More than 60 million Americans suffer from heartburn and indigestion. If you burp a lot, sometimes with a burning taste in your mouth,and feel bloated and uncomfortable after meals, you are probably one of them. These symptoms often get worse during times of stress. Maybe you have resigned yourself to the discomfort, figuring nothing will help the burning feeling in your gut. But you shouldn't ignore it completely. Even though heartburn is not a disease, it could be a symptom of something more serious.
That burning in your throat after eating is probably acid reflux, a condition you get when stomach acid washes back up your throat. This can lead to nausea and vomiting. Acid reflux, also called GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is serious because it can damage your esophagus and lead to severe bleeding. It also increases your risk of esophageal cancer.
If you get heartburn two or more times a week or more, you may have GERD. The word "reflux" refers to the times when acid splashes up into your esophagus.
Heartburn vs. Acid Reflux
Most people suffer the occasional bout of heartburn - a burning sensation behind your breastbone, a cough, or trouble swallowing. It can be caused by certain foods, medications or just overeating. But if you get chronic heartburn, you have GERD.
Heartburn happens when stomach acid flows back into your esophagus, the tube that carries food and liquid from your mouth to your stomach. There's a muscle that's supposed to keep them separate, called the lower esophageal sphincter. If you have GERD this muscle is weak, so it can't stop the flow of acid.
If GERD goes untreated, the acid backwash can cause long-term damage to your esophagus and trigger cell mutations that lead to esophageal cancer. Fortunately, most people are able to stop the pain with a few simple adjustments.
Causes of Acid Reflux
When it comes to figuring out what's causing your GERD, round up the usual suspects. Chocolate, spicy food, salt, fried food, garlic and acidic foods like citrus can contribute to GERD. How you eat matters, too. Even if you're making healthy food choices, bad meal habits could worsen GERD symptoms. When pain is a frequent guest at the dinner table, here are some things you can try.
- Eat less, more often. Smaller meals, four to six times a day are better than two or three big ones.
- Ban late-night snacking. In fact, you shouldn't even lie down for four hours after you eat.
- Slim down. If you're overweight, losing those extra pounds might be the answer. The extra weight squeezes your belly and forces stomach acid up your windpipe.
Treating Acid Reflux
Here are three tips to cool down GERD.
- To fight nighttime problems with GERD, pick up a wedge-shaped foam pillow. It will raise your esophagus so the acid can't escape your stomach. If that's not comfortable, tuck the wedge behind your back and train yourself to sleep on your left side. This helps clear the acid out of your esophagus.
- Water can smother fires and put out the flames. One study found that drinking water reduced stomach acid in just one minute. Even better, drinking water throughout the day protects you from flare-ups by keeping your esophagus free of acid. Be careful not to drink too much water. Water can dilute the contents of your stomach, making it harder to digest your food.
- Make high-fiber breads your new "go-to" to fight GERD. Experts think fiber may work by scavenging nitrites in the stomach, lowering the amount of nitric oxide produced. Nitric oxide may relax the lower esophageal sphincter, leading to acid reflux.