Most people experience heartburn at least once a month. Since heartburn is a digestive problem, this may be due to their diet or way of living. There are people, however, who suffer from the condition regularly and this needs immediate medical attention, as it may be a symptom of a bigger disease. Below are some reasons for heartburn:

• Eating big amounts of food and going to bed shortly after may result to the burning sensation since digestion was not complete.
• Smoking and extreme alcohol intake is also a reason for heartburn.
• Tremendous stress causes the stomach acid to increase and therefore cause heartburn after meals.
• Stomach pressure can also cause heartburn like obesity, wearing tight clothes especially in the abdominal area, etc.
• Some foods also pose a threat for heartburn like coffee, fatty foods and sugar. This is because they weaken the LES or the Lower Esophageal Sphincter, which protects the esophagus from the gastric juice of the stomach. The LES is responsible for keeping the gastric juices or the stomach acid in the stomach and out of the esophagus. If it starts to malfunction, a person may suffer from severe heartburn, which may eventually become a symptom of a bigger disease called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).
• Another cause of heartburn is pregnancy. Most pregnant women experience heartburn due to the changes in the abdominal area. Difficulty in digestion is common during pregnancy.

Alcohol drinkers for one are known to be particularly susceptible to heartburn. This is due to the fact that taking alcohol promotes the production of stomach acid and increases the sensitivity of the esophagus to acids. It is also a known cause of peptic ulcer so those who drink and has frequent heartburns may already have one, as it is also a symptom of that disease. People who frequently ingest fried fatty foods are also more immune. So are those that like citrus fruits, spicy foods and other acidic foods. Those who smoke in turn increase the ability of the stomach to produce more acids and at the same time decreases salivation. The saliva is known to contain elements which helps neutralize stomach acids.

Obesity is now being looked at as a possible risk factor in heartburn. The reason for it is that excess body fats pushes on the stomach, which increases gastric pressure. This facilitates the tendency of stomach acids to rise up the esophagus and produce heartburn. Pregnancy also causes the production of excess acids due to slow digestion rate and bowel movements, causing heartburn in pregnant women.

People who have certain diseases such as peptic ulcer and gastroparesis are frequent heartburn sufferers too. Peptic ulcer causes acid reflux which gives the burning sensation and pain which an individual feels in the chest area. Gastroparesis is a condition that is known to occur in diabetics. This is brought about when stomach nerves are damaged or stops working. The stomach then works abnormally causing excess stomach acids to be produced.

Like all other medical challenges, drugs are needed in curing heartburn. However, there are certain groups of people who are uncomfortable with taking medicine for petty body discomforts. There are also people who are allergic to the drug components of anti-heartburn medications. Pregnant women who are prone to heartburn cannot take medications because it might damage the growing fetus. This leads many to look for natural strategies to fight heartburn. Here is a list of some natural heartburn remedies that you can follow to fight heartburn without having to resort to medicines and other measures.

1. Do not eat meals close to sleeping time – This makes stomach acids build up and be active at a time when you will already be lying down and sleeping. As you assume the flat position in sleeping, the stomach acids find it easier to reach the esophagus and cause heartburn. Eating meals so close to sleep time will activate the stomach acids and compound the problem of heartburn.
2. Sleep with one or two pillows on your back – This elevates the stomach and makes it hard for stomach acids to go up. In this position, the person will be aided by gravity to contain stomach acids and avoid causing heartburn symptoms.
3. Avoid foods that can induce heartburn – These include coffee, alcohol and other spicy and fatty foods. By avoiding these food triggers, you decrease your chances of experiencing heartburn.
4. Keep a healthy weight – Too much fat in the body could compress the stomach valves that keep the acid contained in the stomach. By maintaining a healthy weight, you are keeping yourself free from heartburn and other diseases.
5. Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing – Like unhealthy weight, tight clothing also compress and put strain on the stomach valve. This could lead to heartburn symptoms too.

Stop heartburn naturally by following these simple measures.

Experiencing heartburn is indeed a very unwelcome and distracting feeling. Here are some of the simple ways to prevent heartburn.

