What Causes of Heartburn & Acid Reflux?

Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux that is experienced by 40% of individuals at some point in their lifetime. Though a common problem, heartburn is tricky as its shares some of its symptoms with a heart attack.

The symptoms can be so alike that even experienced specialists may not be able to tell the difference based on physical exam and medical history. An array of tests are performed on the patient to diagnose the condition and rule out the possibility of a heart attack. While we have had a few blogs and knowledge materials about heart attack, heartburn is a topic that was not entirely touched upon. So with the inputs from a famous cardiologist in Hyderabad Dr Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale, we dive into the causes of heartburn & acid reflux – their symptoms, causes, & treatment options. Read on:

What is acid reflux? How heartburn and acid reflux are related?

Let us first understand the role of the oesophagus which is the primary reason for acid reflux and heart burn. The oesophagus is the long tube that connects the mouth and the stomach. It opens when we swallow the food to let it pass through the stomach and closes as soon it reaches the stomach – to keep the stomach acids at bay.

However, in a few cases, the valve of the oesophagus doesn’t close optimally and the acid whose role was to digest the food goes back up to the oesophagus. This acid may kick up to the throat via the chest leaving a sour test in the mouth and a burning sensation in the chest. While acid reflux in the majority of cases is mild, in a few cases it can flare up to cause a discomforting burning sensation below the sternum near the mid-chest. This burning sensation can worsen after eating and when bending or lying (the valve malfunction).

So how acid reflux and heartburn are connected? Simple, acid reflux is the main problem, and heartburn is its common symptom, says Dr Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale, a top heart specialist in India.

Symptoms, risk factors and complications of heartburn:

As said earlier, a burning sensation near the breast bone that worsens after eating, while lying or bending is the common symptom of heartburn.  In a few individuals consuming certain foods can trigger acid reflux. So these risk factors of acid reflux include – spicy foods, alcohol, large fatty meals, chocolate, citrus fruits and onions. Though heartburn is common, it tends to regularly interfere with your daily life (>2/week), then it could be an indication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

“GERD is the result of regular damage induced to the oesophagus by the stomach acid.  Prescription medications and surgery are possible treatment options for GERD without which the oesophagus can suffer serious damage resulting in Barrett’s oesophagus”, says the best heart transplant surgeon in India and Padma Shri awardee Dr Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale. If you have been regularly suffering from heartburn and are looking for medical help you can contact him here:  9603040506