Heartburn as A Symptom of Other Issues

Heartburn is a terrible affliction which causes a lot of pain and inconvenience even when it occurs occasionally. The same happens at Thanksgiving, Hanukah or any other celebration for that matter. While confusing heartburn with angina is not life threatening the other way round is, and is hence very dangerous. Persistent heartburn can be very painful and even if it is not fatal, you can end up in the emergency room if you are slow to act as soon as the symptoms appear.

There are various causes of heartburn and various degrees of severity but basically, it all comes down to stomach acid getting into the esophagus and finding a way to stop it. How strong a treatment is needed is determined by the severity of the heartburn.

The stomach uses hydrochloric acid to break down food as part of the body’s digestive system. The stomach lining serves as a protective shield against this strong acid; however the esophagus is not designed to deal with it and if even little seeps past the stomach valve, heartburn can occur.

While most people suffer from some form of heartburn occasionally, severe and persistent bouts may be signs of other problems, such as a hiatal hernia or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). While neither one is usually fatal, they will require attention of a physician.

If you suffer from frequent heartburn, your best bet for relief is getting good heartburn information. You can run to the drug store for something chewable or to the medicine cabinet for something awful-tasting or to the list of grandma’s favorite home remedies to cure heartburn. While confusing heartburn with angina is not life threatening the other way round is, and is hence very dangerous. I do not think there is anyone out there who does not know what heartburn is. The bitter bile taste in the mouth, the burning sensation in your chest and the terrible bloated feeling that comes with heartburn has plagued everyone at one time or other. If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer from painful heartburn, you know how important it is to find a way to relieve heartburn pain. Acid indigestion, or acid reflux, is a very uncomfortable feeling of burning in the chest. More commonly referred to as heartburn, it is suffered by over 60 million people, most on an infrequent basis. Fortunately, there are several forms of heartburn medication available.

A hiatal hernia is when the muscles working the sphincter have herniated, or in a sense broken, and allows the hydrochloric acid and pepsin to rise back into the esophagus. A dietary and lifestyle change is usually prescribed by your physician until the muscles have a chance to heal and function properly.

Prompt Medical Attention

Persons suffering severe heartburn, who may have GERD, need to have this confirmed by a physician to initiate proper medical treatment. While proton pump inhibitors may help to a certain degree, their use should rarely exceed two weeks unless guided by your doctor. Proton pump inhibitors, the primary course of Prilosec OTC works against frequent heartburn by significantly slowing the production of stomach acid.

Taking any proton pump inhibitor for heartburn in a way not recommended by either your doctor or manufacturer could lead to serious problems and your stomach needs a certain amount of acids to properly digest foods and break down certain bacteria.

If you suffer from what you believe is a sudden onset of heartburn accompanied by shortness of breath, pain in the neck, in the jaw or even in the legs, you should immediately contact a physician. Many symptoms of a heart attack have been confused as heartburn with severe consequences.

Still others only suffer when they fail to abide by reasonable portion sizes. However, when the occasional occurrence turns into constant heartburn, then you have something to worry about. The common, non-dangerous condition can feel like agony. Heartburn affects many people everyday. You can run to the drug store for something chewable or to the medicine cabinet for something awful-tasting or to the list of grandma’s favorite home remedies.