Sometimes after having a spicy meal, you feel a burning sensation in the chest and irritability in the throat that cause a severe pain in stomach. Many people thinks it’s actually due to stomach problem and some think that it’s due to some food poisoning. Let’s discuss what actually cause the burning sensation.

Heart burn

Burning sensation in the chest region just behind the breastbone is called heart burns.

The condition often get worst after having spicy meal,  lying down after having a meal and in  bending posture.

Sometime heartburns are common and people can manage it according to their life style or medication.

If there is daily heartburn that shows  the serious problem which requires medical care.

Symptoms:

Symptoms show in heartburn that is noticeable are

• Burning feeling in chest after spicy meal or at night.
• Condition worsen when lying or bending.
• A bitter or acidic taste in mouth.
• Tooth erosion.
• Pain in throat.
• Chronic cough.
• Dry mouth.

When to show to doctor

  If someone has chest pain with severe burning sensation in stomach or irritability in throat take a quick concern to the doctor. If you are facing following symptoms repeatedly or more than in a week, talk to the doctor.

Take a concern to your health care if you have

• Heartburn occur twice in a week.
• You have difficult swallowing.
• You have continue diarrhea or constipation .
• You may loose weight due to poor appetite.

Normal structure of Gastrointestinal tract:

   To know the reason of heart burns we should know about the normal structure of Gastrointestinal tract when  take food it enter in your mouth after chewing it foam a ball shape called bolus it then enter to a flapped muscular tube know as esophagus it is a Connection between the mouth and the stomach then food enter into a stomach it’s a muscular food for storage and breakdown of food because it has acid that help in digestion or breakdown of food than the food enter the small and large intestine which is a prolonged tube help in digestion and absorption of food. After that the remaining waste products is left and excrete out the body by rectum.

What is the causes of heart burns?:

Acid burn occur when the acid of stomach enter in the esophagus.

When food is swallow a muscular band in the lower region of esophagus called sphincter is relax and allow the food to enter in stomach then it tighten again. Usually the sphincter is closed.

If the lower esophagus sphincter isn’t close properly the acid of the stomach flow back to the esophagus and causing burning sensation. The condition get worse when lying down. 

Risk factor

Certain foods and drinks can trigger heartburn in some people, including:

Spicy foods.

Onions.

Citrus products.

Tomato products, such as ketchup.

Fatty or fried foods.

Peppermint.

Chocolate.

Alcohol, carbonated beverages, coffee or other caffeinated beverages.

Large or fatty meals.

Being overweight or pregnant also can increase your risk of experiencing heartburn.

Meals high in fats and oils (animal or vegetable) often lead to heartburn, as do certain medications. Stress and lack of sleep can raise how much acid your stomach makes and can cause heartburn.

Complications:

Heart burns that occurs again and again in a week are considered as Gastro esophageal reflex disorder (GERD). GERD can cause serious damage to your esophagus. The esophagus cannot make the food soften, also create ulcers in esophagus wall which cause severe pain while eating and any injury to the esophagus wall cause severe bleeding.

How to diagnose heart burns?

To determine the heartburn getting convert into GERD, health care suggest you

X Ray

To identify the shape and condition of stomach and esophagus.

Endoscopy

To check esophagus irregularities by a tiny camera inserting into esophagus by mouth.

 Esophagus motility test

To check the normal movement and pressure of esophagus.

How heart burn treat:

Usually, you can treat heartburn with over-the-counter medicines, including:

Antacids: These medications lessen the acid in your stomach to ease heartburn pain. They can also sometimes help with stomach pains, indigestion, and gas.

Acid blockers and proton pump inhibitors: These drugs lessen the amount of acid your stomach makes. They can also calm symptoms of acid indigestion.

If OTC medicines don’t work for you, your doctor may give you a prescription version of these types of medicines.

Life style and more remedies:

Life style changes overcome the heart burns

• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Avoid tight fitting clothes.
• Avoid spicy food.
• Avoid lying down after meal.
• Elevate head to your bed.
• Avoid large meal.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol.
• Use of yogurt and milk.
• Preparing for your appointment.

Prevention:

Follow these tips to help prevent heartburn:

Keep a healthy weight.

Avoid foods and beverages that make symptoms worse.

Wear clothes that are loose around the waist.

Eat smaller meals, and try not to overeat.

Don’t smoke.

Avoid constipation.

Get enough sleep and minimize stress.

Wait 3 hours after eating before you lie down.

Elevate the head of your bed 6 to 8 inches.

Preparing for your appointment:

When you get appointment to health care you have to

• Not eating food on the day of appointments.
• Write your symptoms what you feel.
• Make a list of medication you take for other disease
• Write your question to ask to your doctor.

Question to ask health care

The question should ask to health care are

• What is mostly cause of my symptoms.
• What kind of test need to do.
• Diet plan.
• How can I managed it.