Everything You Need To Know About Heartburn Or Acid Reflux

Sometimes, you go through a lot of health-related problems, but you just don’t understand some of them. Sometimes, you are not able to explain them or even talk about them with the doctor, but in the end, you get over it; you suffer!

I am here to tell you about one of the most common health-related problems that many people go through but cannot understand until the severity of the problem reaches its peak. I’m talking about heartburn or acid reflux. Please read below to know about this issue in detail:

• What is heartburn or acid reflux?

It is nothing but a burning sensation or pain felt around the lower chest area. There is no specific time when you run into this problem; it can happen almost anytime, even when you’re at work or sitting around doing nothing. It occurs when stomach acid backs up into the food pipe. Since the whole process turns backwards, you feel these terrible stinging sensations around your heart. Burning sensations are commonly known as heartburn.

• What are the causes of acid reflux?

There are many causes that lead to this problem; some of the most common are:

o Hiatal hernia, in which the LES (Lower Esophageal Sphincter) and the upper part of the stomach crawl above the diaphragm, which is nothing more than a muscle that keeps the stomach away from the chest. This is the muscle that keeps acid in the stomach. However, when you have a hiatal hernia, acid moves up into your esophagus, which is why you get nasty “heartburn.”

o When you overeat or eat more than your regular appetite (just to satisfy your tongue cravings), you are bound to go through the problem of acid reflux.

o Obesity is one of the most common causes of acid reflux.

o When you skip meals or eat at the wrong time, heartburn makes you depressed.

o Pregnant women are bound to suffer from acid reflux.

o Smokers are often seen going through this problem more than the multitude of non-smokers in the world.

o There are certain medications that affect the acid in the stomach, leading to acid reflux.

• What are the symptoms of acid reflux?

Read below to learn about some of the common symptoms of acid reflux:

o There is a constant ‘heartburn’ or a terrible stabbing-like sensation near the lower chest or even in the throat. The moment you go through such a problem, get checked out by a good doctor; Acid reflux can make you suffer a lot, if not treated in time.

o Often has a sour or bitter taste in the mouth, without eating anything at all. This is but a common symptom of acid reflux.

o If your stomach bloats frequently, especially if you have eaten a moderate amount of food, it is a sign of acid reflux.

or bitter eructations.

o Feeling of food stuck in the throat area.

or shortness of breath.

o Ugly hiccup, which doesn’t seem to go away.

o Constant nausea, despite doing different things to get rid of it.

o Unintentional weight loss.

or sore throat.

or dry mass.

• How does acid reflux affect your daily life?

If you suffer from severe acid reflux, you will surely face many challenges in your activities of daily living. You may have terrible stomach pains at work, so you can’t focus on all the things you want to do to get ahead.

Heartburn sensations can be bad enough to ruin your mood. Unless you get used to the feeling, you just won’t be able to ignore or avoid them. Many people with acid reflux problems often notice themselves going through the problem of mood swings. You may have terrible fights with your partner, because you can’t do the things you are expected to do.

Sometimes you can’t eat the things you like, despite your cravings for the same thing. For example, even if you like spicy food, the problem of acid reflux will not allow you to enjoy the same.

• How to cure heartburn?

You can either rely on medicines, which are easily available in the market, or rely on some of the home remedies, which are natural and keep you away from chemicals. Some of the home remedies are:

chewing gum

o Keep your chin up and avoid lying in bed.

o Watch what you eat (avoid unhealthy and fried foods) and the amount of food you eat.

o Eat bananas to calm the sensations.

o Avoid clothing that is too tight, which does not allow you to breathe properly.

o Stay away from alcohol and cigarettes.