 What
is heartburn?
Heartburn is an uncomfortable, burning sensation
occurring behind the breastbone
and up into the neck area, occuring most often after
meals. There may
be a feeling of food or acid coming back into the
mouth or a bitter, acid
taste in the mouth. Heartburn occurs when food
and stomach acid backs
up (refluxes) into the esophagus. Chronic
heartburn is the most common
symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD). Sometimes
the pain caused heartburn or GERD may be similar to
angina or a heart attack.
If your physician says your chest pain is not caused
by a heart condition,
it may be caused by GERD. You should never
assume that you have
heartburn or GERD until you have been evaluated for
possible heart problems
by a physician.
What
causes heartburn and GERD?
Heartburn and GERD can be caused by a variety of
causes. The most common
cause is relaxation of the muscular valve at the
lower end of the esophagus,
called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES).
A hiatal hernia
(a weakness of the diaphragm, allowing part of the
stomach to protrude up
into the chest cavity) can increase LES relaxation
and impair esophageal
emptying, resulting in GERD. Obesity,
alcohol, smoking, certain foods,
pregnancy, some medications, delayed emptying of
the stomach and diet can
all cause an increased risk for heartburn and
GERD.
Can
GERD cause any other symptoms?
Absolutely. GERD can cause other seemingly
unrelated problems. Some manifestations of
chronic GERD include:
- Hoarseness, sore throat, laryngitis or a
"full feeling" in the throat
- Asthma, wheezing and/or a chronic cough
- Difficulty in swallowing or a feeling of food
"getting stuck" in the
throat
- Tooth decay and/or gingivitis
Doesn't
everybody have heartburn? It's not serious,
is it?
While everyone experiences heartburn once in a
while, chronic heartburn should not be taken
lightly. GERD can result in inflammation of
the esophagus (esophagitis), ulcers in the
esophagus, scarring or narrowing of the esophagus,
and bleeding of the esophagus. Some patients
with GERD develop a condition called Barrett's
Esophagus, which occurs when the
normal lining (epithelium) of the esophagus is
replaced with abnormal (Barrett's)
epithelium. Patients who have this condition
are at a higher risk for
cancer of the esophagus and must be carefully
monitored on a regular basis.
I
have a lot of these symptoms, so how can I tell
if I have
GERD?
Only a physician can determine if you have GERD or
if your symptoms are caused
by some other problem. Gastroenterologists
specialize in the diagnosis
and treatment of GERD and may order specialized
tests in order to diagnosis
it. Tests that may be ordered to diagnosis
GERD are x-rays, EGD
(upper endoscopy) and esophageal manometry
studies.
You may want to refer to our heartburn quiz to
help you determine if you may have GERD. If
you think you may have
GERD, please make an appointment to be evaluated
by a doctor promptly.
What
is the treatment for GERD?
Treatments for GERD are lifestyle changes and
prescription medications.
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