Contrary to popular belief, heartburn and stomach acid are not the same thing. According to the Spanish Digestive System Foundation (FEAD), three out of ten Spaniards suffer from heartburn every week. Knowing how to alleviate this condition can be very useful for these individuals.
Heartburn is equivalent to acid reflux. It is a burning sensation that starts in the upper abdomen (or âstomachâ) and travels up to the esophagus, sometimes reaching the throat. The specialist in digestive system at the Puerta del Mar University Hospital in Cadiz, Dr. Antonio M. Moreno GarcĂa, explains that typical symptoms of heartburn include heartburn (a burning sensation that rises from the stomach to the throat) and acid regurgitation. However, there are other symptoms that may not initially seem related to this problem, known as âextraesophageal symptoms,â such as chronic cough, laryngitis, asthma attacks, chest pain, and even dental erosions.
On the other hand, acidity typically refers to indigestion, characterized by a feeling of bloating and burning discomfort in the upper abdomen without the sensation rising to the esophagus.
In everyday life, both terms are used to refer to gastroesophageal reflux, which is what we will focus on. To understand what causes it, letâs briefly explain the physiology of the esophagus and stomach in this context. When we swallow food, it passes through the esophagus, where peristaltic contractions and gravity help push it towards the junction of the esophagus and stomach. At this point, there is a sphincter or valve â the âlower esophageal sphincterâ â which is closed most of the time. It relaxes when food bolus arrives, allowing it to pass into the stomach.
Reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter does not close properly, resulting in different circumstances:
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When there are frequent transient relaxations of the sphincter unrelated to food intake. In other words, the sphincter spontaneously opens without the presence of food. This can be aggravated by the consumption of drugs and foods such as fats, coffee, alcohol, carbonated beverages, spices, chocolate, among others, which have muscle-relaxant properties.
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When the sphincter is hypotonic (having low closing pressure), remaining open all the time. This is often associated with the presence of a hiatal hernia, in which the junction between the esophagus and stomach is above the opening through which the esophagus passes through the diaphragm to reach the abdominal cavity. Consuming foods as listed in the previous paragraph will further reduce the pressure in a low-pressure muscle.
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When there is very high intra-abdominal pressure, which exceeds the force exerted by the sphincter. This occurs, among other circumstances, in pregnancies, with the use of tight clothing in the abdominal area, and in obese people, where the abdominal wall puts a lot of pressure on the stomach. There are also flatulent foods that increase the pressure inside the stomach, such as spices, garlic, onions, among others.
Tips
To alleviate the symptoms, Dr. Moreno GarcĂa suggests primarily caring for our diet and eating habits, as well as following these 5 tips:
- Have five meals a day, taking sufficient time for each meal (about 20 minutes) and chewing the food well.
- Avoid: tobacco, alcohol, fatty foods, coffee, chocolate, highly-spiced foods, and citruses such as lemons and oranges, among others.
- Avoid wearing tight clothing.
- Do not lie down immediately after eating. It is recommended to stay upright for about two hours after a meal.
- Elevate the head of the bed slightly.
âIf these precautions do not improve the symptoms after about two weeks, or if there is weight loss, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), it is advisable to consult a digestive specialist to evaluate the situation. They will recommend further tests or initiate pharmacological treatment. In this case, medications that facilitate stomach emptying (prokinetics) and/or proton pump inhibitors (such as omeprazole and its derivatives), which reduce acid production, may be prescribed,â says Dr. Moreno GarcĂa.
Moreover, the FEAD spokesperson acknowledges that there are substances that have traditionally been used to counteract these problems, including ripe bananas (which are highly alkaline and balance stomach acid levels), kakis (which have the same characteristics as bananas), chamomile infusion (which, like the previous options, is alkaline and helps with stomach emptying), and fresh ginger or ginger infusion (which has a similar mechanism of action as chamomile infusion).
Remember to consult your healthcare professional for personalized advice and treatment.
