If you suffer from severe heartburn. What to do if you suffer from heartburn every day. Aspects of proper nutrition

If you suffer from heartburn constantly or periodically, you need to pay attention to the digestive system, diet, quality of food, and lifestyle. Sometimes it is enough to adjust your usual life, the discomfort will disappear.

The main problem with heartburn is the reflux of gastric juice from the upper part of the stomach into the esophagus. The level of hydrochloric acid increases, which disrupts the functioning of the digestive system. The mucous membranes become irritated, an inflammatory process occurs, and digestion of food becomes difficult. In such a situation, the muscles of the esophagus relax, the valve that protects the esophagus from gastric juice cannot fully perform its functions. All these processes in the esophagus occur under the influence of unfavorable factors. The complexity of the situation depends on the duration of such influence. With constant irritation of the mucous membrane, gastritis, esophagitis of the esophagus and other diseases of the digestive organs develop.

Factors that cause heartburn:

There are many causes of heartburn. But after analyzing your lifestyle, diet and quality of nutrition, you can determine the main negative factors.

Why does heartburn happen every day?

Unpleasant sensations occur daily in several cases:


Constantly suffers from heartburn after eating

Unpleasant sensations that constantly arise after eating indicate a disruption in the functioning of the digestive organs. Heartburn occurs due to increased acidity and bile entering the esophagus. This condition cannot be ignored, since the disease will not disappear on its own. A special diet and appropriate medications are required.

What diseases are associated with heartburn?

Making a correct diagnosis is often difficult. Since the symptoms of several gastrointestinal diseases have similar symptoms, heartburn is among them. In any case, a burning sensation behind the sternum or in the throat indicates the development of GERD - gastroesophageal reflux disease. Characteristic symptoms:

  • Persistent heartburn;
  • antacids relieve the unpleasant sensation for a short time;
  • In the morning there is a bitterness in the mouth or a sour taste;
  • there is a feeling of fullness in the stomach after a small portion of food;
  • pain in the sternum, radiating to the left, up to the throat;
  • painful sensations of moderate intensity of a pressing, squeezing nature;
  • the pain intensifies after eating and when swallowing.

Heartburn is a sign of gastritis. Characteristic symptoms of the disease:

  1. pain in the stomach area of ​​a squeezing, squeezing nature;
  2. constant heartburn with belching;
  3. painful sensations occur 2 hours after eating, and practically never occur at night;
  4. metallic, bitter taste in the mouth;
  5. nausea, sometimes with vomiting;
  6. loss of appetite;
  7. increased salivation.

The disease is characterized by expansion diaphragm, under the influence of neoplasm. The size of the hernia can grow so large that the diaphragm allows the abdominal organs, often the stomach, to pass through. The cause of the disease is weakening of the muscles of the diaphragm, the esophagus as a whole, and high intra-abdominal pressure. Heartburn occurs suddenly when bending over. Strengthens in a horizontal position. Feels in the back, around the heart. It tends to go away on its own when lying down.

Peptic ulcer of the stomach, duodenum. Appears against the background of increased acidity in other diseases, gastritis, esophagitis of the esophagus. Erosion and ulcers appear on the esophageal mucosa. This disrupts the normal functioning of the digestive organs and slows down the process of food digestion. Main manifestations:

  • pressure, pain in the stomach after eating, periodically becoming severe;
  • constant heartburn due to increased acidity;
  • nausea;
  • unpleasant odor;
  • vomiting with blood;
  • feeling of fullness in the stomach after a small amount of food;
  • coating on the tongue;
  • bitter, sour taste.

In addition, heartburn may indicate other diseases, including those not directly related to digestion:

  1. chronic pancreatitis;
  2. dyskinesia of the biliary tract;
  3. cholecystitis;
  4. esophageal sphincter insufficiency;
  5. cholelithiasis;

What to do if you have heartburn

Action depends on the severity of the problem.

You can use medications from the antacid group. They quickly remove the unpleasant
symptom, envelop the mucous membrane of the esophagus and stomach, protecting it from further irritation. Among them there are absorbent and non-absorbent drugs. The first ones act exclusively on the acidity of the stomach, thereby eliminating heartburn. Rennie is one of these antacids. The second group of non-absorbable antacids protects the esophagus for 4 hours. Should be taken 3 times a day if heartburn does not stop. You can use the drugs Almagel, Maalox, Phosphalugel. They also help cope with pain in the stomach and a feeling of constriction.

In addition, folk remedies help:

  • sunflower seeds - just click and eat;
  • almonds, walnuts, peanuts - must be chewed thoroughly;
  • milk at a comfortable temperature;
  • homemade low-fat yogurt;
  • cottage cheese without adding cream;
  • a handful of buckwheat - chew raw for 30 minutes, swallow saliva;
  • still mineral water;
  • potato juice;
  • sea ​​buckthorn oil.

Constant heartburn with a sour taste in the mouth

Occurs against a background of increased acidity. In this case, antacids give temporary results. In parallel with them, you need to take medications that affect the contents of gastric juice, neutralize hydrochloric acid or reduce its production. As well as medications to increase the tone of the esophageal muscles and improve digestion.


The drugs are taken according to the instructions. The duration of therapy is at least 10 days. When the functioning of the digestive organs is disrupted, toxins accumulate, which worsen overall well-being. To remove them, the drugs Enterosgel and Activated Carbon are used. Spasms are relieved by Drotaverin, No-shpa, Meverin.

If heartburn is accompanied by other dangerous symptoms, for example, severe pain, vomiting with or without blood, belching of the contents of the esophagus, fever, diarrhea, you should seek help from a doctor and undergo an examination.

Pregnancy and heartburn

Almost all expectant mothers face such a problem as heartburn. Even those women who have never encountered digestive problems become familiar with the unpleasant sensation. This happens for several reasons:

  • Hormonal changes in the body lead to relaxation of all muscles, including the esophagus. The sphincter ceases to fully perform its functions and allows gastric juice to pass into the esophagus.
  • As the size of the uterus increases during fetal growth, the load on all internal organs increases. The esophagus, together with the stomach, is compressed, which facilitates the penetration of gastric juice into the digestive organ.

Heartburn during pregnancy appears around the end of the second semester and accompanies the woman until childbirth. For some it is periodic discomfort, for others it is constant. How to deal with heartburn during pregnancy? Most medications are contraindicated. We have to turn to folk remedies for help.

Switch to light food:


Sometimes this is enough to prevent heartburn from occurring. Additionally, you should slightly change your position during sleep, since in an upright position, gastric juice will quickly enter the esophagus. Place another pillow under your back and sleep half-sitting. If the diet helps little, you can reduce acidity and eliminate heartburn with potato juice. Drink fresh until it changes color. No later than 10 minutes after receiving it. You need to drink 2 tbsp. spoons, after which do not eat or drink anything for 40 minutes. Potato juice acts like an antacid.

Of the medications, only absorbable antacids can be used. Usually, doctors allow Rennie in limited quantities. After childbirth, heartburn goes away on its own. If this does not happen, we are talking about a disease of the digestive tract, you need to seek advice from specialists.

Constant, severe heartburn that occurs almost every day is also called chronic heartburn or gastrointestinal reflux, and is a much more serious problem.

People with severe, persistent heartburn experience long-term symptoms, which are not always triggered by food intake.

Episodes of heartburn can be very frequent, and some people have acid reflux that never goes away.

Many people are interested in the answer to the question: if you suffer from heartburn, what should you do? When a person suffers from heartburn every day, its symptoms worsen sharply, and the heartburn itself affects the quality of sleep and daily activities, it is important to consult a professional doctor in time.

