Identifying The Diverse Causes Of Heartburn

Heartburn has multiple causes and they are not necessarily the same for every sufferer

. One person may experience the problem for a variety of reasons, while someone else may only have one specific trigger. Although it is rare, there are some individuals who have digestive systems that produce larger proportions of acid than the average person. Here's a look at some of the most common causes of heartburn.

Swallowing plays an important role in getting rid of acid that is in the esophagus. Swallowing brings about contractions which start in the upper half of the esophagus and continue down into the lower half. Anything that is in the esophagus is therefore pushed down into the stomach, such as food, acid and saliva. If the contracting action of the esophagus is not working properly then acid will be pushed upward towards the throat and mouth as opposed to downward and into the stomach. Any number of problems can cause esophageal contractions to be defective. This problem is made even worse when a person smokes.

Another potential cause of heartburn could be a hiatal hernia; conversely the hernia could be caused by heartburn. The connection between the two is not completely understood by the medical community at the present time. It is possible to have one but not the other. In those who suffer from a hiatal hernia, a small portion of the upper part of the stomach that is connected to the esophagus is shoved up through the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscle that serves as a divider between the chest and the abdominal area. When a person suffers from this kind of hernia, the entry from the esophagus to the stomach is no longer in the right place and therefore preventing reflux from occurring becomes more and more difficult.

Certain foods are also a common culprit. Tomatoes and tomato sauces could be causing you to have heartburn, so if you like Italian or Latin foods, you may want to cut down on your consumption and see if you feel better. For some people, when they eat tomatoes, the lower esophageal sphincter is relaxed in the body, which makes it more difficult to digest and swallow food. The food will settle there, and you may suddenly feel very tired, and could get headaches and pressure in the limbs.

If you want to know more about heartburn, or think you may have some of the symptoms and want to get help, you should talk to your doctor about the best medication alternatives for you based on your health. You can also try natural supplements such as flax seed or fish oil to help you digest your food, and to reduce the headaches and discomfort associated with heartburn.

by: Keira Adams

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