Heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest that usually spreads through most part of the upper abdomen. Despite the name, heartburn does not technically include the heart but the stomach and the esophagus. After a fruitful meal, the stomach acids, which poses a great role in digestion, sometimes rises up to the lining of the esophagus which in turn causes the burning feeling through the chest area. It may go as far as the throat leaving people with a much-discomforted feeling and a sour after taste of what they had for dinner. Why do people experience heartburn? Is it okay to treat this as a normal condition? It may be just a normal condition and not require treatment but it is still best to be familiar with the causes of heartburn in order to prevent it from becoming a severe case.
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.
