What causes heartburn?

Consuming some types of foods such as:

• Tea and coffee which contain caffeine permit stomach contents to reflux in esophagus.
• Chocolate is another factor which contains theobramine and makes stomach acid spurt into the esophagus.
• Fatty and fried foods slow down digestion by keeping food for a longer period of time in the stomach.
• Alcohol raises the production of stomach acids.
• Tobacco weakens the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) which leads to acid reflux disease.
• A full stomach can put pressure on the LES.
• Citrus fruits and juices let go LES.
• Wearing tight or fit clothes forces food up against the LES.
• Even tomato products also relax LES.

The people who suffer from heartburn should know all types of foods which cause heartburn. There are other foods which can cause heartburn and they are as follows:

• Mustard
• Garlic
• Certain spices
• Onion
• Vinegar
• Beverages like Soda

This is what causes heartburn

Some foods cause your stomach to produce acid and some may weaken the LES. This is the reason why acid reflux increases. It is always good to eat at the correct time and to a limited extent so that no problem arises. If you consume food too close to your bedtime and after that if you directly lie down on the bed then it may cause heartburn. The stomach acid can also injure the lining of the esophagus. There are other reasons like hiatal hernia, certain medications, and stress which can cause heartburn. Heartburn is the main symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It is also a symptom of ischemic heart disease. People also call it as ‘dyspepsia’. It is grouping of heartburn and epigastric pain. If you experience heartburn frequently then it is necessary to consult the doctor as this can be a very serious situation.

Constant cough or aching throat, burning sensation in the throat, food getting stuck at the chest or throat are all acid reflux symptoms. There are some remedies for heartburn like weight loss, eating light meals, give up smoking, having meals before three or five hours of going to bed, avoiding fatty and fried foods or foods which can cause you heartburn. There are some treatments for heartburn and they are antacids, h2 receptor blockers, proton pump inhibitors, etc. However, it is necessary that you do not overuse them. Hence, there are many factors that explain what causes heartburn.

Most often, people do not realize that they have indigestion problems until the situation aggravates. Therefore, in order to understand whether you have the symptoms, you need to check out a few indications. Observe whether there is a burning sensation in the stomach after a meal. This uncomfortable feeling may last for some hours. At times, you may experience an abdominal pain instead of the burning sensation, and may also have a nauseating feeling. Indigestion symptoms may vary from person to person.

Most people who suffer can get better by changing their diet. Eat foods that are stomach friendly and sit upright after eating. However, if you have a severe problem, then you need to consult the doctor. They will give you medications that will soothe the stomach and help with proper digestion of foods.

You need to check whether you have the following indigestion symptoms. If you suffer from any of the mentioned symptoms then you should consult the doctor immediately.

• Early feeling of fullness during meals: If you have eaten only a little and still feel full, then you may be suffering from indigestion, and there may already be undigested food in the stomach.
• Feeling bloated after meals: If you feel full for a longer time and have an uncomfortable feeling in the stomach, then you may have an indigestion problem.
• Pain within the upper abdomen: If you have a severe upper abdomen pain, then you need to consult a doctor immediately.
• Burning sensation within the upper abdomen: If you feel a burning sensation or uncomfortable heat in the stomach, then it is due to indigestion.

In a few cases, indigestion may be a sign of serious underlying problems like stomach cancer.  Therefore, if the symptoms persist for a long time then you should take medical help. Early detection can control and remove the indigestion symptoms.

Acid reflux disease is a natural process and it happens to all people. However, in a person with GERD symptoms, the acidic liquid remains for a longer time in the esophagus and the reflux happens frequently. There are many factors that lead to these symptoms. Below mentioned are a few of the main factors.

Some people tend to produce abnormal amounts of acid and some others have problems in the lower esophageal sphincter. The sphincter usually prevents liquid reflux and so when there is a delay in emptying the stomach, GERD is caused. Moreover, when a woman is pregnant she becomes susceptible to such disorders due to anatomical and hormonal changes within the body. Additionally, medications like anti-cholinergic and anti-hypertensive put the person at risk of GERD symptoms.

GERD Symptoms

The common symptoms that can be seen are regurgitation and heartburn. Regurgitation is the nauseous feeling that a person feels in the mouth due to acidic stomach liquid reflux. In severe cases, it leads to vomiting. Heartburn caused due to acid reflux is often mistaken for chest pain. The burning pain starts within the upper middle abdomen quadrant and may spread to the back and neck. Heartburn occurs when the nerves within the esophagus are stimulated by the acidic stomach content. This usually happens when a person sleeps immediately after a meal.

Therefore, in order to minimize GERD symptoms, you need a whole lot of commitment and discipline. If you wish to prevent or decrease the symptoms, you need to change your eating habits and diet. Having smaller meals during the day will prevent stomach expansion and will avoid any reflux from happening. Further, you need to have your dinner early and elevate the upper body while sleeping. This will help to prevent the symptoms from occurring at night.

Many types of food cause this symptom and so you should avoid the following foods- chocolates, fatty foods, acidic and spicy foods, caffeine, carbonated drinks, and citrus juices. Alcohol and smoking may also aggravate the situations and so these should also be avoided. If the condition worsens, you should consult the doctor because they will be able to offer some medication that can lessen the symptoms. If untreated, chronic GERD symptoms may damage the esophagus and cause inflammation, bleeding, ulcers, scarring of the tissues etc.

