Heartburn Symptoms Treatment

Symptoms and Causes

Before discussing treatments, it is important to understand what heartburn is. Heartburn is caused when the lower esophageal sphincter opens without cause or does not close properly. This improper function allows stomach acids to rise into the esophagus. Once these acids touch the esophageal lining, it causes a burning sensation in your throat or chest. Consumption of particular foods can worsen your heartburn symptoms. Some other causes of heartburn may be, smoking, pregnancy, obesity, stress, eating very large meals or lying down after eating.

Changes in Diet

You may find it helpful to avoid certain foods in your diet. This includes foods high in acidity like tomatoes and citrus fruits. Other foods and drinks that can heighten your symptoms are caffeine, spicy foods, fried foods, chocolate, mint and garlic. While avoiding these foods may not get rid of your heartburn, it can at least reduce your symptoms. If you notice that a certain food makes your heartburn worse, cut it out of your diet. Adding more yogurt to your diet may also help reduce heartburn.

Changes in Lifestyle

There are some lifestyle changes that can help you deal with heartburn. If you are overweight, a simple way to combat heartburn is to lose weight. Since stress can be a contributor to heartburn, take steps to limit the amount of stress in your life. If you smoke, you should take steps to quit. Don't eat right before bedtime, and eat smaller meals. Avoid tight clothes.

Medication

Antacids can bring quick relief for heartburn, but they can also cause problems if you take them too often. The different salts in common antacids can lead to diarrhea or constipation if taken for a longer time than recommended or in excess of the recommended dosage. Another medication is a prescription or over-the-counter H2 blocker. This medication reduces the production of acid in your stomach. Proton pump inhibitors, such as Prilosec, help with heartburn symptoms and can actually heal the lining of your esophagus.

Surgery

If none of the above treatments help with your heartburn symptoms, surgery may be an option. Endoscopic surgeries are used to help treat chronic heartburn. The desire to avoid taking medication for a lifetime can also fuel the desire to have surgery for this condition. A common surgery for chronic heartburn involves creating pleats in the lower esophageal sphincter, in order to strengthen the muscle.

See Your Doctor

See your doctor before deciding how to treat heartburn. Your doctor can ensure that what you have is indeed heartburn and not something more serious. He can also help you devise a plan for dealing with your heartburn symptoms. Heartburn can lead to more serious esophageal problems down the road, which is another reason it is important to visit your physician.