Heartburn may be a common issue, but its effects are far from small and trivial. Dr Arun Arora Often mistaken for a heart disease symptom, heartburn is often indicative of a digestive system disorder predominantly caused by acid reflux. If the burning sensation in your chest after a spicy meal or a few too many cups of coffee is all too familiar, then this blog is for you!
So, what causes heartburn, how can you identify it, and more importantly, how do you treat it? Here’s everything you need to know.
What Causes Heartburn?
At the intersection of the esophagus and stomach lies a band of muscle, Dr Arun Arora the lower esophageal sphincter(LES), which acts as a gatekeeper allowing food into the stomach but blocking stomach acids reaching into the esophagus. However, there are times when the LES relaxes, causing acid reflux and thus leading to heartburn.
Contributing factors for heartburn include:
• Overeating or eating too quickly
• Consuming spicy, fatty, or greasy foods
• Drinking certain beverages like coffee, carbonated drinks, or alcohol
Recognizing Heartburn
Heartburn is a condition that many people suffer from. It can cause you to feel a burning sensation in your chest and throat, which can make it hard to eat or sleep.
Heartburn is more common than you think, and it’s not always easy to recognize it at first. Here are some tips from Dr Arun Arora Flushing NY on how to tell if you’re having heartburn:
• You feel an uncomfortable burning sensation in your chest and throat while swallowing.
• You get heartburn after eating certain foods, such as fatty or spicy food.
• You have acid reflux (when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus) and experience frequent heartburn attacks over time.
Treating Heartburn
The good news is that there are many ways to treat heartburn. So if you’re suffering from the symptoms of heartburn, don’t panic—you have options! Treating your heartburn at home means taking some simple steps that may help prevent it from happening again in the future. Here are just a few:
• Avoid foods that trigger your stomach acid production (this includes citrus fruits and chocolate).
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day (this helps flush out excess stomach acid).
