If you are one of the lucky ones that has to ask what is heartburn then read on. Even if you already know and do not have to ask what is heartburn, but just want to know more about it then this is the perfect article for you to read.
Over 70 million Americans experience heartburn in a year’s time. Heartburn is an irritation of the esophagus from a back flow of the stomachs acids resulting in a burning sensation of the chest.
The symptoms may be similar to a heart attack or heart disease, but actually has nothing to do with the heart. Some people get heartburn often and others just every now and then. Medicines range from chewable tablets such as Tums, liquids such as Maalox, and pills such as Zantac. When asking what is heartburn, one thing you probably want to know is some possible causes of it. Possible causes of heartburn is overeating, a lot of pressure on the stomach that is caused by obesity or pregnancy, Fatty foods, smoking, and stress. Symptoms of heartburn is possible sour taste in your mouth, fire burning sensation in your chest, sore throat, or difficulty swallowing. Bending over or lying down when you have heartburn usually makes the pains worse. A lot of people also believe that drinking milk will make heartburn better and that is just not true. It does give an instant relief, while creating more acid in the stomach for heartburn a little later.
If you have heartburn more than once a month you should consult a doctor because there could be more serious problems. Your diet has a lot to do with heartburn. There are changes in your diet that can be made to prevent heartburn. For example, eat several small meals a day rather than a couple big meals. When you eat you should eat slowly. You should also cut out the late night snacks. Wait a couple hours before laying down after eating. Avoid chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, and mint. Some foods can make heartburn worse and should be avoided. It is different for each person, but spicy foods is an example. If you are a smoker and can quit smoking it will help prevent heartburn. If you are overweight it may be a good idea to try to lose some weight. A lot of times just five or ten pounds will reduce the number of heartburns you have. If you are one of the many that suffers from heartburn in the middle of the night after going to bed than a remedy for curing that is to put six inch blocks under the head of your bed.
Hopefully from reading this, you can now answer the question, “What is heartburn?” and even know how it may feel and what you should do about it.