Heartburn: symptoms, signs, treatment

Heartburn is accompanied by a feeling of discomfort or burning behind the sternum, which extends upward from the epigastric region and radiating into the neck. It is a consequence of irritation of the mucosa of the esophagus with bile or hydrochloric acid. Heartburn is in most cases a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease. In the article below, we will consider in detail the topic of "heartburn: symptoms, signs, treatment" and try to highlight important aspects in this common ailment.

Heartburn can be repeated often enough that it disrupts a person's normal lifestyle. The appearance of it more than 3 times a week seriously worsens the quality of life.

Symptoms of heartburn

The main symptoms are:

• Pain in the chest area more than 2 hours;
• As a rule, heartburn is worse after eating;
• Wearing tight clothing or lying down can provoke and intensify an attack of heartburn;
• Appearance of pain or its enhancement is not related to physical activity;
• Not all patients with GERD experience heartburn.

Other symptoms:

• Unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth;
• Regurgitation, which occurs more often with body tilts or during sleep;
• Hoarseness of voice;
• Permanent, uninterrupted dry cough;
• Fits of noisy breathing;
• Feeling in the throat of a coma;

Children also have heartburn. Symptoms of the most common signs in practice:

• Repeated vomiting;
• Cough;
• Pneumonia, attacks of suffocation, difficulty breathing.

Consider some of the symptoms of heartburn in more detail. A sensation of heartburn may occur in the epigastric region and spread upward, and also give in the jaw, throat, back, or hands. This sensation is similar to the pain that occurs during a heart attack. If there is such pain in the chest, especially the first time, you should immediately consult a doctor.
If sour or bitter taste in the mouth, sour eructation appeared for the first time, then you can make an attempt to solve the problem yourself. If such symptoms of heartburn occur or are repeated often, there is also a chronic cough or it occurs as a result of taking medications( especially medications for heart disease and asthma, antispasmodic or sedative drugs, antihistamines, and women who take birth control pills) is necessaryConsult a doctor.
If heartburn is accompanied by loss of appetite and a feeling of fatigue, you should also consult a specialist for medical advice.
Emergency medical care is required in those cases in which heartburn is accompanied by a bloody or dark stool, back or chest pain, aches and pains with nausea, vomiting or sweating.

Symptoms of Heartburn

The most common cases are heartburn. Its symptoms can be caused by various reasons:

1. Some foods and beverages such as chocolate, fatty foods, alcohol, caffeinated beverages, foods that contain peppermint reduce the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter.
2. Occurs sometimes and depending on the position of the body, more often in a horizontal position and with tilts. It can be caused by any condition, which increases the pressure in the abdominal cavity, which contributes to the reverse casting of food masses and gastric juice from the stomach into the esophagus: weight lifting, physical overstrain, cough, obesity and pregnancy, tight clothing.
3. Associated diseases may contribute to its occurrence: diabetes, hiatal hernia, autoimmune diseases.
4. Some medications disrupt the function of the lower esophageal sphincter: cardiac remedies, for the treatment of bronchial asthma, for lowering blood pressure, as well as preparations containing theophylline.
5. The mucous membrane of the esophagus can irritate many substances, contributing to the development of heartburn: citrus fruits and juices, spicy food, tomatoes and sauces from them, aspirin, cigarette smoke, ibuprofen and agents for the treatment of stupor.

Heartburn itself occurs periodically, usually within an hour after ingestion, it can be strengthened by tilting the body forward or its position in the horizontal state, with physical exertion and during the act of defecation, especially with constipation, with straining.

Treating heartburn

To cure heartburn, you need to get rid of its cause, from the disease that provokes and causes this unpleasant sensation. How is heartburn treated? Drug treatment is carried out when it does not bother constantly and is not a consequence of another disease:

• antacid preparations are capable of enveloping the esophageal mucosa and protect it from gastric juice;
• the next method is to neutralize the action of gastric juice, which consists in reducing its acidity. In this case, drugs Maalox, phospholugel will help. Rennie and gestal are also quite effective. In any case, with the independent use of medicines, you must carefully read the instructions to the drug;
• preparations omez, ranetidine, omeprazole are used to reduce the production of gastric juice. They should be used strictly according to the instructions, since incorrect application can have exactly the opposite effect;
• patients after heartburn operations can be reduced using weak solutions of acetic or citric acid.

Treating heartburn can be done folk remedies. The first thing that comes to mind in this case is the use of a solution of soda. But it is worth remembering that at first glance, an inoffensive solution can not be used too often, since it can lead to a violation in the body of the water-salt balance. It is not appropriate to speak about treatment with the use of soda, since such a solution only removes unpleasant sensations. At home, as a prophylaxis, you can use the following techniques:

• drink a teaspoon of vegetable oil, which quickly removes symptoms and acts for a long time;
• eat carrots or an apple;
• bite the seeds;
• drink a little warm milk;
• for the prevention of heartburn drink before meals mixed in equal proportions carrot and potato juice;
• grind the root of the calamus into a powder, pour into a glass, taking it with the tip of a knife, pour warm water and drink;
• use infusions and decoctions of herbs: St. John's wort, yarrow, mint, bean, dill, chamomile.

Increasingly recently, those who have heartburn, doctors advise all day to keep a good mood and optimism. So it is possible that the best prevention and treatment of heartburn will be the calmness and calm of the person.

Prognosis for patients with heartburn

Patients suffering from heartburn should try to make adjustments in their lifestyle. The refusal of the above products, the refusal to eat before going to bed and using it in smaller portions, but more often, the refusal of alcohol and smoking, wakefulness on the bed with a raised head, will positively affect the patient's condition and reduce the number of episodes of heartburn.