Heartburn is agonizing, and it can be scary. In fact, we’re all nervous when something is targeted around our heart. Heartburn , however , has nothing to do with the heart. Essentially it is an irritation of the esophagus that happens because of excess stomach acid. If you’ve ever had heartburn, you probably would like to take steps to keep it from going down again. If you’re unlucky enough to suffer with prolonged heartburn, you may also be looking for answers. The best way to resolve the difficulty of heartburn is to start by taking a look at the causes of heartburn and then deciding on steps to take to alleviate the problem.

As stated earlier, angina occurs when excess stomach acid irritates the esophagus. This occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter doesn’t tighten up the way it should. This underactive muscle is typically caused by two heavy excesses.

The first is an exorbitant amount of eating which fills the gut too full. That is the reason you may experience angina following a massive holiday dinner. The obvious answer to the cause is to keep yourself from eating so much. Even though the table is overflowing and the food is superb, limit yourself to moderate portions. Ask yourself if the pleasure of eating now is worth the pain of angina later.

The second excess that causes heartburn is due to too much strain on the stomach. This condition can be attributed to being overweight or pregnancy. Once again, the remedies are pretty obvious. Either lose pounds or have the baby, and you should be in a position to reduce your bouts of angina.

There are a number of foods that can relax the lower esophageal sphincter ( LES ) so that it doesn’t stay closed correctly. These include chocolate, caffeine, coffee, tomatoes, alcohol, garlic, peppermint, onions, and citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruit. Foods with high fat content, no matter whether it’s animal or plant fat, and certain medicines can also lead to heartburn. Smoking is a major culprit when it comes to the occurrence of unpleasant bouts of heartburn, as it both relaxes the LES and stimulates the production of stomach acid. Stress can also make a contribution to the the difficulty.

As you can see, a few easy lifestyle alterations can make awhole world of difference in the quantity of heartburn someone suffers. By watching what you eat, how much you eat, and your weight, you can greatly decrease what causes heartburn. Quitting smoking and learning to relax will also stand you in good position in the skirmish against the discomfort of angina.

Tags: angina, heartburn, irritation of the esophagus, prolonged heatburn