Heartburn, also known as acid reflux, is a painful and burning sensation in the esophagus, just behind the breastbone, usually associated with regurgitation of gastric acid (gastric reflux). The pain often rises in the chest and may radiate to the neck, throat, or angle of the jaw. Heartburn is a major symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease, otherwise known as GERD. It occurs when muscles of the lower esophagus do not function properly. This causes food and acids from the stomach to leak back or reflux into the esophagus. Heartburn can be aggravated by foods, certain medications, and other factors. acid reflux is also identified as one of the causes of chronic cough, and may even mimic asthma. Despite its name, heartburn actually has nothing to do with the heart, although some heart problems may give rise to a similar burning sensation; it is called heartburn because of a burning sensation near where the heart is located.
The pain associated with acid reflux is due to the presence of acid in the esophagus. Acid is produced in the stomach as an aid to digestion and is not intended to be present in the esophagus. Unlike the stomach's lining, which can tolerate very high concentrations of acid, the presence of acid in the esophagus eats away at the lining of the esophagus and causes pain. Acid reflux does not occur because there is too much acid created by the stomach, but because the muscular barrier or valve between the esophagus and the stomach opens prematurely allowing acid, bile and other stomach contents into the esophagus. The name of this muscular barrier is the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). Other sphincters in the body include the anal and bladder sphincters, in addition to the mouth and the eye. Each of them closes in circumference around a radius. When the LES doesn't stay closed or when it opens at the wrong time, reflux can occur.
Here are some suggestions to improve your heartburn symptoms:
1. Don't go to bed with a full stomach. Eat meals at least two to three hours before lying down. This will give food time to digest and empty from your stomach, and acid levels a chance to decrease before putting your body in a position where heartburn is more likely to occur.
2. Don't overeat. Decrease the size of portions at meal times, or try eating four to five small meals instead of three large ones.
Eat slowly. Take time to eat -- don't rush. Try putting your fork down between bites.
3. Wear loose-fitting clothes.
4. Avoid heartburn triggers. Stay away from foods and beverages that trigger your heartburn symptoms (for example, onions, peppermint, chocolate, caffeine-containing beverages such as coffee, citrus fruits or juices, tomatoes, or high-fat foods). A good way to figure out what foods cause your symptoms is to keep a heartburn diary.
5. Shed some pounds. If you are overweight, losing weight can help relieve your symptoms.
6. Stop smoking. Nicotine, one of the main active ingredients in cigarettes, can weaken the lower esophageal sphincter, the muscle that controls the opening between the esophagus and stomach, preventing the acid-containing contents of the stomach from entering the esophagus.
7. Avoid alcohol. If your aim is to unwind after a stressful day, try exercise, walking, meditation, stretching, or deep breathing instead of drinking alcohol.
8. Keep a diary or heartburn log. Keep track of when heartburn hits and the specific activities that seem to trigger the incidents.
9. Raise the head of your bed so that your head and chest are higher than your feet. You can do this by placing six-inch blocks under the bed posts at the head of the bed. Don't use piles of pillows to achieve the same goal. You will only put your head at an angle that can increase pressure on your stomach and make your heartburn worse.
10. Eat earlier. Try not to eat for at least three hours before you go to sleep.
Adapted and rearranged from Wikipedia and WebMD, a medical consultant website
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