Causes and symptoms of heartburn

Written by: Dr. Ramón Díaz Conradi

Published: 06/11/2015

Edited by: Top Doctors^®

The burning or "burning" occurs when stomach contents up into the esophagus because of a mistake by the valve called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This part separates the two bodies to prevent stomach acid into the esophagus rise. According to experts in General Surgery , when stomach acid up the esophagus produce burning behind the breastbone and may wound to the neck.

Causes and symptoms of heartburn

Stomach image The causes of heartburn are many and various, but the most common is the hiatal hernia. Onsite having a hiatal hernia does not mean you will have gastroesophageal reflux or vice versa. Moreover, there are patients who come to the consultation of General Surgery by an alteration in the functioning of this valve since birth or because of their constitution. There are other factors that affect the inner esophageal sphincter, such as alcohol, snuff or heavy exercise.

Other symptoms of heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), heartburn medical terms, are a chronic cough with hoarseness, frequent vomiting or chronic involvement of the throat (in fact, some patients are diagnosed in the doctor's ENT).

Steps to treat heartburn

1. Changing habits is needed easily digestible foods and avoiding irritants such as alcohol, spicy, coffee and heavy meals. In addition, it is necessary to avoid snuff and make sport to avoid obesity. And at night it is when most reflux episodes occur, it is advisable to raise the head of the bed 20 cm. and not lie at the end of a meal (you have to wait 60-90 minutes for the digestion takes place).
2. Medication: The most commonly used drug is omeprazole and its derivatives. With it the production of stomach acid is inhibited and consequently, aggression decreases the esophagus. Thus the sphincter works best. You can associate other drugs to speed up the esophagus-stomach but should always consult with the surgeon or specialist in gastrointestinal emptying.
3. Surgery: Indicated for patients who do not respond to medical or they can not follow (in 90% of cases the reflux is solved with surgery) treatment.