What Causes Heartburn? Why Do We Get Heartburn?
What causes heartburn in the first place? There is actually more than one potential cause. In this article, I'll show you exactly what happens inside your body when heartburn strikes.
The Stomach & The Esophagus
When food is swallowed it moves down the esophagus (like a pipe) and enters the stomach.
The top of the stomach has something similar to a "trap door" called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). When food needs to enter the stomach the door briefly opens and then shuts straight after to prevent acid from spilling out.
When you have heartburn, there is a malfunction and acid escapes the stomach via the "open door" and into the esophagus where pain is felt.
Occasional Heartburn
Anyone can have occasional heartburn. There is no long term danger from occasional heartburn. It normally happens after a heavy and fatty meal. The stomach becomes distended due to the amount of food and the LES is squashed open. The higher the fat content then the longer this happens for as the stomach is slow to empty.
GERD
GERD, also known as chronic heartburn or acid reflux, occurs when someone has heartburn at least once a week (often daily in many cases). Even if they feel that they can live with the pain, these people must do something about their heartburn or else it can lead to long term complications such as esophageal cancer.
LES Abnormality
One of the most common reasons for GERD is LES abnormality. Many times there is no obvious explanation for it although excess weight is a big risk factor. Sometimes a hiatal hernia is responsible.
Esophageal Motility Abnormality
Sometime there is a problem in the way that food is forced down the esophagus and into the stomach. This is normally a straightforward process but in some people this goes wrong and can cause heartburn symptoms.
Do you have heartburn? Do you want to end your misery and pain and learn as much about your condition as possible? Get the facts you need today here: GERD Library.