It is known that heartburn is characterized by the appearance of a burning sensation in the chest and / or stomach due to acid reflux. Often people experience it after eating certain foods or drinks. Symptoms are:
- Difficulty in swallowing;
- Сough;
- Pain in the throat and upper abdomen;
- Vomiting with food or liquid with acid;
- Chronic hoarseness or laryngitis.
The appearance of heartburn indicates the presence of a cast of acidic stomach contents in the esophagus. Mucous esophagus and pharynx with frequent irritation with hydrochloric acid of gastric juice becomes easily vulnerable to the development of first precancerous diseases of these organs, and then adenocarcinomas. Those who are not sure about visiting doctor, we propose to answer the questions of the Richter scale independently:
- Are you often concerned about at least one of the following? Burning in the back of the throat. Bitter taste of acid in the mouth. Discomfort behind the sternum, which seems to move upward from the stomach to the oral cavity.
- Do you often experience the above feelings AFTER FOOD?
- Are you worried about heartburn two or more times a week?
- Taking non-prescription drugs only gives temporary relief?
- After the course of treatment prescribed by the doctor, the symptoms appeared again?
If there were more than two affirmative answers, it is necessary to conduct a rather unpleasant, but very informative examination, which is EFGDS (esophagogastroduodenoscopy), but more often just a gastroscopy.
Discomfort can become more palpable after intense fitness and overeating. Also, with this disease, belching is observed - this is the return of the contents of the stomach, which can be accompanied by a sharp sound and the smell of food eaten recently. Most often, the eructation occurs in the horizontal position and when the torso is tilted. Sign of heartburn may be even hiccups - irritation of the diaphragmatic nerve, which causes frequent contraction of the diaphragm. There may also appear chest pain, which gives to the interlateral area, the neck, the lower jaw and the left half of the thorax.
One of the complications of GERD, which significantly worsen the quality of life, can become vomiting of undigested food, eaten shortly before the onset of a vomiting attack. Such a symptom can permanently deprive a person of the pleasure of eating outside the house, about cafes and restaurants in this case it will be possible to forget for a long time. Also heartburn can lead to extra-esophageal manifestations, including diseases of the respiratory system, for example, bronchitis and pneumonia, damage to the cardiovascular system, diseases of the ENT organs and even the destruction of tooth enamel and caries.
Rules of life without heartburn:
- The last meal should be at least two or three hours before bedtime.
- After a meal, do not go to bed - it can provoke an attack.
- A pillow on which you sleep can be raised about 15-20 cm - this prevents reflux during sleep;
- Try to eat often and in small portions.
- Limit the use of fatty and spicy food, alcoholic beverages, coffee, citrus, products with menthol, ketchup. Less smoking.
- Watch your posture and do not slouch during eating - a flat back contributes to a more harmonious and proper digestion process.
- Be careful with taking painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen - sometimes taking these medications can trigger a reflux.
If you persistently try not to pay attention to heartburn and postpone visiting a doctor for later, harmless at first glance heartburn can lead to pain when swallowing and during passage of the food lump through the esophagus. It is also possible to develop dysphagia - a sense of difficulty or an obstacle in the passage of food.
Perturbed by inattention to heartburn can lead to bleeding from the veins of the esophagus, when the blood comes out of the mouth or appears in feces, causing it to turn black. Of course, such conditions require urgent medical care. And in order not to bring your health to such sad consequences, it is better to contact the doctors in advance. If heartburn disturbs you more than twice a week and every time after an attack, you promise yourself not to delay with a check-up and do self-medication - maybe it's time to turn to a gastroenterologist, take a course of treatment and after a meal feel a satisfying satiety, and not a burning sensation in breasts.