Heartburn 101

Heartburn—or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), if it occurs regularly—is a common digestive disorder. And for many (as many as 15 million Americans), the symptoms of a burning sensation just under the breastbone, a sour taste in the mouth, and an overall bloated feeling, are all too familiar. If you’re living with heartburn, there are many treatment options available as well as preventative steps you can take to help avoid it altogether. Let’s learn a little bit more about the condition.

Making a Diagnosis

Usually, a doctor can diagnose heartburn from your medical history, but he or she may want to check for ulcers or other problems through x-rays of your esophagus, stomach, and upper intestine. You may also undergo an endoscopy, in which a thin flexible tube with a tiny camera is inserted into your mouth and down into your stomach so that your insides can be viewed. This helps give your doctor a better idea of what’s going on inside your body.

Treating the Condition

Over-the-counter antacids are widely used to relieve heartburn symptoms, but their effects are sometimes short-lived and can cause diarrhea or constipation, particularly if you consume a large amount. Another group of over-the-counter medications, Histamine 2-Receptor Antagonists, include medications such as Pepcid or Zantac. While these medications have longer-lasting effects than antacids, overuse of them can sometimes lessen their effectiveness.

Many heartburn sufferers find success with proton pump inhibitors, including Prilosec, which is available over-the-counter or by prescription. While these drugs don't work as quickly as other over-the-counter options, they’re usually the most successful in relieving acid reflux symptoms

Prevention is Key

Experts agree that being overweight increases your odds of suffering from heartburn by more than 50 percent. Excess body fat, particularly around the stomach, increases pressure in your abdomen, bringing on those dreaded heartburn symptoms.

Overeating might also increase that pressure. In addition, certain spices and acidic food and drinks may aggravate your condition as well.

Risks and Complications

It’s easy to regard heartburn as an uncomfortable inconvenience. Although occasional heartburn is not a worry, frequent heartburn can lead to serious complications if left untreated.

GERD is also an established risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma, a type of esophageal cancer. If both obesity and GERD are present, the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma increases even more than with GERD alone.

If the cause of your heartburn is unhealthy eating habits or excess weight, your health is probably suffering in other ways, too. Instead of trying to make unhealthy eating tolerable, it may be time to develop better eating habits and shape up to a healthy weight. Talk to your doctor about key ways to get started.