Therefore, never ignore the symptoms and make a healthy change in your lifestyle to prevent such problems. Some foods that are good for people suffering from GERD are oatmeal, apples, turkey, bananas, potatoes, white and brown rice, broccoli, cabbage, green beans, carrots, peas, grilled chicken, ground beef, eggs, grilled steak, fish, almonds, corn bread etc. So, you can see that just by taking care of what you eat, you will be able to avoid GERD symptoms. 

According to medical research, people with GERD often have other serious medical conditions. These conditions include hiatus hernia, sleep apnea, gallstones and obesity. There are also specific foods that lead to this condition such as spicy meals, ginger, chili peppers, mustard, garlic, and onions. Soda pops, coffee, tea and wine may also trigger attacks in several patients.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is diagnosed by a doctor who initially takes a full complete medical history of a patient followed by a physical examination. Tests may then be conducted, such as a barium X-ray done in a radiology lab. An X-ray of the patient’s stomach and esophagus will be taken. Another test is the esophagoscopy where the esophagus is examined utilizing an endoscopic unit. A camera is placed inside the mouth and throat so that the doctor can view the esophagus. Doctors will also get a tiny amount of tissue to be examined so as to know more about the condition. Other tests include monitoring the alkaline level or acidity in the esophagus. An EKG may also be performed to check the heart’s condition because heart disease usually mimics GERD.

To treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, the doctor will check if the patient is suffering from hiatal hernia or gallstones. If this is the case, he will repair the hernia or remove the gallstones through surgery. The common treatment is altering or blocking the production of acid in the stomach for two months through prescription or over-the-counter medicines. The doctor may also recommend modifications in the patient’s diet and lifestyle.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease afflicts many people, but it is a condition that can be cured with proper diagnosis and the right medical treatment.

List of 7 Acid Reflux Foods to Avoid

1. Chocolate – Chocolate has 2 of the known risk factors for acid reflux, caffeine and high fat. It also has other stimulants that increase the risk making it one of the most important acid reflux foods to avoid. While dark chocolate is less risk than normal milk chocolate, there is still a risk when eating it.
2. Soda – Soda and other carbonated beverages contains carbonation that bubbles up in the stomach. The increased pressure causes the stomach acid to rise, which leads to a higher risk of acid reflux. Almost all sodas are also acidic which increases the risk, and most are caffeinated.
3. Fried Food – Fried foods are one the most recognized causes of acid reflux. The high fat content in fried foods are what land them on the increased risk list.
4. Alcohol – Alcohol is said to relax the bottom of valve of the esophagus which leads to a high risk of acid reflux. Some alcohol drinks have carbonated beverages mixed in which increases their risk factor.
5. High Fat Dairy Products – The high fat content of cheeses and butters make them one of the acid reflux foods to avoid. All foods with high fat content increase the risk of acid reflux, and cheeses and butters are no different.
6. High Fat Meats – The same with the cheeses and butters, high fat meats have the high fat content that make them a high risk. They also stay longer in the stomach and increase the pressure in your stomach which make them one of the acid reflux foods to avoid.
7. Foods with Caffeine – This was already discussed with chocolate, but any food that contains caffeine, or any drink that contains caffeine will increase your risk of getting acid reflux.

Now that you have this quick list of acid reflux foods to avoid, you can steer clear of these foods and keep your acid reflux at bay.

These are common causes of acid reflux disease:

• Being overweight or obese
• Eating large meals or lying down right after a meal
• Eating a heavy meal and lying on your back or bending over at the waist
• Being pregnant
• Snacking close to bedtime
• Smoking
• Taking aspirin, ibuprofen, certain muscle relaxers, or blood pressure medications
• Drinking certain beverages, such as alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, or tea
• Eating certain foods, such as citrus, tomato, chocolate, mint, garlic, onions, or spicy or fatty foods

Foods that Cause Acid Reflux

Like mentioned above, another one of the causes of acid reflux can be the food you eat. Here are some foods that can cause acid reflux:

• Spicy foods, such as those containing chili or curry
• Alcohol
• Carbonated beverages
• Coffee or tea (regular or decaffeinated)
• Chocolate
• Fatty or fried foods
• Citrus fruits, such as oranges or lemons
• Foods containing tomato, such as spaghetti sauce, salsa, or pizza
• Garlic and onions
• Mint

There are many causes of acid reflux.

• Heartburn: This is a burning sensation that a person can feel rising up the chest. It sometimes can be mistaken for a heart attack. Heartburn can be a very uncomfortable feeling, and although it is felt within the chest, it is not connected to any heart problem, but to stomach acids.
• Regurgitation: This simply means that the undigested food is getting returned to the mouth. It leaves an acidic and bitter taste in the mouth. This happens when the food does not get digested properly inside the stomach.
• Dysphagia: This is when your esophagus starts to narrow. In this condition, the person has difficulty swallowing food. You feel choked while eating food, like the food is stuck in your throat.

Other, less common symptoms of acid reflux disease include:

• Bloating
• Bloody or black stools or bloody vomiting
• Burping
• Hiccups that don’t let up
• Nausea
• Weight loss for no known reason
• Wheezing, dry cough, hoarseness, or chronic sore throat