HeartburnDescription Heartburn is experienced on occasion by about one in three American adults. It is the result of acidic gastric juices from the stomach washing upward into the esophagus, or food pipe. Because gastric acids are required for food digestion, they occur naturally in the stomach, where the stomach lining is tough enough to resist them without harm. However, if the same strong digestive acids wash back up into the esophagus, they may irritate the lining of the esophagus, and the resulting burning sensation is commonly called heartburn, acid indigestion, or sour stomach. Heartburn usually follows a rich meal or vigorous exercise and may be exacerbated by stress, bending over, or the strain of lifting heavy objects. The symptoms often are felt at night, upon lying down for sleep. Pregnant women also experience frequent heartburn. The burning sensation can last from a few minutes to several hours and range from mild discomfort to intense, heart-attack-like pain. Signs and Symptoms
Conventional Medical TreatmentGenerally, the condition is easily treated with over-the-counter antacids that neutralize the gastric acids; liquid antacids are more effective than tablets. Long-term antacid use, however, may disguise other diseases, cause acid rebound, or contribute to hypertension or congestive heart failure if their sodium content is high. Heartburn also may indicate the existence of more serious medical problems, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) or peptic ulcer disease. Such severe conditions often do not respond to antacid treatment, so consult a physician if pain is persistent. |
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