This is necessary to learn about the different treatment options for this condition.

If you feel heartburn every day, the causes and treatment of this condition will be determined during a visit to a gastroenterologist.

The doctor will tell the patient why heartburn progresses every day and does not go away.

Causes

Acid reflux is caused by stomach acids supporting the esophagus.

The muscular sphincter at the base of the esophagus usually relaxes as food passes, then contracts to prevent acid reinforcement.

In a person with severe heartburn, the sphincter is unable to contract properly. The acid buildup irritates the wall of the esophagus, causing it to tighten, swell, and become tender.

Severe sphincter dysfunction is usually caused by genetic abnormalities, however, obesity, drinking, certain diets and hypertension medications can worsen symptoms.

Many people suffer from heartburn. If you experience constant heartburn every day, this phenomenon often causes chest pain and a burning sensation, which tends to get worse when lying down.

The acids can travel to the back of the throat, causing a very bad taste in the mouth.

If you suffer from heartburn, a person may also experience:

  • problems with swallowing;
  • dyspnea;
  • cough, which is especially bothersome in the morning;
  • hoarseness of the throat.

The condition is considered severe when symptoms occur several times a week, despite any changes in dietary intake.

Acid reflux occurs periodically in many people, but if it becomes a daily occurrence, it most likely indicates an underlying health problem or unhealthy eating habits.

If a person suffers from heartburn every day, it is often the result of stomach acid reflux, during which acid travels up into the esophagus and throat, causing a burning sensation in the chest or a bitter taste in the back of the throat.

People suffering from chronic (persistent) heartburn should see a doctor to find out what causes the condition.

People who suffer from constant or frequent heartburn may have gastroesophageal reflux disease.

GERD is caused by a weakened muscle valve in the esophagus known as the lower esophageal sphincter.

This valve opens when food or liquid enters the stomach cavity, and then usually closes to prevent acidification of the gastric juices.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease means that there is a process of permanent damage to the lower esophageal sphincter, which does not close tightly enough to prevent acid reflux and subsequently causes chronic heartburn.

Prescription medications or some over-the-counter medications can treat the condition in most cases. In certain situations, doctors may recommend surgery to strengthen the sphincter.

Surgical methods include what is called a tightening procedure, which strengthens and tightens the esophageal valve.

If a person suffers from severe heartburn, there are very serious reasons for it, which, for example, include gastritis (inflammation of the stomach wall).

Persistent acid reflux can also be the result of peptic ulcers, an erosion of the wall in the digestive tract caused by excessive secretion of stomach acid.

If a patient is constantly experiencing heartburn, this condition may signal the development of a hiatal hernia, which causes the upper part of the stomach to push up into the chest.

The condition weakens the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing stomach acid to frequently pass into the esophagus area.

Obesity and smoking are risk factors associated with hiatal hernia.

What else causes heartburn? Overeating, eating too quickly, obesity and excess weight can cause frequent heartburn.

People who experience heartburn every day may need to change the amount and frequency of foods they eat. Food should be eaten slowly and each portion should be chewed thoroughly.

According to several studies, eating less food helps prevent heartburn.

Fatty or spicy foods, citrus fruits, tomato-based products, chocolate and onions are among the foods that can cause frequent heartburn.

Drinking too much caffeine, soda, or alcohol can also often cause persistent heartburn that lasts for several days in a row.

Eating during stressful periods similarly leads to frequent heartburn.

Diagnosis and treatment

If a person experiences constant and severe heartburn every day, what should be done in this case? How to get rid of this phenomenon?

A person with severe heartburn should talk to their doctor about the condition and learn about treatment options.

In most cases, the doctor will first perform a series of diagnostic tests to make sure that a more serious problem is not involved in the reflux process.

A barium swallow involves swallowing a small amount of this gas and then examining the stomach with X-rays.

The doctor traces the barium through the esophagus and stomach to see if it is returning through the sphincter.

An endoscopic procedure may also be necessary to thoroughly examine the wall of the esophagus to check for ulcers and tumors.

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, a specialist may prescribe medications to relieve symptoms and reduce the frequency of episodes of persistent heartburn.

Histamine blockers may be indicated for the patient to help reduce the level of inflammatory reactions in the esophagus that cause burning.

Medicines called prokinetics can stimulate the sphincter to tighten to reduce the severity of acid reflux in the stomach.

  • avoid drinking alcoholic beverages and eating unhealthy foods;
  • exercise regularly;
  • does not go to bed immediately after eating.

Surgery is usually not required, but this treatment option is considered if the sphincter or esophagus is seriously damaged and urgent relief from acid reflux is required.

If a patient constantly suffers from heartburn, what should he do? How can you painlessly get rid of this condition, which does not go away for the third or fourth day in a row?

For a person with heartburn, treatment options may include making dietary changes, taking medications, making lifestyle changes, or a combination of all three types of treatment.

People who have occasional and occasional heartburn may be prescribed over-the-counter medications that simply relieve discomfort in the stomach and esophagus.

Lifestyle changes and home treatment for heartburn can reduce the frequency of heartburn, reduce the severity of heartburn symptoms, and help prevent future heartburn in the first place.

  1. Frequency of occurrence of heartburn.
  2. The severity of existing symptoms.
  3. Duration of symptomatic manifestations.
  4. The nature of the influence of this condition on everyday life.
  5. Family history of illness (acid reflux or GERD).

Depending on your specific situation, heartburn symptoms may improve simply by making certain changes in your diet and lifestyle.

Many people realize that there are a number of factors that increase the severity of symptoms.

Because of this, it may take some time to experiment and figure out exactly what a sick person needs to do to eliminate or reduce existing symptoms.

For example, the treating doctor will often suggest that the patient avoid certain foods that make heartburn worse.

In addition, the specialist will advise you not to eat quickly during the day and before bed.

Your doctor also suggests other lifestyle changes to treat persistent or chronic heartburn. They are listed below:

  1. Avoiding wearing tight clothing, which puts pressure on the stomach and worsens heartburn symptoms.
  2. Using chewing gum or lozenges to increase saliva production, which will help neutralize acid reflux.
  3. Working to reduce your heartburn stress levels. It can increase both the amount of acid in the stomach cavity and the amount of time it takes to have a bowel movement after eating (both of which increase the likelihood of reflux).
  4. Raising the head slightly above the level of the bed (in centimeters) with the help of additional pillows.

Although a medical expert can give a person some advice on how to relieve symptoms, each patient's body is different.

By paying close attention to your diet, you can try to determine for yourself what lifestyle changes may help relieve your reflux symptoms.

As part of heartburn treatment, your doctor may recommend taking certain medications in some situations.

If acid reflux occurs every day, a person may need prescription medications that reduce the amount of acid the stomach produces (antacids or antisecretory medications).

For people with occasional heartburn, it is helpful to take antacids after meals and before bed. For some people, acid reflux is caused by taking other medications that cause it.

In some cases, a person simply stops taking such medications.

If a person experiences heartburn two or more times a week, or if over-the-counter antacids only work temporarily or have no beneficial effect at all, they may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

If you suspect you have GERD, you should discuss this issue with your doctor. There are special medical treatments for this disease.

For most people, the most popular at-home heartburn treatments are also quite successful in relieving symptoms.

Although this phenomenon creates a lot of inconvenience for any person, it rarely threatens life. Despite this, heartburn symptoms can significantly reduce your quality of life.

