Heartburn

Overview of Heartburn

Heartburn Meaning in Urdu

ہارٹ برن کو سینے کی جلن کہا جاتا ہے۔ جب معدے میں ضرورت سے زیادہ ایسڈ بننا شروع ہو جاتا ہے تو وہ خوراک کی نالی میں وآپس آ جاتا ہے جس سے سینے میں جلن کا احساس ہوتا ہے۔ سینے میں جلن کا احساس کچھ منٹوں سے لے کر چند گھںٹوں تک ہو سکتا ہے۔ اس کے علاوہ اس مرض کی وجہ سے سینے میں درد، گلے میں جلن، منہ کے ذائقے میں تبدیلی، اور کھانا نگلنے میں مشکلات کا سامنا کرنا پڑ سکتا ہے۔ سینے کی جلن کو کم کرنے کے لیے ایسی غذائیں استعمال کرنے کا مشورہ دیا جاتا ہے جو معدے میں ایسڈ کو کم کرتی ہیں۔

Heartburn is the burning sensation in the chest, behind your breastbone. The occasional heartburn is common and can go away on its own. People can manage the burning sensation in the chest with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medicines.

A serious condition may cause more frequent heartburn that needs medical help immediately.

Signs and Symptoms of Heartburn

People may experience the following signs and symptoms:

  • Acidic taste in the mouth
  • A burning sensation in the chest right after having a meal or when lying down at night
  • Pain gets worsens when bending over or lying down
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Hoarseness

Types of Heartburn

Causes of Heartburn

The cause of the heart includes the backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus. It is a tube that carries food from your mouth into your stomach. The esophagus connects to the stomach at a juncture that is called the lower esophageal sphincter. It closes when food leaves the esophagus and enters the stomach. The failure of the lower esophageal sphincter causes heartburn.

Other conditions may also cause heartburn, such as:

Happniness

Risk Factors of Heartburn

The following factors can put you at high risk of heartburn, such as:

  • Citrus products
  • Peppermint
  • Chocolate
  • Large or fatty meals
  • Spicy foods
  • Onions
  • Tomato products, like ketchup

Complications of Heartburn

More frequent heartburn is also known as Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This condition may damage your esophagus seriously which can result in Barrett’s esophagus. Your doctor may prescribe some medicine or surgery may be performed in rare cases.

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Prevention

Happniness

Diagnosis

Heartburn may be a sign of a health condition, like GERD. Your doctor may recommend the following tests:

Endoscopy: The endoscopy test checks the esophagus abnormalities or tissue required for biopsy.
Esophageal motility testing: It helps to measure the pressure and movement in the esophagus.
X-ray: It allows for identifying the shape and condition of the stomach and esophagus.
Ambulatory acid probe tests: It detects the duration of stomach acid back up into the esophagus. A monitor is placed into the esophagus that connects to a system that you wear over a shoulder.

Treatment of Heartburn | When to Consult a Doctor

Your doctor may suggest some over-the-counter medicines to treat heartburn. These OTC medicines may include:

Antacids help neutralize stomach acid. It controls the symptoms of heartburn quickly.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): They reduce the acid in your stomach and also heal the damaged tissues.

Histamine-2 (H2) blockers: They reduce the acid amount that a stomach produces.

OTC may give heartburn quick relief but may also leave side effects, such as nausea, constipation, diarrhea, upset stomach, etc.

If these OTC medicines do not work to reduce the symptoms, your doctor may prescribe some other medication with a strong formula.

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

If it is normal heartburn, some healthy lifestyle choices may work:

Wear Loose Clothing: Tight cloth may put more pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter which can increase the risk of stomach acid flow back.

Avoid Certain Foods: You should write down the foods that often cause heartburn. Make sure that you avoid those foods.

Avoid Late Meal: Having late meals lead to stomach acid flow back.

Do not Lie Down: Lying down immediately after having a meal may lead to stomach acid backflow.

Quit Smoking: Smoking reduces the ability of the lower esophageal sphincter to function.

Maintain A Healthy Weight: Excess fat puts pressure on the abdomen and causes the stomach back into the esophagus.

Elevate the Head of Bed: Elevating the bed head can reduce the risk of heartburn.

Some healthy lifestyle choices are effective for stomach health. Avoid having a meal just before going to bed as it can cause digestion problems and lead to heartburn.

In case of any concerning signs and symptoms, you need to consult a gastroenterologist