The Cause of Heartburn

When we swallow food, it goes to the stomach where it is easily digested with the help of stomach acids. The esophageal sphincter opens and closes according to the stomach activity. It opens when food is being swallowed and remains close at all other times. For people who suffer from heartburn, the esophageal sphincter does not function correctly and remains open or close at incorrect timings causing the stomach acids to flow back into the esophagus, causing heartburn. Usually the failure of the esophageal sphincter to function properly is because of two reasons- too much food being present in the stomach and too much pressure being exerted on the stomach. Eating more than required is one cause of heartburn.

When people eat too much, the food remains distended in the stomach which makes the esophageal sphincter to not function properly and causes heartburn. One of the most common causes of heartburn is an improper and imbalanced diet. Consuming foods that are likely to trigger heartburn should be avoided at all costs. Foods such as coffee, tea, alcohol, beverages, fried food, spicy food, fatty food, tobacco, cigarettes, chocolate,  vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower, tomato, acidic fruits such as all citrus fruits can lead to heartburn and as such should be avoided at all times.

Chocolate can relax the esophageal sphincter leading to heartburn. Fried, fatty and spicy foods slow down the entire digestion process which in turn increases the pressure on the stomach which weakens the action of the esophageal sphincter causing heartburn. Chemicals such as nicotine also lead to improper functioning of the esophageal sphincter leading to heartburn. Tomatoes, citric acids and beverages cause the stomach muscles to relax which cause heartburn.

Being overweight is also one important cause of heartburn. Exercising and eating meals of lesser quantities is required to combat heartburn. Conditions such as pregnancy can also trigger heartburn. Eating food two to three hours before bedtime can also increase the risk of heartburn as sleeping with a full stomach makes it difficult for the food to be digested causing heartburn. Wearing tight clothes, belts or any tight fitting clothing can increase the pressure on the stomach causing food to flow back into the esophagus. Hiatel hernia can also cause heartburn as it makes the acid reflux which in turn leads to heartburn. Medications that are taken by people for other medical conditions can also lead to heartburn. Medicines to treat asthma, high blood pressure, muscle spasm, Parkinson’s disease and depression all have an effect on the digestion process and lead to heartburn.

Thus, these are the various causes of heartburn. People who are suffering from heartburn need to study and review all the conditions to determine the exact cause of heartburn. They need to take precautions to make sure that they do not suffer from it. Consulting a doctor is always recommended in order for the patient to know the reasons behind heartburn and also the preferred treatment for the patient.