Therefore, the heartburn treatment that a patient chooses will depend on how frequent and severe the manifestations of this condition are, and to what extent they complicate a person's life.

Most people choose a combination of lifestyle changes, medications, and home remedies for short- and long-term control of existing symptoms.

Under any circumstances, the patient needs to contact a specialist in the field of gastroenterology, who will tell you why heartburn occurs and how to properly treat it.

Constant heartburn

Persistent heartburn is a common acid reflux in which gastric juices released from the stomach irritate the lining of the esophagus.

Weakening or disruption of the cardiac sphincter, which separates the esophagus and stomach, is what can cause heartburn. Normally, the valve acts as a barrier and prevents food and acid from splashing into the esophagus. It opens only when food passes into the stomach.

Dysfunction of the sphincter allows gastric juice to enter the esophagus. The acidic liquid, which is produced by the glands and cells of the stomach, corrodes the mucous membrane of the esophagus, which leads to severe burning in the epigastric region, behind the sternum and in the oral cavity. Sometimes this sensation is felt in the neck area. In some cases, the illness may be accompanied by nausea, flatulence, belching, and an unpleasant sour taste.

Rare and isolated cases of discomfort in the esophagus cannot cause harm to health. However, frequent heartburn (more than once in seven days) should be a reason to visit a specialist. Only a gastroenterologist can determine the causes and treatment of this symptom.

Causes of persistent heartburn

The statistics are depressing: only 23% of adults who suffer from constant heartburn follow doctors' recommendations.

When heartburn does not go away for a long time, it is necessary to check the condition of the stomach or radically change your lifestyle.

Chronic heartburn causes the following diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:

  • Ulcer of the stomach and duodenum. The causes of constant heartburn are a violation of the frequency of gastric contractions and a narrowing of the gastric outlet. Consequences: food retention and increased gastric pressure, which contributes to reflux.
  • Gastritis. A burning sensation in the esophagus occurs due to increased formation of gastric juice. As a result of inflammation and the resulting erosion, not only a constant burning sensation can occur, but also pain syndromes in the epigastric region.
  • Chronic pancreatitis and cholecystitis.
  • Biliary dyskinesia, cholelithiasis.
  • Insufficiency of the cardiac sphincter.
  • Reflux gastroesophageal disease.

Frequent heartburn can be caused by cancerous growths in the stomach and pancreas.

The manifestation of daily heartburn can also be caused by other serious diseases, which require timely diagnosis and the correct treatment strategy.

You should also analyze your lifestyle and habits in detail. Very often the cause of constant heartburn lies precisely in them.

Improper or excessive food intake

A large amount of food consumed at one time distends the stomach and leads to incomplete closure of the sphincter. Constant overeating leads to systematic reflux, which results in heartburn every day.

Constant heartburn occurs if the diet contains fatty, spicy, fried and smoked foods, as well as:

  • coffee and some types of vegetables (tomatoes, radishes, etc.);
  • fruits (plums, apples, citrus fruits);
  • large amounts of alcohol;
  • lack of hot food.

Frequent symptoms of burning in the esophagus are provoked by an increased volume of acid, which promotes the digestion of food. Its excess enters the esophagus, causing not only signs of heartburn, but also pain.

The second reason may be the horizontal position of the body during sleep immediately after eating. This leads to increased pressure on the sphincter and a decrease in the amount of saliva, which helps digest food. This leads to the appearance of reflux.

The same applies to excessive fluid intake, especially carbonated drinks.

On an empty stomach, attacks of heartburn are extremely rare; an unpleasant symptom occurs 30–40 minutes after eating.

Increased pressure in the stomach

The cause of frequent heartburn may lie in increased intra-abdominal pressure that occurs as a result of pregnancy. An increase in the volume of the uterus in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy leads to increased intra-abdominal pressure and the occurrence of unpleasant symptoms.

At this time, the level of the hormone progesterone also increases, which helps to relax all smooth muscles, including those at the base of the sphincter.

Other reasons

Heartburn can occur after exercise or heavy lifting immediately after eating. In this case, the pressure in the abdominal cavity increases, the work of the pylorus slows down, and physical activity decreases. However, adequate physical activity is necessary. It is thanks to them that the muscular wall of the diaphragm is in normal working condition.

Heartburn often occurs due to excess weight, flatulence and constipation, which cause the stomach to shift and the sphincter to weaken.

Corsets, tight belts, belts, too narrow and tight clothes deform the position of the stomach, which lifts food up and allows it to pass back into the esophagus.

If you constantly suffer from heartburn, the cause may be hidden in taking certain medications on an empty stomach (for example, aspirin, ibuprofen). They stimulate an increase in the level of acidity in the stomach, as a result of which excess acid is thrown into the esophagus, which causes discomfort.

“Nervous heartburn” is provoked by stress, hysteria, and neuroses, which are accompanied by a feeling of anxiety. In this case, a psychologist will help and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Consequences of heartburn

If, with proper nutrition and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, heartburn recurs for several days in a row, you should urgently consult a doctor. Heartburn every day leads to:

  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease, which is characterized not only by constant heartburn, but also by regurgitation of bile. Impaired movement of food masses through the esophagus leads to pain during swallowing, hoarseness, hiccups, cough, etc.
  • Barrett's esophagus (precancerous disease), when the cells of the esophagus degenerate.
  • Diffuse spasm of the esophagus, as a result of which the walls of the esophagus expand and protrude. Contractions of the esophagus that are involuntary or occur during swallowing cause pain.
  • Ulcers and bleeding in the esophagus, resulting from the harmful effects of gastric juice.
  • Esophageal cancer.
  • Bronchial asthma, aspiration pneumonia, which occurs as a result of severe coughing with heartburn. Diseases develop as a result of acidic stomach contents entering the bronchi and lungs.

Interestingly, more severe diseases such as angina pectoris and myocardial infarction are sometimes mistaken for heartburn attacks.

There are people who, like an ostrich hiding its head in the sand, try to avoid the problem, which can lead to serious consequences. Heartburn every day has causes determined solely by a doctor.

To find out why heartburn is tormented, fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy is used. Using this study, malfunctions in the gastrointestinal tract are identified, the acidity of gastric juice is measured and tissue samples are taken. A test may also be performed to check for the presence of Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which contribute to the appearance of ulcers.

Treatment

Treatment of heartburn comes down to getting rid of the disease that provokes the symptoms. But you can stop the attacks and alleviate the condition on your own. With the help of antacid medications (Almagel, Rennie, Maalox, etc.), the negative effect of hydrochloric acid on the esophageal mucosa is reduced. You can use adsorbents (activated carbon) or alginates, such as Laminal, Gaviscon.

  1. Grind sweet almonds or walnuts in a mortar and rub. 1 tablespoon helps.
  2. 1 tbsp. pour a spoonful of centaury with 2 cups of boiling water. Take the infusion twice a day.
  3. 1 tbsp. Pour a spoonful of mint into a glass of boiling water and leave for 10–15 minutes. Take as tea.
  4. 2 tbsp. spoons of St. John's wort, plantain and chamomile in equal parts pour 1 cup of boiling water. Leave for two hours. Use 1 tbsp. spoon three times a day.

Prevention

In addition to systematic examinations of the gastrointestinal tract, preventive measures against constant heartburn include:

  • exclusion from the diet of foods that cause heartburn;
  • going to bed no earlier than 3 hours after eating;
  • refusal of a hearty lunch an hour before physical activity;
  • eating small portions, but often;
  • rejection of bad habits;
  • normalization of body weight;
  • compliance with the drinking regime (2 liters of water per day);
  • refusal of clothing that tightens the organs of the esophagus.

