Beware of Heartburn
by Anna Hart
Filed under Heartburn Overview
Heartburn is a mystery to both patients and their physicians.
Nobody knows what really causes it. Researchers have learned that “for some reason” the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not function properly, allowing the stomach’s contents to flow back into the esophagus. They don’t know, however, why the LES fails to fulfill its duty. What researchers and doctors do know is that heartburn can be a serious matter.
Danger
According to the American College of Gastroenterology, 60 million plus people in the United States endure a heartburn episode about once a month. Those who suffer heartburn every day number more than 15 million. Some of these heartburn sufferers are in danger of developing a more serious problem.
* GERD: A percentage of those who suffer heartburn will develop gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD Symptoms include that familiar burning chest pain that most recognize as heartburn. They also include difficulty swallowing; excessive throat clearing that is not simply a nervous reaction; and regurgitation of bitter or sour liquid.
* Esophageal Strictures: When the tube leading to the stomach narrows or closes, and remains that way long-term, it is referred to as an esophageal stricture. It is thought that persistent heartburn can produce this serious condition, which may require surgery.
* Barrett’s Esophagus: This precancerous condition can be another dangerous outcome of persistent, serious heartburn. In rare cases, people with persistent heartburn will continue further from Barrett’s esophagus and develop true cancer of the esophagus.
More information about the potential dangers of heartburn is available from the United States National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Preventative Steps
There are steps you can take to fight heartburn before it progresses to a serious state. Here are several heartburn preventative steps to try.
* Avoid clothing that fits tightly, especially around the waist.
* Eat smaller meals, increasing the number of meals if necessary.
* In the evening, do not eat for three to four hours before sleeping.
* Quit smoking, as tobacco smoke can trigger heartburn.
* Reach, and maintain a healthy weight for your body type and height.
* Resist the temptation to lie down, or bend at the waist after meals. Either can cause stomach juices to flow back into your esophagus.
* Steer clear of lifting heavy things that might put strain on muscles around the waist.
* Test your reaction to possible heartburn food triggers such as caffeine, chocolate, fatty foods, peppermint, spicy foods, and tomato sauces.
If you experience heartburn more than twice a week, talk to your physician about it. The above information is for educational purposes only, and should not be taken as profession medical advice.
Has anyone heard about Aloecure? My friend introduced me to it, and I feel so much better now. And the burning sensation has just gone. It is a great product. I would recommend people suffering heartburn to try it.
referring to the lower excerpt for streanghening the sphincter… What do you mean by an Agent can be introduced what kind of agent is this?? i have my diet pretty strict now and my acid is not that bad with all the steps you provided but i am now tryin to do things that can make my sphincter stronger i do 1 excersize used to patients that were tubbed it is slowly making it stronger but i would like to know what agent can be intorduced or what you meant by agent… thank you
The homeopathy community believes an agent can be introduced that will address the muscular weakness directly. If the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) ring of muscle is not too badly damaged, or too greatly enlarged, the homeopathic preparation they recommend is believed capable of resolving the problem in at least 80 to 100 percent of cases.