Heartburn Information – Why It Happens
March 4th, 2010 | 
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Heartburn information is readily available from your physician. Heartburn information is readily available in books and on the Internet. Heartburn information, right and wrong, is available from family and friends.
Heartburn information tells why it happens, if it is accurate heartburn information. It explains the root cause of heartburn, and helps you understand that the burning pain is only a symptom of heartburn, not the cause. Heartburn information tells you how to treat not only the symptoms, but also the cause.
When heartburn information says why it happens, it should go on to answer this question: Will losing several pounds of weight from my waistline lower heartburn risks?
That is not the only question it should answer, but it is an important one, especially in our modern society. Daily warnings are being sounded about the growing problem of obesity, and when heartburn information says why it happens, it should include the matter of excess body fat.
Heartburn Information – Root Cause
A muscular problem is at the root of all heartburn. The muscle involved is, in shorthand, the LES. The LES (lower esophageal sphincter) is a ring of muscular tissue between the stomach and the esophagus. A healthy, strong, LES relaxes to allow swallowed food to enter the stomach. It then squeezes tight to keep that food and stomach acids where they belong.
The LES can be compared to fingers pinching shut the connection between a straw and a balloon full of water. If the fingers relax, water can slosh back up into the straw. If the LES relaxes at the wrong time, acid can slosh (reflux) back into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation.
Heartburn and Obesity
The link between heartburn and obesity has long been established, but more recent reSearch is beginning to explain that link.
Pressure within the stomach can force open the LES in much the same way you could squeeze that full balloon, and force back the fingers holding its top. The more pressure on the balloon, the more likelihood that water will be forced out of the balloon. The more pressure on the stomach, the greater the likelihood that the LES will open and acid will flow back into the esophagus.
A recent study measured pressure within the stomach to see how it was affected by excess body weight (obesity). The study found, essentially, that each increase of 10 to 20 pounds of weight was linked to a 10 percent increase in stomach pressure. In other words, a person who gained 10 to 20 pounds was putting about 10 percent more pressure on his or her stomach. This, in turn, increased the pressure on the LES ring of muscle.
In 2006, an analysis was made of 20 studies on this subject. Those studies were extensive, including more than 18,000 patients. The analysis, in the U.S., showed that being overweight increased by more than 50 percent a person’s odds of developing GERD – a serious disease resulting from chronic heartburn.
Obesity with heartburn more than doubled the odds of developing GERD.
When heartburn information tells why it happens, it must include this vital fact. Heartburn is greatly aggravated by excess body weight. i.e., obesity.
Lose Both Weight and Heartburn
In light of the studies mentioned, it is only common sense to conclude that many who lose weight will also lose heartburn. If the reverse of the above cited weight-gain-to-pressure ratio is true, then a loss of 10 to 20 pounds of weight would reduce pressure on the stomach by about 10 percent.
Heartburn relief for many can be as simple as reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. This is the treatment for many diseases, and it requires no medication, but somehow, we are reluctant to discipline ourselves to accomplish it.
CAUTION: The author is not a professional physician, and offers this information for educational purposes only. If you have heartburn regularly, please seek advice from your health care provider.
Anna Hart
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/heartburn-Information-why-it-happens-150989.html
Posted in Information
Where does heartburn happen?
I got really bad heartburn right in between my chest and right under it. My mom said it was heartburn and she is a nurse. And this kid doesn’t believe me that i had cause i should him where it was and he said no its not its right in the heart. am i right or wrong? do you have any information to support it.
Heartburn is actually acid reflux from your stomach. After eating certain foods, some people get a buildup of acid from the stomach that crawls up the esophagus some distance. Stomach acid is corrosive, so it feels like a slight burning somewhere between the heart and stomach, which is why they call it heartburn.
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I had heartburn when I was pregnant it was in the center of my chest. I hadn’t had it before so I thought it was my heart…take a few tums and you should be feeling better pretty quickly. It worked for me!
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the stomach, take an antacid.
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Heartburn is that burning sensation you experience under your breastbone after you’ve eaten something you liked that didn’t like you. Sometimes it’s mistaken for a heart attack. Or worse, a heart attack may be labeled as heartburn.
Heartburn is the result of esophageal reflux, which is the failure of the lower esophageal sphincter (the middle at the end of the esophagus). Normally this muscle relaxes to let food into the stomach, then immediately contracts to close off the esophagus from the stomach contents. But if the muscle weakens–a common result of pregnancy and, sometimes, obesity–acid and bile from the stomach can back up into the unprotected esophagus and irritate it, causing a burning sensation in the chest.
Many foods can trigger heartburn. Peppermint, spearmint, fatty foods and chocolate are among the most menacing. Citrus juice, tomato products, coffee (yes, even decaff!), tea, colas, and alcohol can also aggravate or initiate heartburn.
Certain drugs also have been indicted. Progesterone in oral contraceptives, nicotine, the tranquilizer Valium, antibiotics such as tetracycline, asthma medications such as aminophyulline, and certain heart medicates are just a few examples. The acidity in Vitamin C tablets can also cause the problem.
Heartburn can also be disease related. The major symptom of a gastric ulcer is a burning, gnawing pain, usually felt throughout the upper part of the abdomen and sometimes in the lower chest. It usually occurs just after eating and can last from half an hour to three hours. The problem can come and go, with weeks of intermittent pain alternating with short pain-free periods. A duodenal ulcer produces a similar gnawing pain, usually confined to a small area in the upper middle abdomen but sometimes radiating throughout. The pain is often temporarily relieved by eating but then returns several hours later and lasts for a couple of hours. It’s often worst at night. In fact, nighttime aggravation is such a telltale sign that if you are being awakened by pain the wee small hours, take that as a clue that you may have a duodenal ulcer.
Responses:
The first reaction to an attack of heartburn is usually to take an antacid tablet such as Rolaids and lie down. But it’s the wrong reaction. The best way to get immediate relief from heartburn is to take a liquid antacid such as Mylanta and sit up. Sitting up helps reduce the pressure against the lower esophageal sphincter muscle. And while antacid tables may be more convenient, .liquid preparations have the edge because they coat more of the surface of the esophagus and stomach, providing more soothing relief.
Antacids contain at least one of four neutralizing ingredients–sodium bicarb, calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide–each of which can have its own set of side effects. For this reason, antacids should be used only for occasional bouts of heartburn. Long-term use should be monitored by a health care professional.
Antacids containing calcium carbonate such as Tums and Alka-Mints and Aluminum hydroxide such as AlternaGel can cause constipation. Sodium-containing products can load up your system with sodium. AND ANY ANTACID CAN INTERACT WITH CERTAIN ANTBIOTRICS< HEART MEDICARTIONS AND OTHER DRUGS.
To minimize attacks, avoid the foods or drugs that aggravate heartburn. This can be done by keeping a food diary and noting which food or foods bringing on an attack.
In addition, you should eat small, frequent meals instead of infrequent, heavy ones, eat your last meal of the day several hours before bedtime, rinse your esophagus frequently by swallowing slipping water throughout the day and avoid lying down after meals.
If heartburn is a frequent problem at night, raise the head of your bred four to six inches. This will elevate your upper body without folding you in half which can aggravate the condition. And avoid using extra pillows for the same reason.
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