Watch the video
X Watch the video on youtubeGenerality
Heartburn, also called heartburn or gastric acidity, is a common symptom of different problems. This condition is so frequent that it is really difficult to find people who have never suffered from the classic symptoms associated with stomach acid.
Given that the increase in acidity can be linked to several predisposing factors, we will try to make a quick overview, listing the main related diseases and the symptoms that identify them.
Causes and Symptoms
To learn more: Heartburn - Causes and Symptoms
- When stomach acid is an occasional problem, the patient does not find it difficult to identify the causes of origin: meals that are too abundant, foods that are difficult to digest, stress, drugs or a few too many glasses, are in fact a frequent cause of gastric burning. In these cases, and in all those where acidity arises in the immediate vicinity of a meal, it is likely that this is an episode of acute gastritis . This term identifies a generic inflammatory process on the internal gastric wall, supported by the ingestion of alcohol, cigarette smoke, irritating foods or some drugs.
- If acidity and burning occur within the first 30 minutes after a meal and are accompanied by pain, it could be a gastric ulcer .
- When the symptom becomes chronic, it comes away from meals, at night and is attenuated by the ingestion of food, it could be duodenal ulcer .
- If the burning sensation is not limited to the gastric area but radiates upwards, even to the point of affecting the jaws, in all probability the disorder is due to gastroesophageal reflux disease . The problem is caused by the ascent of the gastric contents into the esophagus, due to the incontinence of a muscular valve that closes the mouth of the stomach, releasing itself only to allow food to pass through, belching and vomiting. A further indication that points towards the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux is the onset of acidity and burning in conjunction with postural changes (bending over to tie shoes or pick up an object, lie down on the bed and similar movements).
- Sometimes the gastroesophageal reflux is caused by the hiatal hernia, a pathological condition in which a more or less extended portion of the stomach passes from the abdominal cavity to the thoracic cavity, crossing the diaphragm at the hole where the esophagus passes (esophageal hiatus).
- Finally, when it comes to stomach acidity, it is a good rule not to underestimate the importance of emotional factors, as heartburn and regurgitation frequently occur in anxious subjects or with character disorders.
Treatment
All these conditions responsible for heartburn are aggravated by gastric acidity which, when excessive, can overcome the layer of mucus that protects the stomach wall, irritating the mucous membrane to cause real wounds. By the same principle, irritation of the esophageal mucosa in response to reflux is directly proportional to the acidity of the gastric contents.
drugs
The pharmacological therapy of heartburn is therefore focused on the use of antacid, prokinetic (to accelerate gastric emptying and reflux) and antisecretive (to decrease gastric secretion) medicines .
For further information: Medicines for the treatment of acidity and burning of the stomach »
"Do it yourself" remedies
Despite the effectiveness of these drugs, it is common to refer to "friend's advice" and, more generally, to self-medication when it comes to stomach acidity. The best-known remedy is sodium bicarbonate, which quickly nourishes acidity, but which also tends to lose its positive effect, to the point of exacerbating the symptoms of the disorder. A similar argument can be made for milk.
Furthermore, sodium bicarbonate is contraindicated in pregnancy, renal failure and hypertension, as it increases the amount of sodium absorbed.
In the presence of dyspepsia the phytotherapeutic prescriptions are various and include, just to mention a few examples, mucilage, aloe, mint, gentian major, artichoke, dandelion, wormwood, blessed thistle, cumin, fennel and rhubarb.
Importance of medical examination
Regardless of the effectiveness of these "do it yourself" remedies, it is a good rule to consult your doctor before taking any action. The antacid drugs are in fact intended as emergency remedies, useful for treating the pain linked to stomach acid. When the burning persists, medical consultation is a must, as it allows the causes to be identified and the most appropriate therapy to be promptly undertaken.
Even if an accurate amnestetic investigation can direct the doctor towards a precise diagnosis, the symptoms related to heartburn do not constitute a certain diagnostic criterion, since, as we have seen, they can be common to different diseases that affect the digestive system. Often, to exclude the presence of specific pathologies, diagnostic investigations are required such as the radiography of the first digestive tract, pHmetry and esophageal manometry.
The following general recommendations may be useful while awaiting the report:
- First of all, the diet must be characterized by sobriety. Substantial but frequent meals, based on easily digestible foods and on the moderation of irritants, help to keep heartburn and acidity under control. Instead, the consumption of fruit juices (pH 3-5), coffee, Coca-Cola (pH 2.3) and all substances that stimulate gastric secretion will be limited.
- Also the abolition of smoking, together with the respect of the right chewing time, helps to reduce the burning intensity. For further advice see: diet and gastroesophageal reflux.
To learn more: Stomach Burning Remedies »
