Loosen Up And Write It Down, Determining The Causes Of Heartburn

By Author: Andrew Behling
Total Articles: 25
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What are the causes of heartburn? Heartburn happens when gastric acids come up from the stomach into the esophagus. The acids are supposed to remain in the stomach. The lower esophageal sphincter is the valve that is there to do the job. But, sometimes this valve gets damaged or weakened. This allows the gastric acids to back up into the food pipe. When you are looking at the causes of heartburn, you are really looking at why this valve is not working properly. Sometimes the best way to determine what is actually causing your own heartburn is to keep a diary. Note down when it happened and what you had just done. An example would be eating lunch and listing the foods that you ate. Control is easier when you know the causes of heartburn.

Some of the leading causes of heartburn are those that cause an increased pressure in the stomach. This pressure pushes upward on the esophageal valve, forcing it to open. One of the most common causes of severe heartburn is eating large portions of gas-producing and fatty foods that digest slowly. Going to sleep with a full stomach can also be a factor. When people wear tight clothes ...
... around the torso such as belts or slimming undergarments, heartburn can occur. Pregnancy can also be one of the causes of heartburn due to the pressure on internal organs from the increased uterine size. Even eating a very large meal can put too much pressure in the stomach. It is one of the common causes of heartburn.

Other causes of severe heartburn are those that loosen the muscles of the valve. This makes it weak and unable to close completely. Smoking and chewing tobacco can cause the valve to respond poorly. Alcohol consumption in large quantities also causes the muscles at the top of the stomach to malfunction. Some foods can also loosen the muscles around the valve. Medical causes of a loose valve can include hiatal hernia and peptic ulcers. Both of these are causes of heartburn.

Finally, some other leading causes of heartburn are those that increase the production of acids in the stomach. Tomatoes, citrus, and other acidic foods are often the causes of heartburn. Spicy or deep-fried foods can be a cause as well. Carbonated beverages, such as colas, can up the ante on acid production. Caffeine in coffee and tea can upset the balance as well. In a high stress environment, stress is one of the causes of heartburn. Some types of medication can also increase acid production. There are other medical reasons for an over active acid stomach.

As a top contributor to BestProbioticProducts; Andrew Behling is a leading authority on nutrition, digestive health and probiotics. Discover more about digestive health issues and how probiotics can help by visiting Andrew's Top 10 Probiotic Product Reviews Page at BestProbioticProducts.org