You say you have heartburn, but what does that mean? Is it serious? What causes it?

Your Physician’s Answer

Heartburn remains a mystery to physicians. They are not really sure what causes it. Yes, they know that “for some reason” the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) fails to function properly. That ring of muscle fails to keep the stomach’s contents where they belong and heartburn results. They don’t know, however, why the muscular ring fails to do its job. They have not yet discovered what causes the LES to do its job on a now-and-then rather than an always basis. Boiling it down, they do not understand heartburn.

Heartburn Expert’s Answer

Daniel DeMarco M.D., medical director of endoscopy at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, is a board-certified gastroenterologist. He is also the founder of Baylor Heartburn Center. Yet Doctor DeMarco made the following statement about heartburn in July 2007.

The current thinking is that the acid is refluxed upward because of temporary, inappropriate relaxations of the lower esophageal sphincter, the valve between the stomach and the esophagus.

In other words, acid flows back into the lower esophagus because something happens to the LES. We don’t know what that something is.

Heartburn and Weight

For years, physicians have suggested that weight loss might cure heartburn. Some studies found that it did. Other studies found the opposite. Dr. DeMarco confirmed that there is no real evidence that weight affects heartburn one way or another. Extra weight does cause, he said, increased pressure on the chest. However, people of normal weight experience the same increased pressure at times.

Excess weight seems not to be the cause of the LES weakness.

Heartburn and Trigger Foods

There are many who believe heartburn is caused by consumption of certain foods. Typically, Chinese food or spicy offerings are blamed. The reasoning is that such food triggers an increase in stomach acids, which then flow back into the esophagus, causing heartburn.

Even if food does trigger heartburn for some people, this is a result, not a cause. Proponents, including the National Heartburn Alliance (NHBA), still do not know what causes the LES to malfunction. If it malfunctions only when such food triggers are eaten, what is it about the food that causes the malfunction?

Heartburn and Stress

Stress is thought to cause heartburn for some people. Stress is the response our bodies, minds, and emotions make to unusual demands. A day of unusual demands at work may be followed by heartburn after the evening meal. Again, we are looking at the result, not the cause. Until researchers are able to show how stress causes the LES to malfunction, heartburn is still a medical mystery.

NOTE: It is believed that persistent, serious heartburn can lead to cancer of the esophagus. Please discuss your heartburn with a physician. The information here is for educational purposes only.

Heartburn Relief tops the shopping list each week of nearly 61 million people in the U.S. alone. Heartburn is caused by improper functioning of the sphincter, a ring of muscle between the stomach and the esophagus. Many would like to change the name to “esophagus burn” since it is the esophagus, not the heart, that feels the acid burn.

Since Heartburn Relief is so in demand, pharmaceutical companies advertise a growing number of prescription and non-prescription drugs for that purpose. Heartburn Relief for many, however, is as simple as eating sweet papaya.

The Fruit Called Papaya

Papaya fruit comes from a tropical American tree, “Carica papaya”. Papaya fruit may vary from globe-shaped to an oblong. When ripe, the fruit appears creamy golden yellow on the outside. The inside is deep orange-yellow with numerous shiny black seeds clustered in the middle cavity. The inner flesh is juicy and sweet.

Papaya’s Heartburn Relief

Papaya fruit contains “papain”. Papain is an enzyme that soothes the stomach. It also assists in digestion. Papain is sometimes referred to as vegetable pepsin due to its similarity to pepsin created by the stomach for food digestion.

Here are six easy ways to gain the Heartburn Relief of papaya:

1. Eat fresh, raw papaya along with your meal or as a dessert.
2. Add papaya to salad.
3. Drink papaya juice.
4. Use papaya in marinades.
5. Chew papaya tablets for Heartburn Relief.
6. Eat dried papaya, but only in moderation. Its concentrated sugar may negate the Heartburn Relief given by the enzyme.

