For those of you who do experience heartburn from time to time you may be wondering… why me? The interesting thing about heartburn is the fact that it actually has nothing to do with the heart. In fact heartburn derives its name from the location of where the pain can be felt, which is usually in the upper chest.
While heartburn may not affect your life immediately, heartburn is actually the result of a larger problem and if left untreated could become a serious health issue. Heartburn occurs as a symptom of acid reflux and/or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). When talking about one of these three conditions: heartburn, GERD, or reflux disease they usually go hand in hand because the causes and symptoms of each are roughly the same. Keep reading to find out the causes and symptoms most commonly associated with heartburn.
Causes of Heartburn
· Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) functions improperly
· Over eating and having a poor diet
· Pressure on the stomach caused by pregnancy
· Stress and lack of sleep
· Smoking cigarettes (major contributor)
· Consuming heartburn trigger foods
· Tomatoes
· Garlic and onions
· High levels of fat
· Citrus fruits
· Spicy foods
Symptoms of Heartburn
· Burning sensation in the upper chest near heart
· Difficulty swallowing due to swollen esophagus
· Chronic sore throat (acid taste in mouth)
· Stomach pain that worsens when bending over
When dealing with heartburn, your diet should be the first thing you turn to for a solution. The trigger foods listed above are only just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to foods you should avoid. Do some research, exercise, and you too can be one of the many others who had overcome heartburn.