Causes of Heartburn and How to Treat It

Heartburn is a burning feeling in your chest, and that feeling is located right behind the breastbone. It happens when stomach acid flows back into the oesophagus, which is the tube transporting food from your mouth to your stomach. 

Heartburn and acid reflux are not the same despite common belief. Heartburn is a common symptom of acid reflux that occurs when the muscle at the end of your oesophagus does not close properly. This causes stomach acid to flow back, which irritates the oesophagus. This irritation and inflammation of the oesophagus leads to the sensation of heartburn.

The duration of heartburn

The duration of heartburn episodes can differ. Heartburn can be triggered by certain food and beverage or overeating. Although it typically resolves on its own within a few minutes, it can persist for longer periods. When this happens, over-the-counter medications is necessary.

Common symptoms

The common symptoms of heartburn include a burning sensation in the chest from just behind the breastbone, finding it hard to swallow, having a tangy, acidic flavour that stays in the back of your throat, discomfort that worsens when lying down or leaning forward, and a chronic cough.

Do take note that the symptoms of a heart attack and heartburn can sometimes be alike and confuse people. If your symptoms worsen despite taking medications, it is best to seek medical attention to address your worries.

Potential complications

You do not have to be too worried about occasional heartburn. However, if it turns serious and frequent, regular or lasting heartburn is an indication, this is generally known as GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease).

In people who experience GERD, stomach acid often rises from the stomach into the oesophagus, similar to water backing up from a clogged drain, initiating heartburn. Heartburn usually comes with a burning feeling in the throat and a sour taste in the mouth.

If you constantly experience heartburn, it is recommended to seek medical evaluation for possible GERD, which can elevate the risk of complications such as oesophageal inflammation and ulcers, Barrett’s oesophagus, oesophageal cancer, and respiratory problems caused by aspiration of stomach contents.

Causes of heartburn

Heartburn is mainly caused by acid reflux, which happens when stomach acid flows back up into the oesophagus. Some factors can lead to this reflux:

Heartburn diagnosis

Your doctor may conduct some further tests to confirm the diagnosis of heartburn or rule out other gastroenterological conditions.

The upper GI endoscopy is the most common primary test used to check for signs of irritation, ulcers, or strictures. A tissue sample may also be taken for biopsy in certain cases.

A barium study may also be conducted. During the test, barium is used to enhance the visibility of the oesophagus in the X-ray. It is useful to detect hiatal hernias, oesophageal ulcers, or oesophageal narrowing (strictures). An upper GI series test includes an examination of the stomach and the initial part of the small intestine.

In some cases, pH monitoring test may be performed to measure the amount of acid in the oesophagus over a 24-hour period. This test can help determine if acid reflux is the cause of your symptoms and how severe it is.

Heartburn treatments

The goal of heartburn treatments is to ease your symptoms and avoid potential complications. Here are several common methods for managing heartburn:

Preventing heartburn

• Dietary changes: Avoid trigger foods like spicy or acidic foods, caffeinated drinks, chocolate, fatty foods.

• Be mindful of meal portions: Eat smaller, more frequent meals instead of big meals. Avoid having large, filling dinners near bedtime.

• Lose excess weight: Excess weight, specifically around the abdomen, can put extra pressure on the stomach and intensify heartburn. Maintaining a healthy weight by including a well-rounded diet and constant physical activity in your daily life can decrease symptoms.

• Lifestyle changes: Quit smoking and limit alcohol intake. Sleeping with the head of the bed elevated can help to reduce acid reflux at night.

• Check your medications: Consult your doctor for advice about medications that may have caused your acid reflux.

Book an appointment at Gleneagles Hospitals

If you are going through constant heartburn that disrupts your everyday life, get in touch with us to book an appointment for a consultation today, or visit our team of Gastroenterologists at your nearest Gleneagles Hospital.