With constant heartburn, only a specialist can determine what to do. The doctor will prescribe the necessary tests and decide on the course of treatment. Neglecting treatment can lead to irreversible consequences.

Discomfort with heartburn - why discomfort occurs, how to get rid of it

If you suffer from heartburn constantly or periodically, you need to pay attention to the digestive system, diet, quality of food, and lifestyle. Sometimes it is enough to adjust your usual life, the discomfort will disappear.

Causes of heartburn

The main problem with heartburn is the reflux of gastric juice from the upper part of the stomach into the esophagus. The level of hydrochloric acid increases, which disrupts the functioning of the digestive system. The mucous membranes become irritated, an inflammatory process occurs, and digestion of food becomes difficult. In such a situation, the muscles of the esophagus relax, the valve that protects the esophagus from gastric juice cannot fully perform its functions. All these processes in the esophagus occur under the influence of unfavorable factors. The complexity of the situation depends on the duration of such influence. With constant irritation of the mucous membrane, gastritis, esophagitis of the esophagus and other diseases of the digestive organs develop.

  1. medications;
  2. fatty, salty, spicy, fried foods;
  3. excess weight;
  4. coffee, strong tea;
  5. carbonated drinks;
  6. canned food, smoked meats;
  7. alcohol;
  8. products containing dyes, flavor enhancers, flavors, and other chemicals;
  9. chocolate;
  10. sweets with a high content of cream, jam, preserves;
  11. ice cream;
  12. nervous stress;
  13. fast food;
  14. talking while eating;
  15. swallowing food in chunks without thorough digestion;
  16. excessive physical activity;
  17. sedentary lifestyle;
  18. hormonal disbalance;
  19. inflammatory diseases of other internal organs;
  20. penetration of infection.

There are many causes of heartburn. But after analyzing your lifestyle, diet and quality of nutrition, you can determine the main negative factors.

Why does heartburn happen every day?

Unpleasant sensations occur daily in several cases:

  • Improper diet, disrupted eating patterns. If increased demands are placed on food products, food is steamed, boiled, baked, but at the same time you have to eat it 2 times a day, in the middle of the night, or the entire daily requirement in the evening - the digestive organs experience a greater load. To prevent heartburn from appearing every day, you need to correct your eating regimen.
  • Exercise immediately after eating. First of all, this concerns movements that lead to compression of the stomach - extension, flexion of the torso, pumping the abs, lifting weights. After eating food, at least 30 minutes should pass, after which you can begin physical labor.
  • Severe emotional state. All processes in the human body are controlled by the central nervous system. Under the influence of stress, depression, overexertion, various malfunctions occur. Gastritis is one of the diseases that appears from nerves. Its first signs are constant or frequent heartburn.
  • If there are painful symptoms - nausea, headache, discomfort in the stomach, sour taste in the mouth, we are talking about the presence of diseases of the digestive tract. This could be gastritis, esophagitis of the esophagus, disruption of the gallbladder, liver. It is recommended to seek advice from a specialist and, if necessary, undergo an examination.

Constantly suffers from heartburn after eating

Unpleasant sensations that constantly arise after eating indicate a disruption in the functioning of the digestive organs. Heartburn occurs due to increased acidity and bile entering the esophagus. This condition cannot be ignored, since the disease will not disappear on its own. A special diet and appropriate medications are required.

What diseases are associated with heartburn?

Making a correct diagnosis is often difficult. Since the symptoms of several gastrointestinal diseases have similar symptoms, heartburn is among them. In any case, a burning sensation behind the sternum and in the throat indicates the development of GERD - gastroesophageal reflux disease. Characteristic symptoms:

  • Persistent heartburn;
  • antacids relieve the unpleasant sensation for a short time;
  • In the morning there is a bitterness in the mouth or a sour taste;
  • there is a feeling of fullness in the stomach after a small portion of food;
  • pain in the sternum, radiating to the left, up to the throat;
  • painful sensations of moderate intensity of a pressing, squeezing nature;
  • the pain intensifies after eating and when swallowing.

Heartburn is a sign of gastritis. Characteristic symptoms of the disease:

  1. pain in the stomach area of ​​a squeezing, squeezing nature;
  2. constant heartburn with belching;
  3. painful sensations occur 2 hours after eating, and practically never occur at night;
  4. metallic, bitter taste in the mouth;
  5. nausea, sometimes with vomiting;
  6. loss of appetite;
  7. increased salivation.

Hiatal hernia. The disease is characterized by expansion of the diaphragm, under the influence of a neoplasm. The size of the hernia can grow so large that the diaphragm allows the abdominal organs, often the stomach, to pass through. The cause of the disease is weakening of the muscles of the diaphragm, the esophagus as a whole, and high intra-abdominal pressure. Heartburn occurs suddenly when bending over. Strengthens in a horizontal position. Feels in the back, around the heart. It tends to go away on its own when lying down.

Peptic ulcer of the stomach, duodenum. Appears against the background of increased acidity in other diseases, gastritis, esophagitis of the esophagus. Erosion and ulcers appear on the esophageal mucosa. This disrupts the normal functioning of the digestive organs and slows down the process of food digestion. Main manifestations:

  • pressure, pain in the stomach after eating, periodically becoming severe;
  • constant heartburn due to increased acidity;
  • nausea;
  • unpleasant odor;
  • vomiting with blood;
  • feeling of fullness in the stomach after a small amount of food;
  • coating on the tongue;
  • bitter, sour taste.

In addition, heartburn may indicate other diseases, including those not directly related to digestion:

  1. chronic pancreatitis;
  2. dyskinesia of the biliary tract;
  3. cholecystitis;
  4. esophageal sphincter insufficiency;
  5. cholelithiasis;

What to do if you have heartburn

Action depends on the severity of the problem.

Sudden onset of heartburn

You can use medications from the antacid group. They quickly remove the unpleasant symptom, envelop the mucous membrane of the esophagus and stomach, and protect it from further irritation. Among them there are absorbent and non-absorbent drugs. The first ones act exclusively on the acidity of the stomach, thereby eliminating heartburn. Rennie is one of these antacids. The second group of non-absorbable antacids protects the esophagus for 4 hours. Should be taken 3 times a day if heartburn does not stop. You can use the drugs Almagel, Maalox, Phosphalugel. They also help cope with pain in the stomach and a feeling of constriction.

In addition, folk remedies help:

  • sunflower seeds - just click and eat;
  • almonds, walnuts, peanuts - must be chewed thoroughly;
  • milk at a comfortable temperature;
  • homemade low-fat yogurt;
  • cottage cheese without adding cream;
  • a handful of buckwheat - chew raw for 30 minutes, swallow saliva;
  • still mineral water;
  • potato juice;
  • sea ​​buckthorn oil.

Constant heartburn with a sour taste in the mouth

Occurs against a background of increased acidity. In this case, antacids give temporary results. In parallel with them, you need to take medications that affect the contents of gastric juice, neutralize hydrochloric acid or reduce its production. As well as medications to increase the tone of the esophageal muscles and improve digestion.

The drugs are taken according to the instructions. The duration of therapy is at least 10 days. When the functioning of the digestive organs is disrupted, toxins accumulate, which worsen overall well-being. To remove them, the drugs Enterosgel and Activated Carbon are used. Spasms are relieved by Drotaverin, No-shpa, Meverin.

If heartburn is accompanied by other dangerous symptoms, for example, severe pain, vomiting with or without blood, belching of the contents of the esophagus, fever, diarrhea, you should seek help from a doctor and undergo an examination.

