Symptoms
of chronic heartburn are
reported by many people the world, but especially
common among western countries inhabitants. While
occasional heartburn usually causes no harm,
symptoms of chronic heartburn can be
distressful. It can keep one away from their
favourite food items, decrease the quality of
life, or cause difficulty in sleeping at night. In
most cases, chronic heartburn is a symptom of acid
reflux disease, also known as GERD. Many people
have different triggers of heartburn but the
symptoms of heartburn are the same.
Normally,
the contents of the stomach are kept from
traveling upwards by a circular band of muscle
called the lower esophageal sphincter or LES
located at the junction of the esophagus and
stomach. If it opens too easily, the contents of
the stomach - acid and undigested food - back up
into the esophagus. The esophagus is not equipped
to handle acid so the leakage usually causes
discomfort and burning pain.
Anything
that causes the LES to relax is a potential
trigger for heartburn. Large meals, fatty and
fried foods, spicy foods, citrus fruits,
tomato-based foods, peppermint, caffeine, alcohol,
carbonated beverages, smoking can lead to symptoms
of heartburn. Pregnancy and obesity put extra
strain on the stomach causing heartburn. Some
people with heartburn have hiatal hernia which may
or may not contribute to GERD.
The
most common symptoms of GERD apart from heartburn
are:
1)
Burning sensation in the chest. Usually starts
behind the sternum or the breastbone and travels
up to the throat. May last from a few minutes to
several hours.
2)
Chest pain especially after eating, bending, or
lying down.
3)
Burning feeling in the throat. This pain may
worsen with swallowing. It is caused by the
refluxed material reaching the
throat.
4)
Sour or bitter taste in the mouth.
5)
Difficulty swallowing. There may be a sensation of
food sticking in the throat, chest pressure or
burning after eating or a feeling of choking.
6)
Chronic cough. Refluxed stomach acid can irritate
the throat causing coughing.
7)
Wheezing or asthma-like symptoms. GERD can affect
asthma when refluxed acid from the stomach is
aspirated into the airways and lungs and make
breathing difficult causing wheezing and shortness
of breath.
8)
Abdominal pain.
9)
Nausea.
There
are many ways to treat heartburn symptoms. A
medical practitioner will right away prescribe
antacids or acid blockers to relieve symptoms. But
prolonged use of these drugs causes serious side
effects and sometimes even aggravates the disease.
Treating heartburn holistically will not only get
rid of the symptoms but treat you of the disease
permanently and safely. Holistic treatment
restores the balance between the physical, mental,
emotional as well as the spiritual aspects of the
body.
