Heartburn Definition - Not that simple

The most common heartburn definition is that it is a “burning sensation” in the chest area which oftentimes spreads to other neighboring parts such as the neck and throat. In the medical community, however, heartburn definition can refer to any number of potential causes such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or more severe and underlying medical conditions like a myocardial infarction, angina, or even ischemic heart disease or the reduction in blood supply to the heart due to build-up of cholesterol plaque along the artery walls.

In mild cases such as those where heartburn is caused by GERD, there are many pharmaceutical and natural heartburn remedies that can be relied on to manage heartburn. However, in more severe and potentially fatal cases like those due to ischemic heart disease, it is important to immediately seek expert medical advice and not rely on home-grown methods to address heartburn.

A quick rule of thumb that one can use to check if there is a need to visit a physician is to determine the heartburn definition. Usually underlying causes are based on the frequency that one experiences heartburn.

Most people with no underlying condition will experience heartburn occasionally, once a month or even less. This is normally due to elevated acidity in the stomach due to heartburn triggering foods. Those with underlying conditions will normally experience a heartburn episode 2 or 3 times a week, and it is these conditions that need immediate medical attention for management.

For natural heartburn cause, or even those whose heartburn definition is due to mild GERD cases, may consider pharmaceutical antacids to help manage the acidity of the stomach. Antacids work by neutralizing the acidic nature of the stomach fluids which in turn put extra pressure on the stomach walls eventually leading to an opening of the esophageal sphincter, the muscle that keeps everything inside the stomach. When this happens, acid creeps into the throat resulting in heartburn. However, antacids only give temporaty relief and present no cure.

For those who prefer not to use pharmaceuticals, there are many natural heartburn remedies. In most cases this will include diet management, which will require the patient to change his diet and stay away from heartburn triggering foods like caffeinated or carbonated beverages, citrus fruits and juices, tomato and tomato-based products and even alcohol consumption. It is also important to switch from heavy meals to light frequent meals to lessen the pressure on the stomach walls which forces acid reflux. Heartburn sufferers can also benefit from taking time to complete their meals so the food is properly chewed and sized before it enters the stomach.

Diet management should also be done together with heartburn prevention practices like not going to bed soon after eating, elevating one’s head with the use of thick pillows during sleep so that the esophageal sphincter is always kept lower than the throat but higher than the level of contents in the stomach.

The most important thing when one starts to experience heartburn on a frequent basis is to consult a doctor for potential causes and to determine the true heartburn definition specific to your case. Always, do not assume that since it’s only heartburn, it’s harmless. It can be harbinger of more severe cases that require immediately medical attention.

There is nothing wrong with being careful. Take time to check with your doctor and then find the best heartburn remedy that suits your particular case.