Pregnancy and heartburn

Almost all expectant mothers face such a problem as heartburn. Even those women who have never encountered digestive problems become familiar with the unpleasant sensation. This happens for several reasons:

  • Hormonal changes in the body lead to relaxation of all muscles, including the esophagus. The sphincter ceases to fully perform its functions and allows gastric juice to pass into the esophagus.
  • As the size of the uterus increases during fetal growth, the load on all internal organs increases. The esophagus, together with the stomach, is compressed, which facilitates the penetration of gastric juice into the digestive organ.

Heartburn during pregnancy appears around the end of the second semester and accompanies the woman until childbirth. For some it is periodic discomfort, for others it is constant. How to deal with heartburn during pregnancy? Most medications are contraindicated. We have to turn to folk remedies for help.

  1. mashed potatoes;
  2. chicken broth soup;
  3. porridge with butter, milk;
  4. boiled eggs;
  5. steamed chicken cutlets;
  6. baked fish;
  7. cottage cheese;
  8. yogurt;
  9. sweet fruits;
  10. vegetables, except legumes, tomatoes;
  11. drying, crackers, cookies without cream;
  12. white bread;
  13. green tea, not strong;
  14. milk.

Sometimes this is enough to prevent heartburn from occurring. Additionally, you should slightly change your position during sleep, since in an upright position, gastric juice will quickly enter the esophagus. Place another pillow under your back and sleep half-sitting. If the diet helps little, you can reduce acidity and eliminate heartburn with potato juice. Drink fresh until it changes color. No later than 10 minutes after receiving it. You need to drink 2 tbsp. spoons, after which do not eat or drink anything for 40 minutes. Potato juice acts like an antacid.

Of the medications, only absorbable antacids can be used. Usually, doctors allow Rennie in limited quantities. After childbirth, heartburn goes away on its own. If this does not happen, we are talking about a disease of the digestive tract, you need to seek advice from specialists.

Frequent heartburn

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Attacks of severe heartburn, which often torment a person, can be not only a sign of a disease of the digestive system, but also a sign of more serious diseases. What to do if constant heartburn interferes with a full life?

Do not get used to the constant burning sensation in your stomach - this can lead to cancer in your body.

Heartburn is a common concern

Frequent heartburn is a burning painful sensation in the throat and esophagus, which manifests itself after eating unhealthy foods, vigorous physical activity, smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages. Pregnant women and overweight people also suffer from heartburn; often the disease can be a consequence of serious diseases in the human body.

If you suffer from heartburn, affecting your overall well-being and quality of life, you need to undergo examinations to identify the cause of the disease and properly eliminate it.

Causes of constant heartburn

If constant heartburn begins to haunt a person day and night, then this may be a consequence of a number of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, namely:

  • duodenal ulcer;
  • reflux esophagitis;
  • pantcreatitis;
  • cholecystitis;
  • gastroduodenitis;
  • digestive organ cancer;
  • diseases of the cardiovascular system;
  • neurological diseases;
  • pregnancy.

Bad habits

Heartburn does not go away if a person does not eat properly. Frequent dry snacks, fast food, any fatty or spicy dish, sweet carbonated drinks, strong coffee and tea can cause serious damage to the digestive system, which is why the patient will have constant chronic heartburn.

Smoking and drinking alcohol also cause constant burning, since the esophageal mucosa is constantly irritated and it burns. If a person eats heavily, often overeats and consumes a lot of fried, fatty and spicy foods, he will be haunted by constant heartburn. If you have diseases of the digestive system, you should not constantly overeat when it’s late in the evening.

During sleep, the body is not able to fully digest a heavy dinner, acidity increases and the consequences are heartburn at night. If the cause of the burning sensation at night is different, then you can try going to bed in an elevated position; for this, another pillow will be useful. In this state, gastric juice will not flow into the esophagus and the burning sensation will not bother you.

Often a burning sensation haunts people who wear tight clothes or belts. Squeezing the abdomen has a bad effect on its functioning, and a feeling of heaviness appears. In this case, you should choose clothes that are loose, do not restrict movement, and will not put unnecessary pressure on the stomach.

Emotional turmoil

With constant nervous tension, stress, and emotional turmoil, prolonged heartburn is possible every day. Due to constant stressful situations, the entire body suffers, including the gastrointestinal tract, which may be due to the fact that the patient is suffering from heartburn.

Pregnancy

Very often, heartburn is a sign of the birth of a new life. A woman who becomes pregnant often faces such an illness. This is due to the restructuring of the body to bear and give birth to a healthy baby. In the first trimester, attacks are influenced by the hormone progesterone, which relaxes the muscles of the internal organs, including the esophagus, which is a consequence of the reflux of gastric juice into the esophagus. As pregnancy progresses, the already growing baby puts pressure on the abdomen, which is why a burning sensation occurs.

However, if a woman did not have digestive problems before pregnancy, the problem will go away immediately after the baby is born.

If you are tormented by burning attacks, then you should consult a doctor who will draw up a list of medications that can help in this case.

Postponed surgeries

After any surgery, changes and disruptions occur in the body; the digestive system in such cases is one of the first to suffer. It may happen that the secretion of hydrochloric acid increases or, conversely, decreases. In such cases, special gentle nutrition for the adaptation period can help.

Diseases

Burning sensation can be a consequence of various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:

  • chronic gastritis is accompanied by increased secretion of hydrochloric acid, which irritates the mucous membrane and provokes a burning sensation;
  • an ulcer in the intestines does not allow foods to be digested normally, which is why they stagnate and oxidize, which is why long-term heartburn occurs;
  • ahalia, or stagnation of food, is also a factor in the fact that heartburn torments a person every day;
  • Cancer, along with constant painful sensations, will also be a consequence of heartburn.

Physical exercise

Often patients do not adhere to the recommendation to rest 1-1.5 minutes after eating. When starting to exercise immediately after eating, a person runs the risk of severe heartburn, since food can move backwards through the esophagus due to heavy stress. It is necessary to rest after a meal without overloading the body with physical work.

Distended stomach

The volume of the stomach in a healthy person is 1.5 liters. However, frequent overeating can stretch its elastic walls to large sizes. Naturally, such a situation will aggravate his work, which means that the patient will suffer from heartburn every day.

If a person drinks beer and other alcoholic drinks frequently and in large quantities, he may develop a large beer belly. In this case, the functioning of the kidneys and liver goes wrong, the heart suffers, shortness of breath and swelling appear.

Heartburn as a symptom of heart disease

If you experience heartburn very often, it may be a symptom of cardiovascular disease. Due to frequent stress, poor diet and daily routine, and heavy physical exertion, disruptions in the functioning of the heart muscle begin. All this causes painful discomfort in the sternum. The stomach and heart are located next to each other and because of this, heartburn can make itself felt.

Often, attacks of angina, heart attack and other heart diseases are accompanied by heartburn and stomach pain. This may cause untimely provision of first aid and the patient may die. If the burning sensation is accompanied by severe pain in the left side of the body, you must urgently go to the hospital in order to begin treating the disease in a timely manner.

Psychosomatics

Due to frequent stress, the entire body suffers. If conflicts and stressful situations arise rarely, then the body adapts and easily copes with the problem. However, if a person is exposed to this condition on a daily basis, then things can be much more complicated.

Under stress, the body is unable to control its functions. The digestive system begins to be poorly supplied with blood, its functioning malfunctions, resulting in heartburn. Under stress, harmful radical impurities are formed in the blood, which disrupt the integrity of the walls of the esophagus, forming ulcers and erosions. With nervous tension, the functioning of the sphincter is disrupted. It stops closing completely and the acid will rise through it.

