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Don't Make The Same Mistake I Made With Constant Heartburn
But, if you suffer from constant heartburn then you are dealing with a more problematic concern that will most likely require more specialized attention. For whatever reason, I chose to ignore the constant heartburn in my life. I suppose that I ignored the symptoms because they had been with me for so long. Now, the kind of heartburn that I am talking about is the kind that attacks after you have fallen asleep at night. Suddenly you are awakened by the rush of stomach acid into your throat. The acid produces choking, coughing, a horrible burning sensation in your throat, and a vile taste in your mouth. You immediately rush to the kitchen and start fumbling through the cabinets to find an antacid. Then you reach for a glass of water to try to wach the foul taste from your mouth. Despite your efforts to stop the discomfort you feel as if the problem will not clear up and you know from experience that you dare not go back to bed. But you are so tired. So you determine to rest in a chair, cover yourself with a blanket, and resign yourself to sleeping while sitting up. I experienced such a scenario countless time but never once sought medical help. One night I experienced unbearable pain in my stomach which resulted in my wife rushing me to the emergency room. Within hours I was admitted to the hospital and a day later my gall bladder was removed. I bring up the gall bladder incident because it would lead to the discovery of something far more serious. A week after returning home I received a note from the hospital calling attention to a suspicious spot at the base of my esophagus that showed up in the x-rays from the gall bladder incident. What followed was a series of tests that led to the diagnosis of esophageal cancer. All those late night acid reflux episodes should have been taken more seriously. I had let the problem get out of control. It took a cancer scare for me to wake up to the potential realities of constant heartburn. As a result I began to read and study everything I could get my hands on regarding heartburn and the many maladies to which it can lead. Constant heartburn may actually be something more serious such as Barrett's syndrome, a hiatal heria, esophagitis, or even GERD. In a small percentage of cases constant heartburn may point to esophageal cancer. In other words, when your heartburn has progressed to an ongoing and frequent occurrence it is time to seek medical help from a qualified physician. Actually 10 to 15 percent of us experience chronic heartburn. If you are in that group and your heartburn rears its ugly head 3 or more times per week then you are mostly likely suffering from a more serious medical condition referred to as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). One of the primary contributors to this condition is obesity. It is also important to note that one of the most reliable ways of getting heartburn under control is to lose weight. I can't emphasize this enough. Take heartburn seriously. True enough, antacids do provide some relief. And there is a variety of other wonder drugs that can help. But if the problem persists and you are constantly treating yourself it is time to see a doctor. 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 constant heartburn click here and you can also visit the author's website here. |
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