Heartburn can arise from several causes. The medical condition pyrosis or commonly known as heartburn, results from a reflux of the acidic contents of the stomach. This acidic regurgitation burns the inner walls of the esophagus and the sufferer experiences a searing or burning pain. Since this pain is felt around the chest area, people often mistake it for the onset of a heart attack.

Although the common name for this ailment is heartburn, the condition has nothing to do with the heart. It has earned it's moniker due to the fact that the burning pain is felt around the heart. People who suffer from some heart conditions may describe similar sensations.

The Impact of Certain Foods On Heartburn

The first dietary step to stop heartburn is to control the amount of food consumed. The intake of fats in large meals is high. These remain in the bloated stomach for a long time to be digested. The stomach is unable to contain its acidic contents and some escape as acid reflux. Take smaller sized meals up to five times a day, rather than the traditional three larger ones.

Knowing which foods and drinks to avoid help one from future episodes of heartburn. If this is done consistently, it may be possible to completely stop heartburn.

The common foods and drinks to avoid include the following:

1. Spicy dishes like those found in Indian and Mexican diets

2. Tomato rich dishes like those found in Italian pastas and pizzas

3. Chocolates, Donuts, Creamy desserts

4. Citrus based fruits and desserts; containing oranges and lemons

5. Certain forms of potatoes: mashed potatoes and French fries

6. Raw Onions

7. Caffeinated drinks, Alcoholic beverages

8. Some dairy products: sour cream, ice cream and cottage cheese

Smoking has been found to weaken the esophageal sphincter muscle that keeps a lid on the stomach's caustic contents. Smoking is a key risk factor that causes acid reflux.

Taking certain foods as part of one's diet is a good ingredient of a natural cure for heartburn. These include fruits like bananas and apples. Other suitable food choices are lean beef and chicken. Whole grains should be an important component of a diet as part of a natural cure for heartburn. Drinking adequate amounts of water also helps to dilute the caustic acids secreted by the stomach.

Heartburn Treatment Options

A heartburn sufferer's agony is exacerbated when he or she lies down during a pyrosis episode. The best approach to relieve the pain is to take an antacid and lie down with the torso raised - either with pillows or by raising the bed's headboard. The best approach is to avoid eating meals rich in heartburn inducing food and drinks too close to bedtime.

Medications can be a suitable alternative if preventive measures to thwart heartburn fail. Doctors will be able to prescribe suitable treatments to quell the discomfort. These may include antacids, proton pump inhibitors and h2-receptor antagonists. For those who suffer from mild forms of heartburn, antacids and other neutralizing medications are the most effective forms of treatment.

Proton pump inhibitors are usually used when antacids and other neutralizing agents are ineffective to treat heartburn. These inhibitors block the production of acids in the stomach cells and provide instant relief. Once the inhibitors reach the stomach, it disables the "protein proton pumps", which control the stomach's pH levels.

Another course of treatment for heartburn is h2-receptor antagonists. H2-receptor antagonists work by decreasing the acid production of "parietal cells" in the stomach. These are however rarely used today due to the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors.

Heartburn sufferers who prefer not to consider pharmaceutical options as their first choice can consider holistic and natural therapies. Stressful lifestyles can be moderated through meditation and yoga. In 90% of heartburn sufferers, inappropriate food and drinks have been found to be the main culprits.

There are other remedies that are natural cures for heartburn. Heartburn sufferers can take peppermint in forms like peppermint tea, which has properties that ameliorate heartburn symptoms. Likewise, apple cider vinegar is another well known natural cure for heartburn. Other items to consider especially as snacks to be taken several times during the day include almonds, dried figs and papaya.

Heartburn in pregnancy is caused by a muscular weakness. The muscle involved is the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a ring of muscle between your stomach and esophagus. The LES is designed to relax when you swallow food so that the food can enter the stomach. Once the food is in the stomach, the LES is to tighten, keeping food and stomach acids from flowing back into your esophagus. If the LES always worked properly, no one would ever suffer heartburn in pregnancy.

Like many other parts of the body, however, the LES is affected by pregnancy. Heartburn in pregnancy is a frequent complaint.

Common Question about Heartburn in Pregnancy

When does heartburn start in pregnancy? How soon in pregnancy do you get heartburn? When should I expect heartburn in pregnancy? The question varies, but the answer is always the same. Heartburn in pregnancy usually begins around the fifth month. From that point forward, it may come and go until you give birth.

How do you treat heartburn in pregnancy?

Pregnancy Heartburn Treatment

Pregnancy heartburn treatment begins with an understanding of the relationship between heartburn and pregnancy. Why is it that at this time when you are so happy to be expecting, you suddenly have heartburn?

With pregnancy, the placenta produces progesterone, a hormone that relaxes the uterus' smooth muscles. It relaxes some other muscles, too, one of which can be the LES separating the esophagus and stomach. As progesterone relaxes the LES, it fails to close and/or remain tightly closed. This allows acids to flow back into the esophagus, causing heartburn. Progesterone also affects the contractions of the esophagus, slowing the wavelike action. This, too, contributes to heartburn in pregnancy.

As your pregnancy progresses and your baby grows, your abdominal cavity will become crowded. The limited space will be taken up increasingly by the growing, moving infant. This puts pressure on the stomach, which in turn pressures the LES to open. Heartburn can quickly result as stomach acids are pushed into the esophagus.

Steps of Pregnancy Heartburn Treatment

Your healthcare provider will warn you not to take medications that might harm the baby. There are steps you can take, however, to treat heartburn in pregnancy.

1. Watch your weight gain. Ask your physician how much you should reasonably gain, and be careful to keep your weight to that limit. Excess weight will place more pressure on the LES and increase heartburn.

2. Avoid tight clothing, especially around your waist and abdomen. Tight clothing also contributes to pressure on the LES muscle ring.

3. When bending, bend at the knees rather than at the waist. Bending at the waist is a common cause of heartburn in pregnancy.

4. Eat several small meals during the day in place of three larger meals. Eat slowly and chew your food well.

5. Have your last meal or snack at least two to three hours before bedtime. Allowing food to digest before you lie down can reduce heartburn.

6. Although you will want to drink eight to ten glasses of water daily, you should Avoid drinking large amounts of liquid during meals. Try to remember that a distended stomach will pressure the LES and cause heartburn.

7. Ward off potential heartburn by chewing gum after eating. The chewing action can help release air bubbles that contribute to heartburn and the gum stimulates the production of saliva, which can help neutralize acid.

CAUTION: The author is not a professional physician, and offers this information about heartburn in pregnancy for educational purposes only. Please seek advice from your health care provider.