Complications

If the burning sensation is tormented, and it is always ignored, then serious complications are possible in the form of gastroesophageal reflux disease, which has the following symptoms:

  • hiccups and burning;
  • nausea and sometimes vomiting;
  • bloating;
  • sour belching;
  • chest pain;
  • difficulty swallowing.

Such symptoms should not be ignored, but immediately undergo a full examination of the gastrointestinal tract. GERD, if not treated promptly, can be a consequence of diseases such as ulcers, hiatal hernia, and cancer.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis at the first stage consists of collecting the patient’s complaints. To do this, it is necessary to talk in detail about what symptom bothers the person, what pain and discomfort he experiences.

If there are symptoms of gastrointestinal disease, an instrumental examination is prescribed. This could be an x-ray, endoscopy, acidity analysis.

Endoscopy is informative, when the digestive organs are examined using a tube that is inserted inside through the esophagus. This method is unpleasant, but will determine the diagnosis and treatment tactics.

Quick help

An effective way to help with the burning sensation is to drink a few sips of warm water after eating. This method can dilute the concentration of juice, so the burning sensation in the throat will not bother you.

Three to four sips of milk, which has an enveloping property and prevents an attack, will also be effective. Potato or carrot juice can also quickly overcome the disease. To prepare it, you need a root vegetable, which you need to peel and grate, then squeeze out the juice and drink it.

Chewing gum can also relieve burning sensation in adults. Saliva, which is released abundantly during chewing, dilutes the acid, but this method has a short-lived effect.

You can get rid of the disease thanks to aloe juice. However, it is bitter, so it is recommended to dilute it in water. When taking soda, you can get rid of the burning sensation, but after a while it will return.

What to do during treatment?

If there is a burning sensation that lasts all day, the doctor will advise you to take antacid medications based on sodium bicarbonate, magnesium and aluminum, which have enveloping properties, neutralizing the burning sensation. These are drugs such as Almagel, Gastal, Maalox, Phosphalugel. Treatment of increased secretion in adults is effective when taking tablets that inhibit the process of acid secretion.

If you suffer from a burning sensation all day long, then first of all, before switching to drug treatment, people with a sick stomach should try to go on a therapeutic diet for a week, maximum three. It is necessary to exclude foods that cause abundant secretion of hydrochloric acid. These are spicy, fatty and fried foods, sweet desserts with oily fillings, carbonated drinks, hot seasonings and spices, alcohol, cigarettes. The diet should include foods that are gentle on the digestive system without causing burning attacks.

You need to make steamed, grilled, baked, boiled dishes. Eat milk porridges and jelly, which are useful for such ailments. Avoid baked goods, white bread and sweet pastries. Whole grain bread is perfect for burning sensations, providing the body with healthy fiber and vitamins.

Drink mineral water without gases. The salts that are included in the composition tend to neutralize gastric juice, which will alleviate the patient’s condition.

Follow your daily routine. Eat 5-6 times a day in small portions, this will relieve the burden on the digestive system and the attacks will stop. You can do physical therapy and breathing exercises several times a week, which will strengthen the muscles of the thoracic region.

What to do if heartburn constantly appears?

Constant heartburn is one of the most common complaints of patients when visiting a gastroenterologist. In medicine, this is the name for a feeling of acute burning in the pit of the stomach, which occurs as a result of the reflux of acidic stomach contents into the esophagus. If heartburn is not constant and flares up only after breaking your usual diet or when you are introduced to unusual dishes, you can try to cure the disease yourself. When the cause is not clear, and heartburn recurs more and more often, you should seek medical help.

Doctors determine the causes during a preliminary examination of the gastrointestinal tract. Most often, it is carried out using esophagogastroscopy - an X-ray examination of the esophagus, which can reveal physical pathologies. Esophageal manometry can be performed by oral or transanal catheterization.

What causes it?

In healthy people, an alkaline environment is maintained in the digestive tract. The esophagus is protected from acid by a special muscle - the sphincter. This muscle compresses the passage from the esophagus into the gastric sac and does not allow the contents of the stomach to pass in the opposite direction. The sphincter is not sufficiently developed in infants, so belching is common for infants. In addition to the sphincter, the diaphragm protects the alkaline environment of the esophagus - it also compresses the passage into the stomach, helping the sphincter keep acid where it is needed.

The reflux of acids into the esophagus and the resulting heartburn sometimes occurs in healthy people. This is explained by a failure of protective mechanisms. Under normal conditions, the entry of acids into the esophagus does not cause trouble - the cells destroyed by the acid are quickly regenerated. But with frequent injections of aggressive fluid, the cells do not have time to reproduce, and microscopic bald spots (erosion) appear on the inner surface of the esophagus. Frequent heartburn is an indispensable companion of such erosion. The consequences of a failure can be very unpleasant. The erosion grows and in the near future can lead to an ulcer.

Among the causes should be highlighted:

1. malfunction of the sphincter - abnormal relaxation of this muscle as a result of taking medications or under stress;

2. development of a hiatal hernia - swelling of the upper part of the gastric pouch creates conditions for the movement of acid from the stomach into the esophagus. As a result - sore throat, chronic sour breath;

3. consumption of spicy, fatty, peppered foods, coffee, alcohol;

4. violation of the motor processes of the walls of the stomach - muscle contraction goes in the opposite direction;

5. during pregnancy. Increased intra-abdominal pressure makes it difficult for the diaphragm and sphincter to work. This is one of the reasons for nausea, frequent belching and burning during pregnancy.

Regular heartburn is a harbinger of diseases such as:

  • cholecystitis;
  • diaphragmatic hernia;
  • gastritis with high acidity;
  • intolerance to certain foods;
  • stomach ulcer;
  • duodenal ulcer;
  • gastrointestinal problems.

Frequent burning in the chest is the culprit for the appearance of hoarseness and regular coughing and sour belching. This occurs due to the entry of stomach contents into the trachea. If an environment with a high pH reaches the vocal cords, the throat hurts, the voice becomes hoarse, and sometimes disappears.

Traditional therapy

Treatment of persistent heartburn using official medicine should be carried out under the supervision of doctors. For this ailment, non-absorbable antacid drugs are prescribed - Amalgel, Phosphalugel, Amalox and the like. They are taken every three hours. As an auxiliary antacid, you can try drinking skim milk regularly.

Sometimes doctors try to cure the disease with medications, reducing the acidity level of the gastric environment and, thus, removing the cause of constant heartburn. Landoprazole, Omeprazole and their derivatives are prescribed.

What to do when the causes of heartburn are unclear? How to protect yourself from relapse? How to act to cure heartburn? If heartburn constantly occurs, it would be useful to try to apply general tips that can significantly alleviate the patient’s condition.

The first thing gastroenterologists recommend is to adhere to a certain regimen that excludes heavy, fatty and spicy foods. Coffee, carbonated drinks, alcohol, and fruit juices are removed from the diet. Food is taken in small portions several times a day. In addition to diet, doctors advise making several lifestyle changes, namely:

  • do not wear tight clothes (jeans, belts, belts);
  • avoid drinking alcohol, tea, coffee;
  • limit yourself to smoking or completely give up this bad habit;
  • It is not recommended to eat or drink two hours before bedtime;
  • do not take a horizontal position immediately after eating;
  • It is better to raise the head of the bed by 15 cm.

