Heartburn
What is heartburn?
Heartburn happens when stomach acid makes its way up into your throat, causing a burning sensation right behind your breastbone.
How does it feel?
- Burning pain in your throat
- Pain that gets worse when you lie down or bending over
- Sour or bitter taste
- Difficulty swallowing
- Coughing
- A painful pressure behind your chest
What causes heartburn?
Heartburn happens when your stomach contents push back into your oesophagus (the tube that connects your mouth and stomach). Things that make it worse include:
- Eating too much
- Spicy food, chocolate, and fried foods
- Smoking, being overweight, and even pregnancy can trigger it too.
- Carbonated drinks and alcohol
- Lying down right after eating
Not every heartburn needs a doctor, but rush to the hospital if you have:
- Trouble swallowing or pain when swallowing
- Black, bloody, or weird-looking stool
- Shortness of breath or chest pain spreading to your back or shoulder
- Dizziness, light-headedness, or sweating with chest pain
Heartburn isn’t a heart attack, but the symptoms can feel similar. If you’re unsure, don’t take chances, get checked!
Who’s at risk?
- Pregnant women
- Smokers
- Overweight individuals
- People on certain medications (like aspirin, ibuprofen)
How to handle it?
- Avoid triggers
- Wear loose clothes
- Don’t lie down immediately after eating
- Eat smaller meals
- Quit smoking
Treating heartburn?
- Antacids: It neutralizes the acid
- H2 blockers & Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs): These helps reduce stomach acid.