There is no denying the huge impact food plays in our daily lives. This is where we get our energies from which allows us to complete our activities with no trouble. Aside from the primary source of energy, the vast variety of dishes that are available makes them enjoyable. As a result, people often look forward to the next meal that they will be eating. This however, can be problematic to people who are suffering from heartburn. Let us how heartburn can affect our day to day lives.
Heartburn is often identified as a burning sensation in the throat from acid reflux that comes with other inconvenience. This includes having troubles swallowing, the occurrence of chronic cough, persistent sore throat, stomach pain in the upper abdomen as well as regurgitation of foods or liquids with a taste of acid in the throat. There have also been incidents of persistent hoarseness or laryngitis that has been reported by some patients adding more cause for concern to many.
Why Heartburn Occurs
Heartburn does not happen naturally and occurs with a reason. It is however, not in any shape or form related to the heart. Heartburn often triggers when there is a problem with the muscular valve called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The function of the LES is to keep the stomach acid right where it should be. Complications occur when the LES opens too often or doesn’t close tightly enough. This in turn can result to the stomach acid to seep into the esophagus which causes the burning sensation people are familiar with.
Those who tend to overeat are prone in developing heartburn symptoms due to the fact that too much food gets put in your stomach. Another reason for heartburn to trigger is when there is too much pressure on your stomach. Cases such as obesity, pregnancy, or constipation are common factors that lead to putting too much strain on one’s stomach.
What to Eat When You Have Heartburn
As mentioned earlier, food plays a predominant role in triggering heartburn. For that matter, it is important to be aware of what to eat when you have heartburn. Take note of the certain foods that can relax your LES or increase stomach acid and make the necessary changes to remove them from your diet. This includes tomatoes, citrus fruits, garlic and onions, chocolate, coffee or other caffeinated products, alcohol as well as peppermint. Avoiding these types of foods will definitely go a long way in helping you effectively manage your heartburn condition.
Heartburn and its effects can differ from person to person. This means that some patients can experience heartburn attacks that last for a few minutes. On the other hand, there are other patients that have these attacks last for several hours. The latter might be an indication that one is suffering from severe heartburn. Severe heartburn should not be taken lightly or for granted as this can ruin a person’s overall appetite. Get in touch with your doctors and have your heartburn condition assessed today!