Papaya Seed Extract for Heartburn Relief

Some natural Heartburn Relief products contain extract of papaya seed. The digestive enzyme is concentrated in the seed. Papaya extract is available in health food stores. It is natural, tastes good, and can be taken with every meal as Heartburn Prevention. It is often available in a convenient roll size, similar to other Heartburn Relief products.

Papaya and Honey for Heartburn Relief

Heartburn Relief is often gained by combining a little papaya with honey. Eat it before a meal, or between courses, and you may have not only Heartburn Relief but Heartburn Prevention.

Pineapple and Kiwi Fruit for Heartburn Relief

There are indications that papaya, pineapple, and kiwi fruit share in their Heartburn Relief abilities. Nutritionists say that kiwi fruit may be excellent Heartburn Relief. The other two fruits have been widely used for both indigestion and Heartburn Relief.

CAUTION: A fully ripe papaya is not considered dangerous. However, if you are allergic to latex, you should ask your doctor about eating papaya for Heartburn Relief. Also, the “papain” enzyme may increase the blood thinning effects of Coumadin (warfarin). Consult with a physician before relying on papaya or papaya products for Heartburn Relief. The author is not a medical professional, and offers the above information on Heartburn Relief for educational purposes only.

Heartburn Treatment drugs rank very high among prescribed medications in the U.S. They produced well over $10 billion in sales in 2006. In addition to the prescribed medications, big pharmaceutical companies such as Proctor & Gamble offer over-the-counter (OTC) Heartburn Treatment.

OTC Heartburn Treatment is sufficient for most people, but which OTC should you use? Do you really need Heartburn Treatment in the form of a drug, or do you need to change something in your lifestyle?

Prilosec OTC

Many people have turned to Priolsec OTC as a Heartburn Treatment. Take just one tablet daily, in the morning, for 14 days and your frequent heartburn is gone. That is the advertised effectiveness of Prilosec OTC. Many have found, however, that Prilosec is not a Heartburn Treatment that works for them.

Doctors assure us that those who truly need this OTC Heartburn Treatment number less than 1 percent of those who are taking it.

Impaired Health

The problem with Heartburn Treatments such as Prilosec is that the advertised proton pump inhibitors do work well. They decrease the stomach’s ability to make stomach acid. This sounds like a good thing. They work well while you are taking them, but you are to stop after two weeks - and not take them again for four months. Why?

* Dependency: A Heartburn Treatment of this type causes dependency. You depend on the pill for continued Heartburn Relief. Once you have used it for a time, it is exceedingly difficult to stop using them.

* Rebound: A second reason to avoid this type of Heartburn Treatment is the acid rebound effect that results. Since Prilosec and OTC or prescription medications like it turn off the proton pumps for a time, the pumps will work overtime when they are turned on again. The built-up acid that has been suppressed will flow forcefully.

* Masking: Finally, OTC Heartburn Treatments such as Prilosec mask the real problem, allowing you to continue or restart bad habits that create the problem in the first place. When you stop the Heartburn Treatment pills, the heartburn may be even worse - not better.

* Digestion Harm: Heartburn Treatments such as Prilosec OTC can actually impair your digestion. Turning off the proton pumps and reducing the amount of stomach acid makes proper digestion of food more difficult.

* Food Poisoning: Less acid as a result of Heartburn Treatment means your stomach is less capable of defending you against infections present in your food. You are more at risk for food poisoning.

* Stomach Atrophy: A stomach that stops digesting and absorbing food properly because of reduced acid is at risk for atrophy. That is, Heartburn Treatment that reduces acid production can cause your stomach to lose it strength. This and other chronic degenerative diseases can result from OTC or prescription Heartburn Treatment.

Better Options

There are better Heartburn Treatment options available at little cost. Be sure your stomach has an adequate supply of good bacteria by taking a top quality probiotic. Ask at your health food store if you are unfamiliar with this. Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of good water daily.

Disclaimer: The author is not a medical professional and offers the above for educational purposes only. Please ask your doctor about Heartburn Treatment if you have frequent heartburn.