Usually there is a muscle at the angle at which the esophagus enters the stomach. This muscle creates a valve called Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) that prevents acidic stomach content – duodenal bile, enzymes and stomach acid from traveling back into the esophagus. Acid Reflux is the medical term given when the content of the stomach acid flows back, and enters the esophagus causing heartburn at any time the LES fails to function properly.
What is GERD?
Gastroesophageal
Reflux Disease (gerd) on the other hand is not a disease per say but a
situation where the acid reflux and the consequent heartburn occur more than
two times in
a week or it’s persistent. In such case, the LES has lost normal
functionality. This lead to severe heartburn and indigestion symptoms and as
such you need home remedies for heartburn to get instant heartburn relief.
You can
therefore understand that gastroesophageal reflux disease is the culprit behind
the severe heartburn you are having and you need to take action to stop it. Why?
Because recurrent heartburn or GERD over time can cause inflammation or injury to
the esophagus leading to other serious conditions such as:
- Reflux esophagitis. This is a necrosis of the esophageal epithelium resulting to ulcers around the “neck” of the stomach and esophagus;
- Strictures of the esophagus, which is a persistent narrowing of the esophagus;
- Esophageal adenocarcinoma, which is a form of cancer of the esophagus;
- Barrett’s esophagus – alteration of the epithelial cells from squamous to intestinal columnar epithelium of the distal esophagus.
Functional heartburn.
Functional heartburn is heartburn that looks as if it has no
cause because the cause is unknown. It is linked to other functional
gastrointestinal disorder such as irritable bowel syndrome. This is the primary
cause of lack of improvement post treatment using acid reflux treatment with acid reflux medicine such as proton pump
inhibitors (PPIs).
What Does Heartburn Got to do with Heart Attack?
Often times heartburn
symptoms can be confused with the pain that accompany acute myocardial
infarction or heart attack. This is because the heart and the
esophagus share the same nerve supply as a result one condition can mimic the
signs and symptomatic findings of the other. In fact, it can also confuse some
doctors!
With
heartburn you will feel a burning sensation pain around the centre of your
chest which may also radiate to the upper back and your arms. As an "ex-sufferer" I felt
severe pains from my chest to my two arms and weakness in my hand and worse of
with my right hand that the doctor felt I had heart attack. After been
diagnosed of heartburn and long period of taking antacids and other heartburn
medication without help, I resolved to strictly following natural remedies for heartburn, though still took lansoprazole occasionally.
