Watch Your Health: What Causes Heartburn?
Heartburn, also known as pyrosis is usually associated with the regurgitation of gastric acid. It is characterized by a painful and burning sensation in the esophagus, just below the breastbone, and often, the pain rises to the chest and may radiate to the neck, throat, or jaw angle.
But, what causes heartburn? Well, there are a lot of factors to consider that may cause heartburn to a person. It could be as simple as from the food we eat to as serious as an underlying medical condition.
What Causes Heartburn – Eating Habits
Certain types of food may trigger heartburn to a person. Though the particular food item that causes heartburn may vary from one person to another, most of them fall under the same category. Such foods that are most likely to induce heartburn are foods with high acid content, fatty foods, and spicy foods.
It may not always be the case of what you eat, but how much you eat. Excessive eating also causes excess stomach acid production, and since the stomach is overly full, tendency is food acids will most likely leak upwards. If you really have a big appetite or perhaps you really just can’t help yourself but eat a lot during those buffet dinners, then I suggest you eat small amounts at more frequent intervals instead of eating one gigantic meal at one seating.
What Causes Heartburn – Clothing
Wearing tight clothing is also one cause of heartburn. Tight clothing around the abdomen like a pair of pants or girdle puts pressure to the stomach causing food acids to flow back to the esophagus.
What Causes Heartburn – Stress
Binge-eating or eating to release stress can also cause heartburn. When we are upset and we try to divert our emotions by eating, we tend not to notice how much we are eating; we eat quickly to the point of not properly chewing our food but just swallow spoon after spoon.
What Causes Heartburn – Health Issues
People also suffer from heartburn due to underlying medical issues. Obesity for example, can cause heartburn due to the excessive bulge of the person around the abdomen area. Anything that puts pressure on the stomach can cause heartburn, which is why a pregnant woman also suffers from heartburn due to the enlargement of her abdomen and therefore putting pressure to her stomach. There are other more serious medical conditions underlying heartburn like Hiatal Hernia. It is important that if you’re experiencing heartburn often to consult a physician for the symptoms to be evaluated and find out if there’s an underlying medical problem.
What Causes Heartburn – Vices
Excessive smoking and drinking alcohol can also lead to heartburn.
An occasional bout of heartburn may not be dangerous, but who really wants to undergo that uncomfortable feeling even on an occasional basis? Better to be mindful of one’s health and avoid what causes heartburn, instead.