Heartburn Information: The Real Truth About Heartburn

In case you feel a burning sensation in the chest along with some pain and sour taste in the mouth then you might be suffering from heartburn. The most important of all heartburn information is that the symptoms are so similar between heartburn and cardiac arrest that people often mistakenly assume they are having the latter. Heartburn has nothing to do with cardiac arrest and neither is it indicative of any cardiac problem. It is a purely digestive malfunction that creates identical symptoms. Given below is more heartburn information.

There are several causes of heartburn and there are many remedies as well. Over the counter, herbal, home, and prescription remedies are available for heartburn relief. The nature of the remedy depends on the cause of heartburn. For example, in case heartburn results from overeating then it is best to take an antacid or go for a long walk that will ease digestion. Avoiding lying down with a full stomach is also highly advisable in heartburn cases.

Here are some of the symptoms that can help you recognize heartburn and differentiate it from a cardiac arrest.

• Chest pains • Excessive burping with bitter or sour taste • Swallowing difficulty • Dry cough • Sore throat

When we swallow, whether it is food or only saliva, the contents go from the mouth to the throat and then the esophagus. The esophagus connects to the stomach and helps move the food down. At connecting point of the esophagus and the stomach is a muscular valve that opens for a few seconds for the food to enter the stomach and closes immediately. The purpose of this valve is to prevent he digestive acid in the stomach from traveling up the esophagus. In case this valve, known as LES or Lower Esophageal Sphincter, does not close properly due to muscle weakness or is pushed aside due to pressure in the stomach from over eating or acidity, the acid seeps into the esophagus and there is produces the burning sensation and pain.

There is no cure for heartburn and the best thing to do is to maintain a lifestyle and diet that does not trigger it. Eating sugary foods, fat rich foods, overeating are all causes of heartburn. Anything that puts pressure on the stomach or causes excess acid production is potentially a cause of heartburn. Additional habits like smoking and alcohol consumption make the situation worse.

Exercise and weight control help in keeping heartburn in check

Heart Burn