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What is heartburn and how does it occur?

By Angela Sawinski, edHelperBaby

Questions answered

What is heartburn?        Heartburn refers to the symptoms that you feel when acids in the stomach flow backward into the esophagus (the tube leading from the throat to the stomach). It causes a burning feeling in the lower part of the chest behind your breastbone. You may have the feeling of food coming back into your mouth with a sour or bitter taste. Despite its name, heartburn does not have anything to do with your heart.               How does it occur?        Changes in your body during pregnancy may cause or worsen heartburn. Early in your pregnancy, the increase in your hormones can cause heartburn. The problem is more common, however, during the last months of pregnancy when the growing baby presses against your stomach and your hormones are at high levels. One in four pregnant women experience heartburn on a daily basis.               Food travels from your mouth down your esophagus to the stomach. Between your esophagus and your stomach there is a muscular ring. The muscular ring opens to allow food to pass from the esophagus into the stomach. It then closes to prevent food from backing up into the esophagus. Heartburn occurs when this ring does not close tightly. The ring may not close tightly because of the changes in your hormones. Or the baby may be pressing against the lower part of your stomach, forcing the ring to open slightly. If the ring is open, food mixed with stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. The esophagus does not have a protective lining like the stomach has, so it becomes irritated by the food and the acid. The irritation of the esophagus causes the burning feeling of heartburn.               What are the symptoms?        Symptoms of heartburn include the following: A burning feeling in your chest Backing up of sour or bitter material in your throat and mouth Belching The sensation of bloating or fullness of the stomach Stomach pain                How is it treated?        Your healthcare provider may ask you to do the following: Eat five or six small meals instead of two to three large meals Sit with good posture when you are eating (slouching can put extra pressure on your stomach) Do not eat, or eat less of the following foods: Coffee (caffeinated and decaffeinated) Carbonated drinks Very sweet foods such as syrups and honey Tomato sauce and tomato paste Citrus juice such as lemonade and orange juice Fatty or fried foods Chocolate Foods containing spearmint or peppermint Whole milk Alcohol Spicy foods Red and black pepper Drink plenty of fluids between meals and drink slowly Eat slowly Wait an hour or longer after eating to lie down Do not eat anything two to three hours before bed Raise the head of your bed or use more than one pillow so that your head and shoulders are higher than your stomach Chew gum or suck on hard candy Avoid tight clothes and belts Stop smoking if you are a smoker                If you have occasional heartburn after meals or at bedtime, your healthcare provider may tell you to take a specific antacid. Be sure to check with your doctor before starting an antacid.

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