Are you experiencing a fiery sensation in your chest that feels like it could rival the heat of the sun? Fear not, my friend, for you may be suffering from heartburn. But what exactly is heartburn and why does it feel like an inferno in your chest? Let's dive into this burning topic (pun intended).
What Is Heartburn?
Heartburn is essentially a burning sensation in the chest caused by stomach acid refluxing into the esophagus. This happens when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which acts as a gate separating the stomach and esophagus, relaxes or weakens.
Normally, the LES closes tightly after food enters the stomach to prevent any backflow. However, if the LES doesn't function properly or there's excess pressure on it due to factors such as obesity or pregnancy, stomach acids can creep up into your esophagus resulting in heartburn.
Symptoms of Heartburn
So how do you know if you're experiencing heartburn? Here are some common symptoms:
- Burning feeling in your chest that usually starts behind your breastbone and moves upwards towards your neck and throat
- Sour taste or fluid at back of throat
- Difficulty swallowing
- Feeling of tightness or fullness in upper abdomen
If these sound familiar to you then congratulations! You have just won yourself a round trip ticket to discomfortville.
Pro-tip: If you're unsure whether what you're feeling is actually heartburn or something else entirely (like a heart attack), always seek medical advice immediately!
Why Does Heart Burn Feel So Hot?
Have you ever stared directly at a solar eclipse without any protective glasses? I sure hope not - but hear me out. Just as looking at an eclipse unprotected exposes our eyes to harmful UV rays causing them to burn with seething pain (not recommended by the way), stomach acid coming into contact with our delicate esophagus causes a similar fiery sensation.
The lining of our esophagus isn't designed to tolerate the highly acidic environment of the stomach. So when acids escape from their designated stomping ground and invade foreign territory (our esophagus), you can expect some serious discomfort in the form of heartburn.
Fun fact: Heartburn is called 'heart' burn not because it has anything to do with your heart but rather due to its location - behind your breastbone where your heart is located.
Factors That Can Trigger Heartburn
Now that we know what heartburn feels like, let's take a look at some factors that can give rise to this uncomfortable sensation:
1. Eating Habits
- Consuming large meals
- Eating too quickly or while multitasking
- Lying down immediately after eating
2. Lifestyle
- Stress
- Obesity/overweight
- Drinking alcohol or smoking
3. Medical Conditions
-
Hiatal hernia
A condition where part of the stomach bulges through an opening in the diaphragm causing reflux.
-
GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
A chronic digestive disease characterized by frequent episodes of acid reflux leading to complications such as ulcers and scarring.
-
Pregnancy
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can weaken LES resulting in acid reflux.
Prevention & Treatment
With all this talk about feeling like you're on fire, how do we prevent/treat heartburn?
Prevention: Here are some tips on how to decrease your chances of experiencing heartburn:
- Eat small regular meals throughout the day instead of three large ones.
- Cut back on foods/drinks known for triggering symptoms such as caffeine, chocolate, spicy food etc..
- Avoid lying down right after eating - try sitting upright for at least 3 hours after a meal.
- Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly.
Treatment: If prevention is too late and you already have heartburn, here are some ways to alleviate the symptoms:
- Over-the-counter antacids such as Tums or Rolaids neutralize stomach acid providing short-term relief.
- H2 blockers like Pepcid AC reduce acid production and provide longer-lasting relief.
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as Nexium, Prilosec can also decrease the amount of acid produced by stomach lining over long periods.
Remember that while these treatments can help ease your discomfort, they may not cure your heartburn completely so it's important to maintain responsible habits in order to prevent recurring episodes!
Conclusion
In conclusion, heartburn feels just as terrible as it sounds but fortunately there are ways we can take control of our bodies in hopes of preventing/experiencing it less frequently! By taking note of factors that could cause acid reflux and maintaining healthy lifestyle choices we can avoid feeling the heat where its not wanted (our chest).
Stay vigilant folks - nobody wants an uninvited fire alarm going off in their abdomen region during date night!
Pro-tip: If all else fails... carry around a spare extinguisher... just in case 😉