What are Common Heartburn Causes?

If you are seeking information on heartburn causes, there is a good chance that you already know first hand how uncomfortable that burning sensation can be. Although most people describe the pain as coming from the chest, quite often, it’s actually triggered by the esophagus. Also, contrary to what you may assume and despite the deceiving name, heartburn causes have nothing to do with your heart!

Heartburn Causes

It is your digestive tract that is ultimately behind your heartburn causes. Your lower esophageal sphincter muscles that open to your stomach have the function of opening and closing to let food pass through.

When they relax and become open, gastric acids rise up through your esophagus and cause burning because the lining becomes irritated and even inflamed. It is also common in severe cases for the acids to rise up into the mouth, causing damage to the enamel of your teeth.

One of the main heartburn causes is applied pressure. When your stomach is full, do you sit or lay down right away? This could be why your suffer from heartburn because all that food is just sitting there. The best thing that you can do is keep moving for a minimum of 15 minutes to jump start digestion.

When you lay down, the esophageal sphincter muscles relax and acids begin to rise. This is why pregnant women and the obese often suffer from symptoms because the added pressure from extra weight is applied to these muscles.

Heartburn Symptoms

In addition to the burning sensation in the chest, many people also have a bitter or sour taste in their mouth from the acids. These acids not only taste unpleasant and do damage to the lining of your esophagus, tooth decay and destroyed enamel are serious concerns as well. Some individuals may experience bloating, nausea and discomfort in the jaw and upper arms too.

Heartburn vs Heart Attack

Many people confuse heartburn with a heart attack for good reason. Heartburn is uncomfortable for most but it can cause extreme pain for others. If you have never had an actual heart attack, it’s easy to mistake that burn in your chest for one. Also, since heartburn can cause discomfort in the upper arms, it’s common for the individual to panic and focus on this pain and assume that it’s a heart attack symptom.

It should be noted that heart attack symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea and pain in the chest and left arm. If you experience these symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately. Even if you are only experiencing heartburn and possibly a panic attack from fear, you are better safe than sorry!