Contest Alert ⚠️ "heartburn, causes, prevention"
Greetings friends of Steemit and Healthy Steem
Almost all of us will experience heartburn at some point in our lives.
280 million Indian experience heartburn daily.
Why Do You Get Heartburn?
Heartburn in a symptom of acid reflux and occurs when stomach acid overflows. Normally a muscle known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) stops this from occuring. But if the muscle is weak or relaxes when you are full or lying down some stomach acid may enter your esophagus.
This acid can cause:
A burning sensation in the chest
A sour or bitter taste in the throat and mouth
Pressure or a feeling of food stuck in the esophagus.
What's GERD?
If you have acid reflux frequently-generally five or more times a week-It's known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.
HEALTH RISKS
GERD can slowly damage the lining of the esophagus.
Symptoms include
Vocal hoarseness
Dark blood in stool or vomit
Frequent coughing
Difficulty swallowing
Barrett's Esophagus
Eventually you may end up with Barrett's Esophagus where the lining of the esophagus has become permanently damaged. Barrett's Esophagus is a common precursor of esophageal cancer.
YOUR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OPTIONS
Lifestyle Changes
QUIT SMOKING
Smoking increases acidity and reduces your saliva output, which is an important natural barrier against stomach acid.
LOSE WEIGHT
Extra weight and tight clothes put pressure on your abdomen which inturn pushes the acid through the LES.
EAT LESS
When your stomach is full, it's much more likely to force the acid upwards.
SLEEP WITH YOUR HEAD ELEVATED
Raising the top of your bed by about six inches will help prevent the acid from going back into your esophagus when lying down.
Avoid certain foods like:
Fried or fatty foods, Coffee, Tomatoes and citrus, Onions and Alcohol.
Many foods increase acid output or acidity or weaken the LES, dramatically increasing your risk of heartburn.
OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION
Antacids-They don't stop the acid from entering the esophagus, but by neutralizing the acid they will reduce symptoms and imitation of the esophagus.
H2 blockers These can reduce the amount of acid produced in the stomach, making reflux less likely and less harmful when it does happen.
PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION
High-strength H2 blockers - A more powerful version of over-the-counter medication with stronger effects.
Proton pump in inhibitors- These work in similar way to H2 blockers and block acid
production in the stomach. Generally stronger and longer-lasting than H2 blockers.
SURGERY
In chronic cases of GERD where medication isn't effective, the patient may choose to undergo surgery. This surgery tightens and strengthens the LES to reduce the amount of acid that can escape from the stomach
With a wide range of treatment options out there. Heartburn doesn't have to be for life.
Before I conclude I would like to invite three fellow Steemians to participate in the contest. @crismenia @eveetim @ibesso
Thank you for reading my post.
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