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3 Stages Of Heartburn That Reveal Why Heartburn Should Be Taken Seriously
Stage 1- A burning sensation in your chest just behind your breastbone that occurs infrequently. By "infrequently" I mean that you experience this problem no more than once per week or a couple of times per month. Essentially you have two options for relief from this light heartburn stage. Over the counter antacids easily correct the problem. Your second option is to pay close attention to the food choices that caused the problem and then to avoid those foods. Stage 2- The burning sensation is more severe causing pain behind the breastbone. If this problem occurs two times or more per week then it is time to see a doctor. Antacids can still help this problem as well as some of the over the counter wonder drugs for keeping heartburn at bay. Again avoiding the trigger foods for your discomfort is advisable. Your goal at this stage is to prevent your recurring heartburn from becoming more severe Stage 3- At this level you are experiencing the symptoms in Stage 2 as well as experiencing attacks of acid reflux. That's when stomach acid flows back into your throat causing pain, a burning sensation, and a horrible sour taste in your mouth. Do not try to treat yourself at this level. This is the time for consulting a physician for help. These episodes of reflux will cause damage and scarring to your esophagus which can result in difficulty swallowing, coughing, and wheezing. Also at this level you run the risk of other more serious health problems. Heartburn happens when stomach acid refluxes back into the esophagus. This occurs because: 1) the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) has been weakened and fails to perform as it should. The function of the LES valve is to keep stomach acid in the stomach. When it malfunctions it allows the stomach acid to flood back into the esophagus, which results in heartburn. This is a common symptom of GERD or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. 2) eating trigger foods. Commonly the list of foods that aggravate heartburn includes: foods that are fried or laden with fat, chocolate, coffee, sugar, peppermint, and alcohol. 3) large meals just before bedtime. Whenever you consume a large meal the stomach acid increases and if you lie down before proper digestion has occured then the position of your body makes it easier for stomach acid to rush back into your esophagus. 4) hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia occurs when the tissues that support the digestive tract are weakened resulting in part of the upper stomach slipping through the hiatus thus raising the potential for heartburn. 5) smoking. The nicotine in tobacco weakens the LES which increases the potential for reflux. 6) stress. Stress can increase the production of stomach acid thus contributing to heartburn. Heartburn can grow more severe with time if we don't take measures to stop the problem. Severe complications can occur when we fail to keep heartburn in check. As previously mentioned, heartburn and reflux can cause the esophagus to be scarred, making it difficult to swallow food. If left untreated the condition can progress into Barrett's esophagus. Barretts exists when cells similar to the lining of the stomach start to develop in the lower esophagus. This condition is particularly troublesome because it can increase your risk of developing esophageal cancer which is both hard to diagnose and difficult to treat. In this article you have learned why heartburn should be taken seriously. If you have progressed beyond the first stage then it is time to stop the trend. The best time for getting heartburn under control is NOW. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Richard Weirich co-hosts the internationally popular Health at Last Radio and has written numerous publications on heartburn, acid reflux, weight loss, health, and wellness. For more articles on the causes of heartburn click here and you can also visit the author's website here. |
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