Healthy Living examines heartburns
Heartburns are caused by many factors and can be handled easily. If the condition is prolonged, however, you are advised to get medical attention. Healthy Living tackles this issue.
Marleni Cuellar, Reporting
Heartburn affects many people everyday. But did you know that this painful burning in the chest can actually be harmful to your body? Gastroenterologist, Dr. Irvin Gabourel says that you are not completely helpless when it comes to managing heartburn.
Dr. Irvin Gabourel, Gastroenterologist
“Heartburn, this has nothing to do with the heart its simple saying that you have reflux, a condition whereby the acid in your stomach tend to go up the esophagus, which is the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach and it creates a burning sensation. Reflux is in fact one of the most common symptoms that people would come to a doctor, the most common gastrointestinal symptom that patients would seek medical attention for. Normally you have certain secretions being produced by the stomach and that is done so as to aid in the first step of digestion. So food churns with the liquids that the stomach forms and then those all churn together with the natural movement of the stomach they should be pushed out in four to six hours. But that doesn’t occur because the stomach is not working properly because this muscle that should be tightly shut is open then that liquid will tend to back flow if you will into the esophagus.”
The failure of this muscle to properly separate the stomach acids and the esophagus may be the result of several factors. It may be an abnormal muscle that causes reflux but it could also be a result of obesity or pregnancy which exerts pressure on the stomach, overeating, certain foods and medications. Stress, alcohol and tobacco may also be the culprits behind heartburn. The remedies for the common heartburn are simple enough but prolonged heartburn warrants a check with your doctor.
Dr. Irvin Gabourel
“Go to your kitchen, drink some water and then mix a little glass with arm and hammer soda. That’s the quickest option that you have at home available. If that happens the following night I would advise you to take Maalox, Tums. After you have heartburn for a prolonged period of time and it initially was something that use to wake you up once a night and now its waking you up every night then that’s a red flag that you should go to the doctor to seek medical help. If that burning sensation is now turning into difficulty swallowing initially to solids then to liquids then there is a big red flag to go up. And of course if along with that come other symptoms like losing weight terrible chest pains then you need to go to the doctor.”
Not everybody that has heartburn needs to jump up and go see a doctor. Pay attention to the regularity of your heartburn before getting alarmed.
Dr. Irvin Gabourel
“The patients that I’m more scared of are the patients who have no symptoms. And they come with manifestations that are considered extra esophogerial manifestations. Patients who have been to the E.N.T. for a long time complaining of laryngitis chronic hoarseness and even to the dentist who are suffering form dental erosion and they don’t have cause for it. The dentist tells them you’re normal. Patients who keep having asthma attacks despite the fact that they are getting proper treatment for the asthma and they are not responding. These patients have symptoms of reflux and they are not your type symptoms of reflux and they are not your typical symptoms they are what you call A typical reflux.”
These symptoms of A typical reflux can be cause for more concern. The stomach acid can severely affect vocal cords and the esophagus and even lead to throat cancer. And for the rest, heartburn relief can come about from practical lifestyle changes. Avoid heartburn triggers, don’t overeat, or sleep on a full stomach, eat slowly, shed some pounds if you’re overweight, stop smoking and avoid alcohol.
