevention is
to maintain a normal body weight, eat a healthy diet, and avoid substances that
seem to cause heartburn. Developed by McKesson Clinical Reference Systems. Published by McKesson Clinical Reference Systems. This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Adult Health Advisor 2002.2 Index Adult Health Advisor 2002.2 Credits Copyright © 1991-2002 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All
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