The problem of reflux heartburn affects millions of Americans on a daily basis. The pain and discomfort associated with reflux heartburn is significant, and can actually be confused with the pain of heart attack or angina. The pain is often described as sharp, burning, heavy, and radiating to the back and between the shoulder blades. There is often nausea associated with reflux heartburn and vomiting may also occur during an acute episode of heartburn. The pain is caused by the strong acid produced by the stomach, which for a variety of reasons moves upward from stomach to esophagus, and even sometimes to the throat.

A number of factors can cause reflux heartburn. One factor is that with the normal aging process, the esophagus weakens in areas, sometimes causing an area to expand outward. This is called a hiatal hernia. Many people above the age of forty actually have some degree of hiatal hernia. This area can accumulate stomach acids which “backflow” from the stomach up into the esophagus, and when this stays in the hernia area, there is much pain and discomfort. Also with aging, the band of muscle at the top of the stomach weakens. This also allows a backflow of the powerful stomach acids to come back up into the esophagus, causing the pain of heartburn.

Many women are troubled with heartburn during pregnancy due to the fact that the weight of the baby presses on the stomach and causes backflow of acid into the esophagus. By the same principle, people who are overweight can also have severe heartburn due to the extra pressure on the GI tract caused by the extra weight. Dining late in the evening and going to bed on a full stomach, before digestion has occurred, is also a major risk factor for heartburn reflux.

Another factor leading to reflux heartburn is stress. In today’s world, stress is a given, with constant worries about finances, job loss, political conflicts, and potential dangers for our children and grandchildren. Our bodies react to stress with many different mechanisms, one of which is by producing extra stomach acids. The extra acid formed in the stomach can lead to an increase in heartburn reflux, nausea, vomiting, and even diarrhea.

Likewise, in our fast-paced lives, our diets also can lead to increased heartburn reflux. With increased processed foods, fat-laden foods, and quickly eaten meals of less food value, more stomach acid is required to digest these foods. This also leads to more discomfort. Caffeine-containing drinks and sodas have also been linked to heartburn reflux.

Heartburn reflux is a very painful condition, but if left untreated, it can lead to more serious consequences, namely esophageal cancer. By the constant effects of acid on esophageal tissue, changes occur in the cells of the esophagus. This is the reason that heartburn should not be ignored, but treated with preventive medications, stress management, and dietary changes.

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