Heart Disease or Heartburn ? .... how to tell the difference

The symptoms of heartburn tend to get worse after eating a big meal and especially if the meal contained fatty or fried foods. With heartburn often comes a bloated feeling or gas in the abdominal area and burping. Some people experience the taste of acid in their mouth when they have heartburn. The reason for this is that heartburn is a pain that is caused when acidic fluid that should remain in the stomach escapes into the esophagus (the eating or swallowing tube of the human body). Heartburn can also worsen after alcohol or caffeine is taken in as well as tobacco.

The technical name for heartburn is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

The pain and discomfort of heartburn can range from mild to severe and some people mistakenly believe that they are having a heart attack when they are actually experiencing heartburn.

Statistics

Heartburn is very common, especially among elderly people and pregnant women. More than an estimated 60 million adults in the United States find themselves plagued by the uncomfortable symptoms of heartburn at least once every month and an estimated 25 million Americans, both males and females, suffer daily heartburn discomfort.

It is believed that in 94 % of cases, heartburn can be linked to eating certain foods.

What causes heartburn ?

When food or drink is taken in there is a muscle at the bottom of the esophagus - it is known as the 'lower esophageal sphincter' or abbreviated to 'LES'. This muscle closes behind the intake of food so that the contents of the stomach remain where they should be.

Heartburn occurs as a result of either:

v The esophagus is not able to adequately defend itself against the acid rising up from the stomach

v The food eaten has created an excess of acid in the stomach so the excess is sent back up from where it came from

and

v The food is not able to pass through the esophagus quickly enough and consequently is forced back up due to the acid pushing up from the stomach.

Acid coming up from the stomach area is usually referred to as “reflux.”

In some cases the acid rises and reaches the back portion of the mouth and when this happens it is called “acid indigestion.” When acid from the stomach (or acid reflux) comes in contact with the esophageal lining, there will be a burning feeling and discomfort in the chest, sometimes all the way up to the throat.

In order to be diagnosed by a doctor with GERD you must suffer from heartburn on a regular basis. Occasional heartburn due to eating fatty or fried foods or drinking alcohol is not necessarily GERD.

As a general guideline, if you find yourself suffering regularly from the discomfort of heartburn more than twice throughout a week then a doctor will probably diagnose that you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

More articles to read.....

What is Heart Disease ?
Coronary Heart Disease - why you shouldn't ignore it!
Coronary Heart Disease Facts
Heart Disease Treatment
What is a Coronary Angiogram ?
Heart Disease - women are more likely than men to die as a result of a heart attack
ACE Inhibitors and possible side effects
What is Valvular Heart Disease ?
A Healthy Diet for Heart Disease
Optimal diets for prevention of Coronary Heart Disease
Heart Disease - a vegetarian diet may benefit your heart
Chocolate and Heart Disease - eating chocolate is good for your heart!
High Cholesterol and Heart Disease
Angina Pectoris
Ischemic Heart Disease - also known as Ischaemic Heart Disease
Heart Medications
Latest Heart Disease News
Article List
Resource Directory
Book Reviews 

 © 2008 - whatisheartdisease.us - heart disease or heartburn