Most people have experienced tightness and burning sensations such as a heart attack around the chest and throat are often known as heartburn or acid reflux (excess stomach acid). Heartburn is the primary symptom of the disease GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) or gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Heartburn is generally caused by the increase of acid from the stomach into the esophagus. This occurs when the sphincter muscle (the muscle that connects the esophagus and stomach) relaxation or open when it should have been contracted or closed for a long time. This is what causes stomach acid to flow up into the esophagus ride. Perceived result is the tightness and burning sensation in the chest and throat, difficulty in swallowing food and beverage, chest tightness, nausea, and decreased appetite.
Women are more at risk than men because of heartburn Heartburn often occurs in pregnant women because women tend to experience drastic weight gain during pregnancy. Obesity can also trigger heartburn because excess weight can increase the pressure on the sphincter muscle that trigger acid reflux into the esophagus. If not treated immediately, heartburn can cause injury and infection of the esophagus or trigger a cancer condition called Barrett's Esophagus. Therefore, treatment and prevention of heartburn needs to be done as soon as possible.
How to treat heartburn is by taking antacids and other prescription drugs. Antacids are medicines used to neutralize stomach acid and overcome ulcer disease. Antacids are alkaline, so it can immediately neutralize acidity and reduce excessive stomach acid secretion. Antacids brand you normally find among others: Alka-Seltzer, Pepto-Bismol, Rolaids, and Mylanta.
In addition, there are several things you can do to prevent your heartburn relapse, among others:
Avoid sleeping with a full stomach
Heartburn occurs when acid from the stomach oozing up through the sphincter muscles toward your chest and throat, causing tightness and burning. When you lie down to sleep at night after eating a lot, then your stomach acid will quickly seep climb up towards the chest and throat. Wait about two hours so that food can be digested properly before you go to bed.
Elevate your head when sleeping position
Gravity is your friend. When the position of your head higher than your stomach, this will prevent the rise of stomach acid into the esophagus. You can also tilt the whole body down when sleeping to reduce the acid from your esophagus.
Reduce consumption of alcohol, caffeine, and soda
Alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor), caffeine (coffee, tea, energy drinks), and soda adds gastric acid secretion. These drinks also cause a sensation of heat that will be excruciating chest when you're exposed to heartburn. If you can not stop a total of drinks of this kind, at least try to minimize it.
Stop smoking
As with alcohol, nicotine contained in cigarettes causes the sphincter muscle relaxation and promote acid reflux into the esophagus. Smoking also reduces the production of saliva, which serves to cleanse the stomach acid from the esophagus.
Reduce weight
If you are not pregnant, it is better to reduce your weight. We recommend that you do not lose weight drastically, but do it slowly but surely. Excess belly fat can reduce esophageal sphincter (the ring of muscle that lies between the lower esophagus and stomach), which causes stomach acid seeps into the esophagus ride.
In addition, tight clothes also suppress your stomach pushing stomach acid up into the esophagus. While you are trying to lose weight, avoid using belts and clothes that are too tight.
Reduce consumption of foods trigger heartburn
What are some foods trigger heartburn? All fruits that contain acid (vitamin C) should be avoided for the time being, such as oranges, lemons, mangoes, and tomatoes. In addition, foods that cause a sensation of heat also need to be reduced when you are experiencing heartburn, such as onion, garlic, pepper, and chili. Avoid eating fatty foods, such as fried foods, red meat, beans, cheese, butter and chocolate, because fatty foods tend to accumulate in the stomach and causes a sensation of heat in your digestive tract.
Low-fat milk is a safe choice when you are experiencing heartburn. In addition, chewing gum and sugar-free mint can also help you relieve the symptoms of heartburn to help increase saliva production to clean the esophagus from stomach acid.
Consumption of apples regularly
Famous apple fruit were able to neutralize stomach acid. You can eat it just like that, or you can make fresh apple juice. The phrase "An apple a day keeps the doctors away" is very appropriate, then eat apples regularly to maintain the health of your digestive system
