Heartburn, Acid Reflux & GERD
Heartburn Overview
Heartburn is a burning feeling in the lower chest, accompanied by a sour or bitter taste in the throat and mouth, usually after a big meal or while you're lying down. It can last for a few minutes up to a few hours.
Occasional heartburn is common and not indicative on anything serious. Frequent heartburn may be a symptom of something requiring medical attention.
In particular, when untreated, chronic heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux, the leading cause of Barrett's Esophagus, which can lead to esophageal adenocarcinoma, a particularly lethal cancer. Chronic acid reflux also causes esophageal ulcers, open sores on the lining of the esophagus (esophageal ulcers).
Heartburn Symptoms
Heartburn is a symptom, a burning pain in the chest that occurs after eating or at night, worsening when you lie down or bend over.
Severe chest pain is a symptom of a heart attack; seek immediate medical help.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is when food is regurgitated and comes back up from the stomach into the esophagus—a common side effect of GERD is heartburn. GERD is common and affects more than 15–30% of the U.S. population.
See your Wellstar physician if your heartburn:
- Occurs more than twice weekly
- Persists when you take over-the-counter medications
- Causes difficulty in swallowing
Heartburn Prevention
At the bottom of your esophagus there is a valve, the lower esophageal sphincter, that is normally closed, preventing stomach acid from flowing into the esophagus. This valve relaxes to allow food to flow down into your stomach. When it relaxes otherwise, or is weakened, acid can leak into the esophagus, causing heartburn. Lying down or bending over increases the tendency of acid to leak past the defective valve.
Smoking damages the lower esophageal sphincter.
Various foods and drinks trigger heartburn in some people:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Black pepper
- Chocolate
- Citrus
- Coffee
- Fats
- Fried food
- Ketchup
- Peppermint
- Soft drinks
- Tomato sauce
- Vinegar
Certain osteoporosis medications can cause esophageal ulcers.
Heartburn Treatment
Some lifestyle changes that may provide heartburn relief are:
- Keeping a healthy weight
- Wearing loose clothing
- Avoiding triggering foods
- Smaller meals
- Not lying down immediately after a meal
- Elevating your head when you sleep
- Not Smoking
Over-the-counter medications that relieve heartburn are very common.
- Antacids, like Rolaids® and Tums®, neutralize stomach acid, providing immediate relief.
- H-2-receptor blockers, such as cimetidine (Tagamet HB®) and famotidine (Pepcid AC®) reduce stomach acid production, and are a longer-term solution.
- Proton pump inhibitors, like lansoprazole (Prevacid 24®) and omeprazole (Prolosec OTC®) also inhibit acid production.
Corrective procedures
Some bariatric surgeries can worsen GERD and others can treat it. If you suffer with GERD you should discuss these symptoms with your surgeon at a consultation. GERD can be treated with medications, endoscopic therapies and, in some cases, surgery.