Some Information on Heartburn
May 14th, 2009
The burning sensation of heartburn which is suffered by one fifth of the population of the United States and even though it is one of the signs used to detect acid reflux disorder; the fact that you may suffer from heartburn from time to time does not mean that you have acid reflux or GERD. Although most people who have heartburn do not want to admit it; it is often bad eating habits that cause the condition which can be rectified but very regular occurrences could be the result of a medical condition.
The problems arise as it is possible to suffer with heartburn without it being the much worse condition of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disorder) so the individual concerned needs to keep a check on the symptoms. The only real way to determine if the condition is worsening is for the heartburn patient to keep a careful check on when the attacks occur and how long each one lasts plus more importantly if these attacks are becoming more severe or not.
For people that experience mild heartburn then normally a simple adjustment to how much they eat and a reduction in spicy foods in normally enough to ease the condition but when the incidents last for a couple of hours, these cases are much more severe.
Allowing the stomach time to digest the food and a few antacid tablets will normally ease the pain and this is normally just a simple case of heartburn but if the burning sensation does not disappear then it is possible that the person is experiencing and acid reflux episode and a doctor should be consulted.
It would seem that heartburn is considered a normal occurrence in the West with almost half the population of Western countries having heartburn once every month. A person who has heartburn once every week is considered to have a moderate heartburn problem and changes need to take place in the way they eat. However, the real problem lies with the 20 percent of the population who suffer from heartburn at least twice a week and under these circumstances the heartburn episodes are usually considered chronic, indicating a manifestation of acid reflux disease symptom.
Other problems can follow as a case becomes more serious with loss of blood food that won’t go down the throat and other digestive conditions including the inability to maintain weight. Another indicator that the heartburn is in fact acid reflux is when the sufferer can taste sour acid in the throat.
If you’re suffering from heartburn, there are simple tips to help you control symptoms of acid reflux disease. There are often certain foods that help contribute to a heartburn episode so remembering which food causes the problem will ensure that those foods are avoided in addition to consuming smaller meals more frequently during the day.
Be aware that excessive smoking and drinking only exacerbates heartburn so should be avoided as much as possible and find ways to relieve stress because it can upset the stomach and trigger heartburn. Being overweight can put strain in your abdominal muscles and makes it more difficult to digest food so avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes as clothes that are tight on your waist can squeeze your stomach and force food back up your esophagus.
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