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Heartburn Information
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Causes Of Heartburn
Heartburn is caused by stomach acid flowing back up into the esophagus, the organ that connects the mouth to the stomach, also called gullet.
Your food passes from your mouth down the esophagus to your stomach. A ringlike valve at the bottom of your esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is the muscle between the esophagus and the stomach. When a person swallows, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes during swallowing to allow food to pass from the esophagus to the stomach. It stays closed at other times to keep stomach contents from flowing back up into the esophagus.
If the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) doesn't close or stays relaxed more frequently than normal, acid and food particles seep out of the stomach and up into the esophagus. This is called reflux. The stomach acid can irritate the esophagus. This is the cause of heartburn.
Other Factors That May Cause Heartburn
- Eating a big meal, then lying down on your back or bending over from the waist
- Snacking before bedtime
- Alcohol use
- Overweight - Body Mass Index Calculator & Chart
- Pregnancy
- Smoking
- Certain Medications - There are dozens of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, Rufen), and naproxen (Aleve) and many prescription agents that also may contribute to heartburn or GERD. A person with * gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) who takes the occasional aspirin or other NSAID will not necessarily experience adverse effects. This is especially true if there are no risk factors or indications of ulcers. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a good alternative for those who want to relieve mild pain. Newer NSAIDs called COX-2 inhibitors may prove to be cancer protective in these patients without producing GERD. They include celecoxib (Celebrex), rofecoxib (Vioxx), and valdecoxib (Bextra)
Also, Certain Foods Can Be Associated With Heartburn Attacks
- Citrus fruits
- Chocolate and peppermint
- Drinks with caffeine, like coffee, tea, many soft drinks
- Fatty and fried foods
- Garlic and onions
- Mint flavorings
- Acidic foods like oranges and tomato based foods, like spaghetti sauce, chili, and pizza
Definitions For This Page - In Alphabetical Order
* Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Pronounced - GAH-stroh-eh-SAW-fuh-JEE-ul REE-fluks duh-zeez
GERD) is the flow of the stomach's contents back up into the esophagus. Happens when the muscle between the esophagus and the stomach, the lower esophageal sphincter, is weak or relaxes when it shouldn't. May cause esophagitis. Also called esophageal reflux or reflux esophagitis. More about Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
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