You awake in the middle of the night and your throat is burning. Your stomach is upset and it there is pain in your chest. You can taste the burning in your mouth. What has happened? Most likely you ate something that triggered heartburn, or acid reflux. Maybe you ate too much of your favorite dish? Your esophagus is burning because stomach acid has splashed onto it. It will hurt for a few hours and you will feel better in the morning. However, if it happens several nights a week and continues it could be a more serious condition. Here are some things to consider.
More Than Frequent Heartburn
When your heartburn happens all the time it may be Gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD. When heartburn becomes chronic it can cause other symptoms. Frequent coughing and difficulty in swallowing can happen. There is a sphincter muscle that is supposed to keep acid in the stomach. For some reason it will splash into the esophagus causing pain. This muscle does not work properly. Some causes are unknown and others are known.
Reasons for GERD
Overweight people are more prone to GERD. Pregnant women may also develop it. Smokers also have a higher risk.
Another reason for GERD is hiatal hernia. A hernia develops above the stomach in the diaphragm. The protrusion allows acid to enter the esophagus on some occasions. It is one of the causes of reflux that causes you pain. This condition is quite common. Most of them are non-serious. The risk seems to increase with age.
Severe Cases
Sometimes GERD can develop into a more serious situation called Barrett's esophagus. Cells of the esophagus try to mutate into stomach lining cells. This is thought to be a protective response from the stomach acid. People may have worse reflux symptoms with this disorder. However, in some cases, the symptoms may be less. Other complications can develop like strictures and ulcers. Strictures are scarring that can narrow the esophagus and make swallowing difficult. Only a doctor can tell you if you have Barrett's esophagus. And the condition can lead to cancer. This makes regular doctor visits very important.
Management
Eat smaller and more frequent meals is advised. Do not overeat. Wear loose fitting clothing. Losing weight can help to lessen symptoms in many instances. Not eating before going to bed is also recommended. When you sleep, try to elevate your head. For minor cases, you can take antacids. For more severe, there are prescription drugs available. In some cases, surgery may be needed, but that is usually rare.
In Closing
Acid reflux comes in many forms. Some are serious and some are not serious at all. If it is frequent, you should seek medical advice, in case it is something more complicated. There are things you can do at home to help relieve the discomfort.
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