Heartburn
and dark stool: is
there a connection between both? In fact, color of
stools usually indicates the onset of an illness
or an improper digestive system that the body is
experiencing. Dark stool usually means that the
blood is coming from the upper part of the
gastrointestinal (GI) tract viz. the esophagus,
stomach, and the initial part of the
small intestine. Stool that is black due to
bleeding is also "sticky" (tarry) and smells bad.
Blood will typically look like tar after it
has been exposed to the body's digestive juices. A
doctor should be consulted immediately if dark
stools cannot be attributed to a benign cause such
as an iron supplement or a food.
One
of the leading causes of dark stools is chronic
heartburn. Heartburn involves the
regurgitation of acids from the stomach into the
esophagus, typically resulting in a burning
pressure or pain from the breast bone up the
throat. The pain is usually worse with bending,
lying down, or after eating. It may be severe
enough to be mistaken for a heart attack. Other
symptoms include sour and bitter taste in the
mouth, lump in the throat, bad breath, or dry
cough. But symptoms like dark stool indicate
something more serious. Heartburn is more serious
when it occurs with abdominal pain and bleeding.
It has been generally observed that patients
bleeding from esophagitis or esophageal ulcers
usually have a long history of heartburn.
Erosive
esophagitis develops in patients with
long-standing acid reflux when the acid causes
enough irritation and inflammation to produce
extensive injuries in the esophagus. Left
untreated chronic heartburn can lead to Barrett's
esophagus or the growth of abnormal cells in the
lower esophagus. These cells are less sensitive to
acid, thereby reducing the pain, but they create
an increased risk of cancer of the esophagus. In
very severe cases, the patient may detect
dark-colored, tarry stools (indicating the
presence of blood) or may vomit blood,
particularly if ulcers have developed in the
esophagus. This is a sign of severe damage and
requires immediate attention. Sometimes long-term
bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract can
result in iron-deficiency anemia and may even
require emergency transfusions. This condition can
occur without heartburn or other warning symptoms,
or even obvious blood in the
stools.
Most
people do not feel the need to go to their doctor
with their chronic heartburn, and live with this
condition for years. But if you have heartburn
attacks more than twice a week you should see your
doctor as soon as possible to avoid possible
complications. Remember it's always better to be
safe than sorry. The best way to treat heartburn
is by holistic medicine. Antacids and acid
blockers will only take care of the symptoms that
too temporarily and with risk of side effects.
Holistic medicine goes to the root of the problem
to eliminate the cause and improve overall
health.
