FIGHTING HEARTBURN

FIGHTING HEARTBURN

SUFFERING FROM AN ACID BURNING PAIN?

If you suffer from an acid burning pain, this could be heartburn, although many people mistake this for indigestion.  The pain of heartburn can feel like a burning sensation behind the breastbone or spreading upwards from your stomach towards your throat.  You may also have noticed that certain situations, such as lying down in bed at night or eating rich food.

WHY YOU SUFFER FROM THIS PAIN…

As many as half of the population of the UK suffer from the burning pain of heartburn.  As a result the condition has been extensively studied and the causes are well known.

The pain of heartburn is caused by a small amount of stomach acid rising up into the food pipe.  While the job of the stomach is to produce and contan acid for the breakdown of food, the food pipe is not resistant to burning effects of the acid.

So it’s not excess acid that causes heartburn, its simply a little acid in the wrong place.  But this small amount of acid can cause a great deal of pain.

SO HOW DOES STOMACH ACID ESCAPE?

It’s all about pressure and gravity…

There is a valve made of muscles situated at the base of the food pipe, the job of which is to stop stomach contents from rising up the food pipe.  Unfortunately when pressure on this valve is increased, for example after a meal, acid can escape into the food pipe.

As gravity helps to move food down through the digestive system, lying down, bending forwards or wearing tight clothes may impede this movement.  This can put pressure on the valve at the base of the food pipe, making it easier for a little acid to spill out.

PREVENTING HEARTBURN:

There are a number of steps you can take to help relieve or even prevent the pain of heartburn.

What you eat and drink – fatty and very spicy foods and also alcohol are more likely to set off your heartburn.

• Avoid eating just before bedtime.
• Avoid putting on extra pounds.
• Try to limit your exposure to stressful situations.
• Cut down on caffeine and smoking.

TREATING HEARTBURN:

Soothe the burning acid pain…

The most appropriate way of treating acid induced heartburn is to keep acid in the stomach where it works – not in the food pipe where it hurts.

Therefore, a  product that forms a protective layer on top of the stomach contents, preventing acid escaping into the food pipe can be an effective answer to acid heartburn.

This is where products like Gaviscon comes in.  Check out your local pharmacist for products that help relieve heartburn.

Category: Mike Buss