1. Avoid food triggers – Certain food like alcohol, coffee, fried, spicy and fatty foods can trigger a heartburn attack. By avoiding these food triggers, you decrease the chances of experiencing heartburn.
2. Sleep with back propped on about two pillows at night – This position raises the abdomen and stomach. In this position, it will be harder for the stomach acid to back up against the esophageal wall. When the stomach acids cannot reach the esophagus, the person will not experience heartburn symptoms.
3. Sleep on your left side – Our stomach contour is found on the left side of our abdomen. When you sleep on your left side, you are containing stomach acids and other contents to the stomach. In this manner, you prevent stomach acids from going to the esophageal region and reduce the chances for heartburn.
4. Use stress busters – Acid production of the stomach is also caused by stress. A stressful lifestyle could lead to a variety of gastrointestinal p-problems from hyperacidity, ulcers and heartburn. By using stress busters like relaxation exercises, yoga, breathing techniques and the like, you are able to help in decreasing the production of stomach acids.
5. Avoid irregular meal patterns of habits – The stomach produces acids in preparation for the digestion of food. However, when meal patterns are irregular, the stomach produces acid in anticipation of food that will never come. This raises the stomach’s acidity and increases your chances for heartburn. By eating regular meals, you can avoid this situation.

Preventing heartburn is easier than curing it. Stop heartburn symptoms before they even occur to spare yourself and your loved ones from the discomforts of heartburn.

Normal Gastroesophageal Function

When we eat, the food we chew is directed to the throat or the pharynx. The food then enters a long and hollow tube that we call the esophagus. The esophagus terminates to enter the stomach. However, there is a valve separating these two structures that serves as a gateway for food, acids and other stomach contents to prevent them from backing up or reentering the esophagus. In a normal individual, this valve serves its functions well.

Heartburn Disease Process

In heartburn, this valve ceases to function properly such that stomach acids can back up against the dysfunctional valve. The stomach acids brush up against the walls of the esophagus and cause the irritating discomfort in the chest region. This makes people call such phenomenon as heartburn. The cause is not actually the heart but rather the stomach acids that irritate the esophageal wall.

Causes of Heartburn and Associated Symptoms

In understanding the heartburn pathophysiology, it is important to know the triggers or causes. Heartburn is usually triggered by the food we eat. When we eat acid-inducing foods, they increase the stomach’s acidity and make you more vulnerable to heartburn. People usually experience heartburn after a meal and usually at nighttime. After a meal, the stomach produces the acids to aid in digestion. This makes it a very appropriate time for heartburn symptoms to show. At night and while sleeping, the flat position that we assume makes it easier for the stomach acids to rise to the esophageal area. There are also certain conditions that predispose a person to experience heartburn. An example of which is heartburn that occurs in pregnancy. The rise in the hormone progesterone loosens the valve making it easier for stomach acids to rise.

If you have experienced being disturbed from your sleep several times a month because of the pain and burning sensation caused by heartburn, stay away from carbonated drinks. If you are taking anti anxiety pills such as Valium or Xanax, you may ask your doctor to prescribe safer medications if you want to avoid the condition and its consequences. Many people do not take heartburn seriously and treats it only with over the counter medications or just hope it will go away, as indeed it does. However, since heartburn can be a herald of a more serious disease, it is always better to seek medical attention, before attempting any cure. If you happen to have other unknown conditions, taking a medicine without a doctor’s advice could be harmful to you.

You can also ask your doctor about some medications that do not cause nighttime heartburn. Other causes of it are being overweight, having a hypertension, asthma and sleep disorders. If you have any one of these conditions, then it could be the reason why you are having nighttime heartburn. Losing weight and a regular exercise can significantly reduce your chances of having the condition.

A patient is also advised usually to stop smoking. Heartburn is easy to cure. By ensuring that you are free of the risk factors, you can even become immune from it. Keeping up a healthy lifestyle can ensure you that you will effectively avoid any occurrence of heartburn in your life.

Indigestion is characterized by pain and a feeling of discomfort, bloating, belching, vomiting and a feeling of fullness. These two conditions are both mistaken for a myocardial infraction but in reality are two distinct ailments.

Heartburn is a condition that is also an indigestion symptom. But more often, heartburn is a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease which is a gastric acid going back up the esophagus which can also cause cough and a condition that closely resembles an asthma attack. It can also be hydrochloric acid rising up to the esophagus from the stomach due to cardiac sphincter problem. The term does not have anything to do with the heart though. It is commonly caused by an unusual eating habit and by foods that trigger an acid reflux.

Like heartburn, indigestion is also caused by the food we eat and by our eating habits. Also called dyspepsia, indigestion is not usually a disease of its own but a symptom of other more serious maladies. This could include gallbladder disease and stomach ulcers. The pain associated with indigestion is felt while eating or after a meal. It is aggravated by emotional problems such as anxiety and depression.