With this disease, you should not treat heartburn with Aspirin or Ibuprofen - this will only worsen your health and complicate the treatment of the stomach. Painkillers will simply hide the symptoms and subsequently it will be difficult to make a correct diagnosis. If, despite following the recommendations, heartburn does not go away within three days, the first thing to do is consult a doctor.

Review of Home Methods

Home remedies can shorten treatment time and make the disease easier. With constant heartburn, its unpleasant symptoms will noticeably decrease if:

  • drink a couple of tablespoons of fresh potato juice on an empty stomach;
  • regularly drink mineral water with a high alkali content and gargle with it;
  • grind the shells of boiled eggs and take half a teaspoon several times a day immediately after meals.

If the burning sensation in the stomach does not occur constantly, then a solution of soda will help: dissolve a quarter of a teaspoon in 0.5 cups of water.

1. bitterness in the mouth, putrid odor;

2. frequent gastrointestinal disorders, alternating constipation with diarrhea;

3. fatigue, general lethargy;

Traditional methods use infusions of herbs and their preparations. Alternative medicine suggests trying the following herbal infusions:

1. Brew a spoonful of dried yarrow herb with one glass of boiling water and leave in a thermos overnight. You need to drink the infusion one tablespoon 4 times a day, before eating. This remedy cleanses the body well, removes gases, has a beneficial effect on the stomach, liver, kidneys and prevents the onset of heartburn;

2. make a powder from equal parts of dried St. John's wort, marsh grass and yarrow. Infuse three tablespoons of this drug in a liter of boiling water for two hours and strain. You need to drink the infusion half a glass four to five times a day after meals. This remedy helps with heartburn, nausea, stomach pain;

3. Brew 5 g of ground gentian root with a glass of boiling water, heat over low heat for 7 minutes. Then leave for half an hour and strain. Take one glass three times a day. Each time it needs to be brewed anew;

4. Crush dry leaves, seeds, roots of angelica officinalis. Pour 0.5 teaspoon of the resulting powder into a glass of boiling water, cover it with a tight lid and let the medicine brew. The infusion should be taken chilled and strained and this remedy should be drunk at least three times a day after meals.

It is important to understand that a correct and effective examination can not only get rid of heartburn, but also cure the cause. With regular burning in the stomach and nausea, self-medication is unacceptable. A gastroenterologist will help determine the causes of the appearance and prescribe effective treatment.

Heartburn occurs when stomach acid comes into contact with the lining of the esophagus and irritates it. Many people suffer from this illness only occasionally, usually after eating.

Why does it appear and what to do when heartburn does not allow you to live in peace? There may be several reasons:

The valve that holds it in the stomach has weakened.

Some foods (sugar, alcohol, coffee, mint, fatty and fried foods, chocolate) have the ability to relax the lower esophageal sphincter.

Eating a large meal, especially before bed, tends to increase compression of the lower gastric valve, thereby causing it to relax.

Pressure on the abdomen due to a constant sedentary lifestyle, tight clothing or excess weight also provokes the appearance of unpleasant symptoms.

Smoking.

Stress increases stomach acid production and slows gastric emptying.

Heartburn every day can be a consequence of an abnormal structure of the esophagus, neoplasms in it or neighboring tissues.

What is the danger of this disease?

Pay attention to the frequency of symptoms. If heartburn appears once a month, this is a mild form of this problem. Once a week - moderate. But if heartburn appears every day, you are faced with a severe form that requires treatment.

You can get rid of rare bouts of heartburn by reducing your body weight, switching to a healthy diet and using the simple tips below.

In the presence of a severe form, such measures can only provide relief for a short time. What to do if heartburn manifests itself in severe form? Treatment cannot be delayed. Daily attacks can be signs of serious illnesses with possible dire consequences.

For people who suffer from GERD, heartburn causes scarring in the esophagus every day. Such damage makes it difficult to swallow and narrows the esophagus.

Chronic exposure to acid can increase the likelihood of esophageal cancer.

Heartburn every day: how to learn to control it?

1. Three large, frequent meals in small portions.

2. Train yourself to eat slowly. To discourage the desire to quickly swallow food, place a spoon or fork on the table while chewing food.

3. Eating an evening meal three hours before bed will help reduce stomach acid production by the time you go to bed.

4. A high pillow or a raised head of the bed will make it possible to prevent the reflux of gastric juice into the esophagus during sleep. Therefore, you should pay attention to how you sleep.

5. You need to reduce your consumption of foods and drinks that can cause heartburn. These are citrus juices and carbonated drinks, coffee and alcohol; tomatoes and chocolate, mint and onions, fatty foods. Write down all the foods you eat to understand which ones lead to heartburn.

6. You should stop smoking, as nicotine has the property of weakening the lower esophageal sphincter.

7. It is necessary to wear loose clothing, as tight clothes compress the stomach, which helps push the stomach contents upward.

8. It is important to monitor your body weight. Excess belly fat, as well as tight clothing, puts pressure on the stomach. The result is heartburn every day.

9. Learn to drink warm liquids. A glass of herbal tea or slightly warmed water after meals helps thin the gastric juice and reduce its acidity.

What is heartburn
For those lucky ones who still know what it is, I’ll explain: heartburn is a burning sensation behind the sternum and in the epigastric region, which is often accompanied by sour belching. Arises heartburn in the case when the contents of the stomach return back to the esophagus and the acid of the gastric juice begins to irritate and sometimes “eat away” the wall of the esophagus.
Heartburn can be episodic, associated with errors in diet, or constant. The reason for constant heartburn lies in a more serious and frequent diet violation. Constant heartburn can also be a symptom of various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: gastritis or peptic ulcer.

Causes of heartburn
Probably the most common cause of heartburn is poor diet: overeating, irregular meals, eating on the go and quick snacks. Spicy, salty, fatty foods greatly irritate the gastric mucosa and also cause increased formation of gastric juice, which can result in heartburn. Excessive consumption of coffee and strong tea, as well as carbonated drinks, leads to the same result. The gas contained in the bottom expands the stomach, causing food to rise upward along with gastric juice.
Another cause of heartburn is smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages. Alcohol irritates the stomach lining and stimulates excessive formation of gastric juice. And nicotine, acting on the receptors of the stomach, relaxes the valve that normally blocks the return of food and acid to the esophagus.
Heartburn can also be caused by medications: aspirin, ibuprofen, some sedatives and antidepressants.
And of course, the presence of diseases such as gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, cholecystitis, reflux esophagitis, etc.

We've eaten, can we sleep now?
Oddly enough, the well-established opinion that lying down after eating is beneficial is incorrect. Quite the contrary, taking a horizontal position immediately after eating contributes to the reflux of acidic gastric contents into the esophagus.
To determine the exact cause of heartburn, it is necessary to do fibrogastroscopy. This procedure, although very unpleasant, is very effective. And by the way, it's inexpensive.

Why is heartburn dangerous?
Swedish scientists have found that people suffering from constant heartburn are more likely to develop stomach cancer. According to them, for those who have heartburn at least once a week, the risk of developing stomach adenocarcinoma increases 8 times!

How to prevent heartburn
Normalize your diet, eat regularly and slowly. 5 minutes of haste will not solve your problems, but will only multiply them.
If possible, exclude salty, spicy, fried, and fatty foods from your diet.
Avoid dry eating. Soup, borscht, okroshka - the number of first courses is so great that there is always a choice.
Eat little but often: 5-6 times a day.
Do not abuse strong drinks.
Reduce the amount of coffee you drink.
No smoking.
Do not strive to take a horizontal position immediately after eating. It is better to digest food while standing or while walking. Light physical activity and walking will improve the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract and help prevent heartburn.
If you simply need to lie down, it is better to take a semi-sitting position.
Avoid taking medications that may cause heartburn. If necessary, ask your doctor to either change your medication or prescribe an additional heartburn medication.
Do not wear tight, constricting clothes or cutting belts.

