What causes heartburn?
What causes heartburn?
The sensation of heartburn is caused by stomach acid going out of the stomach into the esophagus. The stomach has a thick lining of mucus that helps protect it from the acid. The esophagus does not. So when acid touches the esophagus it burns the tissue.
What kind of certain foods should you watch out for?
There are several foods to that can cause heartburn. These are foods that are heavily seasoned or spicy as well as acidic foods like citrus, garlic and tomatoes. Other foods that can cause heartburn are foods high in fat like bacon, butter and fried foods. There are also certain drinks like alcohol, coffee, soda and wine.
How does it differ from having a serious heart condition?
Symptoms alone are sometimes not enough to distinguish between the two. Sometimes heartburn can feel like you are having a heart attack. Heartburn can give you a sensation of pain or pressure in the center of your chest. It can even cause you to feel short breath and start to sweat in severe situations. If you are experiencing these symptoms, it is best to see a doctor to make sure that this is not an underlying heart problem.
How to prevent heartburn when enjoying a holiday meal?
With heartburn you can be proactive or reactive. The best way to prevent heartburn is to avoid food that can trigger heartburn. These are acid foods, greasy foods and heavily spiced foods and include more vegetables on your plate. The other option if you are already having heart burn is to use the over the counter heart burn medications. All of those are safe to take occasionally. If you need to take them every day it is best to see your doctor to see why and if there are other alternatives.
If you have constant heartburn when eating, should you go to the doctor?
Definitely. Your doctor will be able to determine if this heart burn or something else such as heart problems. If it is heartburn, then there are dietary modifications like the ones we talked about and medications that can help you feel better. Untreated heartburn can lead to some serious esophagus problems if left untreated. If you do have any doubts, you should always reach out to your primary care doctor. We are always here to help answer any questions.
