What are the reasons for heartburns?
Excessive stomach acid leakage into the esophagus or lower throat is what leads to heartburns. Acid reflux which means acid flow back is a medical name used for stomach acid flow back from the stomach of the patient to the esophagus.
Further acid reflux syndrome, heart reflux, acid burn and Gastrointestinal acid reflux disease are the terms which are used to explain the symptoms of heartburns. It is an ordeal which seriously disrupts the live of the sufferer especially who experience frequent symptoms of this distressing problem.
The patient has to bear a constant uneasiness and pain while eating and drinking. Sleeping becomes difficult as the pain deepens when you lie down.
A majority of the people struggle with heartburns because of their eating habits, while very few suffer from this condition due to their genetic frame.
Heartburns take place when the lower esophageal sphincter between the stomach and the esophagus doesn’t close up properly leading to severe damages to the esophagus. LES is extremely sensitive to a lot of foodstuffs which tend to make it wobbly. Some of the possible culprits that can cause heartburns include foods which are acidic such as oranges, spicy foods like enchiladas and sweet eatables like chocolates.
Apart from these, there are various other factors which can develop gastroesophageal disorders. It has been revealed that consumption of alcohol or tobacco can cause the LES (Lower Esophageal Sphincter) not to close properly.
Moreover, things like obesity, pregnancy etc. tend to put pressure or weight on stomach that causes the food consumed to flow back. Excessive amount of acid out of the stomach further triggers heartburn.
Also, stress and tension are known to be the biggest causes of over stimulation of the gastric acid. Thus, the patients undergoing this ordeal first need to make certain changes in their eating and lifestyles.
Eating large portions of meals and that too full of fats and calories are the foremost things to say goodbye to. Lack of a good exercise routine and being always stressed out make your obese which directly affects your digestive system.
The reasons of heartburns can cease if the patient stops smoking, eat small portions of meals at frequent intervals, avoids fatty and spicy foods, lose some weight and look for different ways to overcome stress. If the heartburns go untreated, the condition can worsen leading to perilous diseases like ulcers, Barrett’s esophagus, esophageal cancer etc.
We shall discuss about all these aspects of this disease in the following chapters.