Heartburn in pregnant women
Probably the most unpleasant condition during pregnancy is heartburn.
The reasons are usually the same. But during pregnancy, a major hormonal shift occurs and more of the hormone progesterone is produced. This hormone relaxes the valve located between the stomach and the esophagus, which allows the contents of the stomach to flow into the esophagus almost unhindered.
The amount of progesterone increases in proportion to the duration of pregnancy. This is why heartburn most often occurs in the second half of pregnancy.

How to help yourself
Soda is a bad helper. It brings relief for a short time, but then the heartburn gets worse.
It is better to drink a glass of boiled water. This will wash away any remaining gastric juice from the esophagus.
Drink 0.5 glasses of milk or a few sips of cream - usually this is quite enough.
Raw potato juice, mint tea, and grated fresh carrots help relieve heartburn.
And of course, there are special medications against heartburn. The most famous among them are Almagel and Maalox. Now more modern ones have appeared, for example, Kvamatel-mini.

Folk remedies
Pour 10 g of yarrow into a glass of boiling water and strain. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day before meals.

Pour 1 tablespoon of a mixture of equal parts of mint, St. John's wort and chamomile into a glass of boiling water. Take the infusion 0.5 cups 2 times a day.

Pour 3 tablespoons of St. John's wort into 300 ml of boiling water. Leave for 3 hours. Take 0.5 cups before meals 1 time per day for 2-3 weeks.

When to see a doctor
Contact your doctor as soon as possible if:

  • heartburn combined with abdominal pain;
  • heartburn torments you constantly;
  • heartburn is accompanied by difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath;
  • heartburn combined with weight loss;
  • heartburn occurs from taking medications;
  • heartburn is accompanied by vomiting or the stool becomes black.

Persistent heartburn is a common acid reflux in which gastric juices released from the stomach irritate the lining of the esophagus.

Weakening or disruption of the cardiac sphincter, which separates the esophagus and stomach, is what can cause heartburn. Normally, the valve acts as a barrier and prevents food and acid from splashing into the esophagus. It opens only when food passes into the stomach.

Dysfunction of the sphincter allows gastric juice to enter the esophagus. The acidic liquid, which is produced by the glands and cells of the stomach, corrodes the mucous membrane of the esophagus, which leads to severe burning in the epigastric region, behind the sternum and in the oral cavity. Sometimes this sensation is felt in the neck area. In some cases, the illness may be accompanied by nausea, flatulence, belching, and an unpleasant sour taste.

Rare and isolated cases of discomfort in the esophagus cannot cause harm to health. However, frequent heartburn (more than once in seven days) should be a reason to visit a specialist. Only a gastroenterologist can determine the causes and treatment of this symptom.

The statistics are depressing: only 23% of adults who suffer from constant heartburn follow doctors' recommendations.

When heartburn does not go away for a long time, it is necessary to check the condition of the stomach or radically change your lifestyle.

Chronic heartburn causes the following diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:

Frequent heartburn can be caused by cancerous growths in the stomach and pancreas.

The manifestation of daily heartburn can also be caused by other serious diseases, which require timely diagnosis and the correct treatment strategy.

You should also analyze your lifestyle and habits in detail. Very often the cause of constant heartburn lies precisely in them.

Improper or excessive food intake

A large amount of food consumed at one time distends the stomach and leads to incomplete closure of the sphincter. Constant overeating leads to systematic reflux, which results in heartburn every day.

Constant heartburn occurs if the diet contains fatty, spicy, fried and smoked foods, as well as:


Frequent symptoms of burning in the esophagus are provoked by an increased volume of acid, which promotes the digestion of food. Its excess enters the esophagus, causing not only signs of heartburn, but also pain.

The second reason may be the horizontal position of the body during sleep immediately after eating. This leads to increased pressure on the sphincter and a decrease in the amount of saliva, which helps digest food. This leads to the appearance of reflux.

The same applies to excessive fluid intake, especially carbonated drinks.

On an empty stomach, attacks of heartburn are extremely rare; an unpleasant symptom occurs 30–40 minutes after eating.

Increased pressure in the stomach

The cause of frequent heartburn may lie in increased intra-abdominal pressure that occurs as a result of pregnancy. An increase in the volume of the uterus in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy leads to increased intra-abdominal pressure and the occurrence of unpleasant symptoms.

At this time, the level of the hormone progesterone also increases, which helps to relax all smooth muscles, including those at the base of the sphincter.

Other reasons

Heartburn can occur after exercise or heavy lifting immediately after eating. In this case, the pressure in the abdominal cavity increases, the work of the pylorus slows down, and physical activity decreases. However, adequate physical activity is necessary. It is thanks to them that the muscular wall of the diaphragm is in normal working condition.

Heartburn often occurs due to excess weight, flatulence and constipation, which cause the stomach to shift and the sphincter to weaken.

Corsets, tight belts, belts, too narrow and tight clothes deform the position of the stomach, which lifts food up and allows it to pass back into the esophagus.

If it constantly torments
heartburn, the cause may be hidden in taking certain medications on an empty stomach (for example, aspirin, ibuprofen). They stimulate an increase in the level of acidity in the stomach, as a result of which excess acid is thrown into the esophagus, which causes discomfort.

“Nervous heartburn” is provoked by stress, hysteria, and neuroses, which are accompanied by a feeling of anxiety. In this case, a psychologist will help and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Consequences of heartburn

If, with proper nutrition and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, heartburn recurs for several days in a row, you should urgently consult a doctor. Heartburn every day leads to:


Interestingly, more severe diseases such as angina pectoris and myocardial infarction are sometimes mistaken for heartburn attacks.

There are people who, like an ostrich hiding its head in the sand, try to avoid the problem, which can lead to serious consequences. Heartburn every day has causes determined solely by a doctor.

To find out why heartburn is tormented, fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy is used. Using this study, malfunctions in the gastrointestinal tract are identified, the acidity of gastric juice is measured and tissue samples are taken. A test may also be performed to check for the presence of Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which contribute to the appearance of ulcers.

Treatment

Treatment for heartburn involves:
getting rid of the disease that provokes the symptoms. But you can stop the attacks and alleviate the condition on your own. With the help of antacid medications (Almagel, Rennie, Maalox, etc.), the negative effect of hydrochloric acid on the esophageal mucosa is reduced. You can use adsorbents (activated carbon) or alginates, such as Laminal, Gaviscon.

Traditional methods:

  1. Grind sweet almonds or walnuts in a mortar and rub. 1 tablespoon helps.
  2. 1 tbsp. pour a spoonful of centaury with 2 cups of boiling water. Take the infusion twice a day.
  3. 1 tbsp. Pour a spoonful of mint into a glass of boiling water and leave for 10–15 minutes. Take as tea.
  4. 2 tbsp. spoons of St. John's wort, plantain and chamomile in equal parts pour 1 cup of boiling water. Leave for two hours. Use 1 tbsp. spoon three times a day.

Prevention

In addition to systematic examinations of the gastrointestinal tract, preventive measures against constant heartburn include:


With constant heartburn, only a specialist can determine what to do. The doctor will prescribe the necessary tests and decide on the course of treatment. Neglecting treatment can lead to irreversible consequences.



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