These two conditions are so closely related that one is sometimes mistaken for the other by many people. But though they both are not serious diseases by themselves, constantly suffering its symptoms should not be taken for granted, as it could be a sign of a more serious ailment. The discomforts that they bring can also prevent a person from carrying on with his normal daily life and prompt diagnosis and treatment is often recommended by medical practitioners.

Here are some of the symptoms of heartburn during pregnancy:

• The most noticeable symptom of heartburn is the burning pain. It may range from mild to severe discomfort and usually occur after heavy meals. The best way to minimize this is to take small frequent meals rather than three full meals a day.
• Most pregnant women with heartburn experience pain when they lie down especially when they lie on their right side. Experts suggest that the head of the bed be elevated 6 to 8 inches to prevent the stomach acids from refluxing back up to the esophagus.
• Acid reflux and acid indigestion are two popular names of heartburn. In severe cases, a pregnant woman may find it hard to swallow because of the damage that the acid has caused to the esophagus. Immediate medical attention is necessary once you experience this symptom.
• There are certain foods that cause heartburn to worsen such as oily and fatty foods, citric and acidic juices, caffeine, etc. These foods promote acid build up so it is best to avoid them when you suffer from heartburn.

There are several ways to treat heartburn. Quick and easy home remedies have also been made available. However, a pregnant woman is advised to avoid medication because of the significant effects it may pose on the growing baby. Only those drugs prescribed by the doctor are allowed, therefore, it is wise to contact your OB-gynecologist before taking in some antacids or treatment to relieve the pain of heartburn.

The incidence of heartburn among people is alarming. This disease is fast becoming a very common disorder because of people’s unhealthy lifestyle habits. You are probably thinking about the reason for such phenomenon. Here are some of the risk factors for heartburn.

1. Stressful lifestyle – If you work from nine to five and have to juggle a full time job with another extra job, a family and lots of other matters all a the same time, you are probably leading a stressful life. Stress is an integral and important part of life. We need it in order to have the necessary vigor that we need to carry on our daily activities. However, too much stress could be truly harmful to the body. When the body is at stress, the stomach also produces more acids, making you more prone to develop heartburn and other gastrointestinal diseases.
2. Irregular eating habits – Heartburn risk factors also include irregular eating habits. The stomach produces acid in anticipation of food to aid in the digestion process. When you tend to skip meals or eat out of schedule, your body produces acid that are not needed. This could accumulate and back up to the esophagus and cause heartburn.
3. Pregnancy – Pregnant women often experience heartburn because of the rise in the hormone progesterone. This hormone can loosen up the valve or sphincter that prevents stomach acids from going to the esophagus. Hence, pregnant women have a bulging uterus that tends to press the stomach contents up to the esophagus, leading to heartburn symptoms.
4. Eating heartburn inducing food – Certain food like coffee, alcohol, chocolates, fatty, spicy and fried foods can trigger heartburn. If you are fond of eating this stuff, then you are more prone to develop heartburn.

These are just some of the factors that could lead to heartburn. Knowing the risk factors would make us more aware of our possibility of getting this disorder and making the necessary changes to avoid it.

The hormone progesterone that is produced by the placenta during pregnancy usually weakens the LES or the Lower Esophageal Sphincter that protects the esophagus from the harmful acids of the stomach. With the LES not functioning properly, women are more susceptible to heartburn during pregnancy. Progesterone also slows down digestion so pregnant women with heartburn may feel bloated after meals. Plus, the developing baby crowds the space in your stomach and as a result, the gastric juices tend to reflux back to the esophagus.

Here are some tips on how you can relieve yourself of heartburn during pregnancy:
• Avoid acidic and citrus foods and drinks such as carbonated drinks and sodas, caffeine, alcohol, citric juices, chocolate, etc.
• Instead of eating the usual three full meals a day, start eating small frequent meals. Your stomach has become smaller now due to the space given to the baby so a full meal will only make you feel more uneasy and bloated.
• Avoid drinking too much water during meals for easier digestion.
• Don’t sleep right after meals. Two to three hours of digestion time is recommended to lessen or, in fact, avoid heartburn.
• Elevate the head of your bed to stop acid from refluxing back to the esophagus.
• Avoid wearing tight clothes especially on the abdominal area. You will need this anyway due to the bulge on your stomach.
• Don’t put pressure on your abdominal area. Instead bend your knees if you need to pick something up.
• Ask your doctor for the best heartburn remedy that you can use during pregnancy.