Heartburn is a common symptom of acid reflux, a condition where some of the stomach contents travel back up into the esophagus, or food pipe. It creates a burning pain in the lower chest.
Occasional heartburn is common and no cause for alarm. Most people can manage the discomfort of heartburn on their own with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications. Heartburn that is more frequent or interferes with your daily routine may be a symptom of a more serious condition that requires medical care.
Symptoms
- Chest pain
- Throat pain
- Burning in lower chest
- Stomach discomfort
- Reflux
- Sour or acid taste in the throat and mouth
Some additional symptoms include:
- Sore throat
- Laryngitis
- Wheezing
- Gingivitis
- Bed breath
- Earache
Causes
Heartburn occurs when stomach acid backs up into the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach (esophagus). Normally when you swallow, a band of muscle around the bottom of your esophagus (lower esophageal sphincter) relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow down into your stomach. Then the muscle tightens again. If the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes abnormally or weakens, stomach acid can flow back up into your esophagus (acid reflux) and cause heartburn. The acid backup may be worse when you’re bent over or lying down.
Risk Factors
- Hiatus hernia
- Pregnancy
- Certain medications
- Heavy meals
- Alcohol
- Chocolate
- Spicy or fatty food
- Carbonated drinks
- Peppermint
- Smoking
- Exercise just after meal
- Stress
- Obesity
- Lying just after meal
Complications
Heartburn that occurs frequently and interferes with your routine is considered gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD treatment may require prescription medications and, occasionally, surgery or other procedures. GERD can seriously damage your esophagus or lead to precancerous changes in the esophagus called Barrett’s esophagus.
Diagnosis
To determine if the heartburn is a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the doctor may recommend:
- X-ray: To view the shape and condition of the esophagus and stomach.
- Endoscopy: To check for abnormalities in the esophagus. A tissue sample (biopsy) may be taken for analysis.
- Ambulatory acid probe tests: To identify when, and for how long, stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. An acid monitor that is placed in the esophagus connects to a small computer that wear around the waist or on a strap over the shoulder.
- Esophageal motility testing: To measure movement and pressure in the esophagus.
Homeopathic treatment
Heartburn can be very effectively treated with natural Homeopathic medicines. The natural remedies act as wonderful agents to bring about relief in the most distressing cases of Heartburn, including sour, burning or acid risings. The Homeopathic medicines for providing relief in acute episodes of Heartburn are selected mainly based upon the trigger factors. Associated symptoms like vomiting, belching and headache are also given importance. To remove the tendency to have Heartburn, more deep acting constitutional Homeopathic remedies are prescribed. For this purpose, the peculiar characteristics experienced by each patient are taken into account.
Nux Vomica
Nux Vomica is the top natural Homeopathic medicine for treating Heartburn triggered by the intake of alcohol, coffee or spices. The foremost complaint for which Homeopathic medicine Nux Vomica is the ideal remedy is burning in the mid upper abdomen and chest with acid risings. The mouth also fills with bitter and acid fluid along with burning. In some persons,there is a complaint of nausea and vomiting of sour material. Pressure and heaviness in abdomen also forms a part of symptom picture for using Nux Vomica. Although not a part of Heartburn, a history of long-standing constipation may be found to select Nux Vomica.
Pulsatilla
Pulsatilla is a natural Homeopathic medicine that is the best remedy when fatty or fried food has excited Heartburn. Along with Heartburn, the person also experiences nausea and vomiting to a high degree. Vomiting contains acidic, bitter matter, at times greenish in colour. Belching acid or bitter taste are also noticed for using Pulsatilla. In addition to these symptoms, pain and tightness in stomach may also appear. One characteristic feature that calls for using this remedy is a total absence of thirst along with the other symptoms.
Natrum Phos
Natrum Phos is very beneficial in all cases of Heartburn where the patient experiences sour belching or sour vomiting along with burning in chest or mid upper abdomen. In such cases, Homeopathic medicine Natrum Phos is the best prompt relieving agent. A specific coating of tongue with yellow pasty matter is a redline symptom along with sour belching and vomiting. Acidic symptoms due to intake of excess of sugar can also be best treated with Natrum Phos.
Iris Versicolor
Natural Homeopathic medicine Iris Versicolor, on the other hand, is the best remedy when the major symptom is burning throughout the gastrointestinal tract, right from the mouth to anus with sour vomiting.
Robinia
Natural Homeopathic medicine Robinia is of great help in providing relief to Heartburn patients when the burning symptoms get worse on lying down at night. Acrid burning, bitter or worse sour belching appear along with burning in the chest and stomach. The symptoms may even prevent the person from sleeping. Another sphere for using Robinia is when headache accompanies heartburn. Robinia is the most apt natural Homeopathic remedy for persons who have pain in head with Heartburn.
Arsenic Album
If the Heartburn is relieved by warm drinks, then Arsenic Album is the best remedy. The other symptoms for using Arsenic Album are burning in upper abdomen with acid, bitter risings in the throat. Nausea and vomiting may also appear. The vomiting occurs soon after eating or drinking. Thirst for a small quantity of water at short intervals is also a prominent symptom for using Arsenic Album.
Phosphorus
Homeopathic medicine Phosphorus is the ideal natural remedy when cold drinks or cold water seems to provide temporary relief from burning in chest and abdomen. The accompanying symptoms are sour belching after eating. Vomiting also appears, but not immediately after drinking. Vomiting occurs a few hours after taking water when the water gets warm in abdomen. A desire for ice creams, juices and cold drinks is another useful symptom for selecting Phosphorus for the successful treatment of Heartburn cases.
Ipecac
Heart burn with nausea or vomiting and excessive flatulence. It is suitable in pregnancy also. Clean tongue with thirstless.
Calcarea carb
Burning sensation in the stomach, acrid eructation; feeling of pressure over the stomach with vomiting of food and mucus. This polycrest homeopathic medicine is also found to be very effective in cases of heartburn, acidity or hyperchlorhydria. Heartburn with loud belching. Frequent sour eructation and sour vomiting. Swelling over pit of stomach like an inverted saucer. Patient has craving for indigestible things like chalk, coal, pencil; marked craving for eggs. Milk disagrees. By constitution Calcarea patient is very fair and flabby, perspire a lot and sensitive to cold.
Staphysagria
Heart burn caused by smoking. Patient often has lot of frustration and suppressed anger that precipitates sickness.
Aesculus hip
Excellent remedy for heart burn, great burning distress, pressure as from stone in the pit of stomach; empty eructation of wind
Ferrum met
Remarkable remedy for heart burn, vomiting only of food after eating and drinking.