Heartburn is a painful burning sensation in the chest that affects millions of Americans every day.  When stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, it can cause discomfort and pain and even damage to the esophageal walls.  Some episodes of heartburn are brought on by a spicy meal, but other conditions can affect the lower esophageal sphincter, which is supposed to keep stomach acids from entering the esophagus, weakening it and allowing acid to reflux into the esophagus.  People who suffer from heartburn over extended periods should probably seek the advice of a doctor to make sure the condition isn’t serious or doesn’t develop into something serious.

Certain foods can stimulate the stomach to increase its production of acids, which can lead to heartburn.  Alcohol and caffeine have both been shown to affect stomach acid.  Certain over-the-counter drugs are also known to cause an increase in stomach acids, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or Naproxen (found in Aleve).  Foods that have higher levels of acid, such as citrus or even tomatoes or chocolate, can influence the levels of acid in the stomach.

The lower esophageal sphincter should keep increased acid from getting into the esophagus and causing heartburn, but high-fat-content foods have been known to affect it, relaxing the barrier and increasing the likelihood of heartburn.  Smoking can also affect this sphincter.  If these things are coupled with acid-producing foods or substances, the heartburn can become severe.

Both pregnancy and obesity can increase the pressure within the abdomen, which can also affect the functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter.  Weight loss can help obese and overweight people reduce heartburn, but pregnant women might have to seek other kinds of treatment, such as changes in diet, to help relieve symptoms.

If you have heartburn once in a while, it might not be a serious problem, but if heartburn occurs daily or gets worse and worse, it might indicate an underlying problem.  In fact, long-term heartburn can cause serious damage to the esophagus.  If you want advice or a consultation about your heartburn, you can use IPALC’s doctor search at www.ipalc.org/find or email our staff at info@ipalc.org.