Heartburn: what it is, symptoms, causes and how to relieve

Heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest and throat, which can be accompanied by symptoms such as bitter or acidic taste, cough, hoarseness or choking.

Heartburn can be caused by health problems such as reflux, gastritis or hiatus hernia or due to situations such as pregnancy, overweight and use of some medications.

Also read: 13 main causes of heartburn (and what to do)

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Some simple measures, such as not bed after meals, do not make copious meals, not overdo the coffee help relieve heartburn. However, in cases of persistent heartburn, it is important to consult the gastroenterologist to evaluate the cause and indicate the most appropriate treatment.

Heartburn symptoms

The main symptoms of heartburn are:

• Burning, pain or discomfort in the chest and throat;
• I taste bitter or acid in my mouth;
• Hoarseness;
• Choking;
• Cough;
• Difficulty swallowing.

The symptoms of heartburn may be light or intense and may arise after meals or when in the lying or curved position, for example.

Also read: 7 main symptoms of heartburn and what to do

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Heartburn in pregnancy

Pregnancy heartburn is caused by common hormonal changes in pregnancy, which decrease intestinal flow, increases acid production by stomach and relaxation of stomach and esophagus muscles.

In addition, heartburn in pregnancy can also be caused by the development of the baby who can press the stomach, causing the return of food and gastric juice.

Also read: Pregnancy heartburn: symptoms, causes (and what to do to relieve)

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How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of heartburn is made by the gastroenterologist or general practitioner, through the evaluation of symptoms and health history of the person.

If you would like to confirm the chances of having heartburn, make an appointment with the gastroenterologist closest to your region:

To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may request tests such as upper digestive endoscopy, an exam to evaluate the esophagus, stomach and duodenum, which is the initial portion of the intestine.

Possible causes of heartburn

Possible causes of heartburn include:

• Gastroesophageal reflux;
• Hiatus hernia;
• Gastritis;
• Smoking;
• Pregnancy;
• Stress;
• Overweight;
• Medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen and citalopram;
• Alcoholic beverages.

In addition, some types of foods such as beer, chocolate, pepper or coffee can cause heartburn in some people due to the presence of substances such as caffeine, capsaicin, fat and alcohol that irritate the stomach, causing gastric content to return to the esophagus.

Also read: 13 main causes of heartburn (and what to do)

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What is good for heartburn

Some options to relieve heartburn are:

1.

Some heartburn remedies, such as aluminum hydroxide, proton pump inhibitors, famotidin and vonoprazana and cimetidine, neutralize or inhibit stomach acid and histamine, temporarily relieving heartburn discomfort.

These medicines should be used only with medical indication, according to the cause of this symptom. Check out all the medicines that can be indicated for heartburn.

2. Homemade remedy for heartburn

Homemade remedies for heartburn, such as ginger tea, melon juice and baking soda water, are good natural options to relieve the symptoms of heartburn.

These substances have antacid properties, which help to reduce inflammation, acidity and protect the mucosa from the stomach.

Also read: 13 home remedies (proven) for heartburn

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Other tips for relieving heartburn

Some tips for relieving heartburn are:

• Avoid foods that cause heartburnsuch as cookies, sauces, sausage, ice cream, citrus fruits, peppers, alcoholic beverages and coffee, for example;
• Prioritize easy digestion foodsas non -citrus fruits, vegetables and vegetables in general;
• Pour 2 hours after the last meal, to avoid the return of gastric juice to the esophagus;
• Use a tall pillow to sleep or place a 10 cm shim on the head of the bed;
• Maintain proper body weightbecause the excess fat in the belly presses the stomach, pushing the gastric juice to the esophagus;
• Do not skip the meals, since this can leave the stomach mucosa exposed for a long time in direct contact with the acid pH of gastric juice.

It is also important to avoid consuming liquids during meals. This is because liquids, along with food, greatly increase volume inside the stomach, favoring the return of gastric content to the esophagus.

Watch the following video more tips than to relieve heartburn:

Common questions about heartburn

Some common heartburn doubts include:

1. Is milk good for heartburn?

Milk is good for heartburn, by immediately relieving this symptom in some people. However, it is important to prioritize skim milk, as the integral contains more fat, a nutrient that can make heartburn worse.

In addition, milk can relieve heartburn only temporarily, so it is not recommended to use it as treatment of this condition.

Also read: Is it true that having a glass of water or cold milk relieves heartburn?

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2. Is lemon good for heartburn?

Some studies show that lemon, in moderate amounts, can be good for relieving heartburn in some people who have tolerance to acidic future in this condition. This is because the citrus acid of lemon can decrease stomach hydrochloric acid, helping to decrease heartburn.

However, it is important to always evaluate together with the gastroenterologist or nutritionist, the possibility of including lemon in the diet.

In addition, lemon should not be used to treat the cause of heartburn and, therefore, should not replace the recommended treatment by the doctor.

3. Can constant heartburn be cancer?

Constant heartburn can be a symptom related to stomach cancer. However, this symptom may also indicate many other conditions such as reflux, gastritis, hiatus hernia or overweight.

Therefore, in the presence of constant heartburn, it is always advised to consult the gastroenterologist to make the correct diagnosis and indicate the most appropriate treatment.

4. Banana gives Asia?

Banana does not give heartburn, being a very recommended food for those with heartburn and problems such as reflux, gastritis and hiatus hernia, for example.