Understanding the Cause of Heartburn

Heartburn affects millions of Americans each year. For some, it's a temporary occurrence, such as heartburn during pregnancy. And for others, it can be a regular ongoing problem.

There are plenty of solutions for heartburn and there are many drugs which may help you. Our preference is for a natural drug-free cure for heartburn but before getting into cures, it's important to understand the cause of heartburn.

The more heartburn information you get, the better you are prepared to deal with it.

The name heartburn is a bit odd since the complaint has nothing to do with the heart. In fact, heartburn is a problem in the stomach and esophagus region.

Here's what happens. When you eat, food passes down through your espohagus into your stomach.

There's a valve separating the two, and the heartburn problem occurs when this valve doesn't work properly allowing stomach acid to come back from the stomach into the the esophagus region.

You might wonder why you only feel pain in the esophagus, and not in your stomach. The reason is that the stomach is protected against these acids but the esophagus is not.

In fact, the esophagus gets very irritated by the stomach acid, and that's the pain you feel with heartburn.

So how do you stop or reduce heartburn? We'll look at two main factors:

There are many foods that can relax the LES, slow down the digestive system, or produce additional stomach acid. All of these results can cause heartburn in some individuals, so avoiding or limiting foods that have this effect can lower or eliminate your bouts of heartburn. Foods that relax the LES include peppermint, spearmint and chocolate.

Fatty and greasy foods will slow down the digestive system, which can also be a contributing cause of heartburn. Carbonated beverages and large meals can increase the acid production in your stomach, making it more likely that those acids will find their way back up into the esophagus.

You can help prevent this problem by eating smaller meals more frequently and avoiding drinks like soda and beer. If you suffer from frequent or chronic heartburn, it is also a good idea to stay away from spicy foods and citrus fruits and juices, since they can contribute to the cause of heartburn as well.

There are also a number of lifestyle choices that can contribute to the cause of heartburn. Since gravity can play a role in keeping the stomach acids down where they belong, standing or sitting upright are the best positions after a meal.

Never eat right before bed, and wait at least a couple of hours before lying down after a meal. Some types of exercise that include bouncing or bending can also affect the cause of heartburn, so avoid exercises that include these movements for a period of time after eating.

Smoking can be a contributing cause of heartburn, so if you suffer from frequent or chronic heartburn it is a good idea to stop smoking. Obesity can also cause problems with heartburn, and some studies have shown that even moderate weight loss can go a long way in alleviating symptoms.

Finally, wearing tight clothing can add to the pressure on the stomach, forcing the acids back up into the esophagus. Avoid tight belts or clothing that binds around your middle.

Heartburn is usually a manageable problem and armed with the heartburn information in this article you can have an informed discussion with your doctor.  Be sure to get medical advice before you start trying to cure heartburn.