HEARTBURN

Heartburn is an uncomfortable but common feeling of burning or warmth in the chest. Although the pain of heartburn is felt in the chest, heartburn has nothing to do with your heart. Instead, heartburn is caused by stomach acid. Continual bouts of heartburn can be a symptom of a more serious condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Frequent or severe heartburn may limit daily activities and lead to further complications such as ulcers in the esophagus.

With proper understanding of heartburn and treatment, relief can be obtained from this condition. About 30% of adults experience occasional heartburn, while 10% experience heartburn every day. About 25% of pregnant women have heartburn or related symptoms. Common causes of heartburn is:
  1. Certain foods and drinks are known to loosen the lower esophageal sphincter. These include chocolate, peppermint, caffeine-containing beverages (such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks), fatty foods, and alcohol.
  2. Heartburn often depends on the body's position. It is easier for stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus if you are lying down or bending over.
  3. Anything that increases the pressure on the stomach and forces stomach acid backward into the esophagus can also cause heartburn. This is why lifting, straining, coughing, tight clothing, obesity, and pregnancy can worsen heartburn.
  4. People who suffer from certain medical conditions may have an increased chance of heartburn. These conditions include hiatal hernia, diabetes, and many autoimmune diseases (CREST syndrome, Raynaud phenomenon, and scleroderma).
  5. Many prescription medications can loosen the lower esophageal sphincter, including certain blood pressure and heart medications, and the asthma drug theophylline.
  6. Many substances directly irritate the lining of the esophagus and can contribute to heartburn. These include spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes and tomato sauces, cigarette smoke, aspirin, ibuprofen (with brand names such as Motrin and Advil), and medicines for osteoporosis.
What can we DO IN THIS SITUATION???
  1. Eat a number of smaller, more frequent meals instead of one or two large meals daily.
  2. Avoid lying down right after eating. Give your body a couple of hours to digest the food you’ve just eaten.
  3. If you experience acid reflux at night, elevate your head or the head of your bed 4-6 inches.
  4. If you are overweight, begin a diet and exercise program to help you shed a few pounds.
  5. Take a good look at what you are eating. If you are consuming chocolate, alcohol, fried or fatty foods, foods flavored with peppermint or spearmints or acidic beverages   such as certain juices, coffee, tea and carbonated beverages, they may be contributing to your acid reflux and should be avoided.
  6. If you are taking prescription medications or suffer from a peptic ulcer, discuss your concerns with to your doctor to help you rule them out as the true cause of your acid reflux.
  7. Reduce your stress level. Sing, dance, meditate, practice deep breathing or do yoga to help your body relax. This will help to reduce the pressure on your stomach.
  8. Carminatives such as chamomile, fennel, ginger, peppermint and sage can work to sooth stomach muscles, increase the secretions of digestive juices as well as promote bile flow.
  9. Similarly, digestive bitters improve digestion through enhanced secretion of digestive juices
  10. Soothing herbs such as aloevera, marshmallow and slippery elm have traditionally been use to combat the irritation often associated with heartburn.
  11. If you feel as if the foods you are consuming are not being digested properly, try taking digestive enzymes before each meal to help break down foods in the stomach and improve digestion. Food enzymes come in many forms.
  12. There are broad spectrum food enzymes that can help to digest proteins, carbohydrates and fats. There are also specialized enzymes that help digest specific types of foods.
  13. Hi-Lipase, a pancreatic enzyme, aids in the digestion of fats and may improve digestion in some people.
  14. Protease Plus provides your body with digestive enzymes designed to break down proteins.
  15. Lactase Plus provides the necessary enzymes to make milk and dairy products more digestible.