Heartburn: symptoms, causes and treatment

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  1. Heartburn: causes, symptoms and treatments
    1. What is heartburn
  2. Cause(s)
  3. Symptom(s)
  4. Prevention advice
  5. Other recommendations may be beneficial:
  6. Test(s)
  7. Treatment(s)
  8. Phytotherapy
  9. Homeopathy
  10. Aromatherapy
  11. You may be interested:

Heartburn: causes, symptoms and treatments

Acid reflux, gastric pain and heartburn... to relieve these frequent but unpleasant digestive symptoms, it is necessary to revise one's diet, which is usually too rich, and take anti-reflux medication.

Heartburn symptoms

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

What is heartburn

Heartburn describes a painful sensation in the sternum. It is usually accompanied by a reflux of acid from the stomach into the esophagus (gastroesophageal reflux), which causes an unpleasant taste (bitter or sour) in the throat and mouth.

Heartburn usually occurs after a meal or at bedtime.

The pain can last from a few minutes to a few hours, but it is usually temporary and does not represent a health hazard.

During digestion, the stomach uses gastric juices to reduce the consistency of food.

When a person has eaten too much, not chewed enough or is anxious, the excess acidity causes the lining of the stomach and sometimes the esophagus to become inflamed, causing a burning sensation.

Cause(s)

The causes of heartburn are numerous and sometimes difficult to identify.

They can happen:

  • as a result of a diet that is too rich, too acidic or too spicy;
  • during stress;
  • after taking an inappropriate stomach medication;
  • during pregnancy;
  • due to obesity;
  • with the presence of a bacterium (Helicobacter pylori).

Symptom(s)

Heartburn can manifest itself as..:

  • a burning sensation in the sternum and throat;
  • Stomach aches;
  • acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux);
  • a bitter or sour taste in the throat and mouth.

Prevention advice

To prevent heartburn, it is advisable to adopt an appropriate diet.

It can also be useful to follow some rules:

  • divide the diet into several small snacks during the day;
  • eat lean meat, fish, eggs, bread, starchy foods and vegetables;
  • avoid greasy and/or fried foods;
  • steamed, stewed or grilled ;
  • avoid fasting too long;
  • Avoid alcohol, caffeinated beverages, acidic fruit juices and chocolate.

Other recommendations may be beneficial:

  • Eat slowly, chewing each food well;
  • do not go to bed for two hours after a meal;
  • Avoiding stress and smoking if possible;
  • check the composition of the drugs because some of them promote acid reflux
  • lose weight if necessary;
  • Wear loose clothing.

Also to be read:

How can I relieve heartburn?

Test(s)

If the doctor suspects heartburn, certain tests may be prescribed to the patient:

  • a pH measurement (a probe inserted down the throat into the esophagus to assess the acidity present) to confirm the existence of gastroesophageal reflux;
  • a gastric fibroscopy to determine the presence or absence of lesions (esophagitis, esophageal ulcer...).

Treatment(s)

In case of heartburn, it is strongly recommended to compose the diet with products that do not promote acid reflux.

Most cases of occasional heartburn are relieved by antacid medication. When pain is frequent (once a week), proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the standard treatment.

Elevating the head of the bed may improve symptoms if there is reflux. Homeopathy, herbal medicine, aromatherapy, and naturopathy may be helpful in relieving symptoms of heartburn.

In severe cases of reflux, surgery may be offered.

See a doctor immediately if the heartburn comes on suddenly and the pain is impossible to bear or if the pain is chronic.

Also to be read:

Six Heartburn Drugs

Phytotherapy

For the infusion: put a teaspoon of root liquorice in a pan with a cup of cold water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 3 minutes. Allow the infusion to last 10 minutes, filter. Drink 3 times a day for 2 or 3 days (recipe taken from Mes secrets de pharmacienne, by Danièle Festy. Editions Leduc.S).

Homeopathy

In case of heartburn, while waiting for the doctor's consultation, it is possible to take 3 granules 3 times a day of one or more of the following medications :

  • Iris versicolor 9 CH, in case of heartburn that goes up to the throat
  • Arsenicum album 9 CH, in case of burns with water thirst;
  • Iris versicolor 9 CH, in case of acidity or heartburn
  • Cantharis 9 CH, in case of burns with thirst but when the slightest amount of liquid aggravates the pain;
  • Phosphorus 9 CH, in case of burns with thirst of large quantities of cold water.

Aromatherapy

The essential oil of noble chamomile is interesting, but only if the stomach acidity is related to stress.

Take a drop of the essential oils of noble chamomile and lemon in a quarter teaspoon of honey or olive oil. 3 times a day.

In case of gastric reflux, drink large glasses of sparkling water.

Take a clay gastric bandage. In the evening, mix in a glass of water and a teaspoon of white clay.

Let it rest during the night and drink the floating clay the next day, without consuming the clay left at the bottom of the glass. Repeat for 8 to 10 days in a row.

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