Heartburn is a burning pain behind the breastbone. It can spread to the throat or even the airways. Heartburn occurs when stomach acid from the stomach enters the oesophagus and irritates the mucous membrane of the oesophagus. Heartburn is often associated with acid regurgitation.
Here you will find further information and selected doctors and centers for heartburn.
It is estimated that around a quarter of all people experience heartburn at least once a month.
The maincauses are
Heartburn occurs in particular when there is pressure in the upper abdomen. This can be the case, for example, if you bend forward or if your belt is too tight.
Heartburn causes unpleasant pain and irritation © Adiano / Fotolia
Risk factors for reflux disease are:
The following are considered triggers for heartburn
Some people also react negatively to hot spices or peppermint oil, or to tomatoes and fresh bread.
If diet is not the cause of heartburn, there are other possible causes.
Many people have a leak at the junction of the oesophagus and stomach. This means that the sphincter muscle at the end of the oesophagus (oesophageal sphincter) is not working properly. This leakage is caused by a hiatal hernia or cardia insufficiency. It makes those affected particularly susceptible to heartburn.
When pressure is applied to the abdomen, the sphincter muscle gives way and acidic stomach contents leak upwards into the oesophagus. These symptoms are therefore particularly typical during pregnancy.
With reflux disease, stomach contents can enter the oesophagus © bilderzwerg / Fotolia
Heartburn usually subsides quickly. This is known as physiological reflux.
However, if heartburn occurs more than twice a week or no longer disappears, it may be due to reflux disease. It is then necessary to consult a doctor.
Heartburn often causes pain that can be localized behind the breastbone. This is accompanied by acid regurgitation and a pressing feeling of fullness in the upper abdomen.
The irritation of the mucous membranes and the rising stomach acid can also cause coughing and hoarseness.
Chronic heartburn or the manifestation of reflux disease can also affect the teeth in severe cases.
Persistent reflux of stomach acid into the oesophagus can lead to inflammation of the oesophagus. In the long term, this can lead to
can occur.
If heartburn does not disappear on its own or occurs more frequently, a doctor should be consulted. The doctor will then examine the patient to find out the cause of the frequent heartburn.
This clarification is usually carried out by means of a gastroscopy (gastroscopy). Additional procedures such as
are necessary. An X-ray examination is another possible examination method for clarifying heartburn.
In the case of acute heartburn, a little warm milk or possibly also
can help. Other household remedies are potato juice or caraway oil. Also
can also alleviate the symptoms.
However, over-the-counter antacids (Maaloxan®, Riopan®) are very common. They buffer the acid and, depending on the preparation, also have a protective effect on the mucous membrane. The herbal preparations Iberogast® and Gaviscon® can also help to improve symptoms. Sodium bicarbonate in the form of e.g. Bullrich-Salz® or Kaiser Natron® is also still used today.
Reflux disease is usually treated medically with medication. Proton pump inhibitors and, if these are not tolerated, H2 blockers are used. Both drugs lead to a sustained reduction in acid production in the stomach. Over 90% of patients can be satisfactorily treated with these drugs.
The medication can be used either as a long-term medication or as an on-demand medication. On-demand medication means that the medication is only used when heartburn occurs. The patient then discontinues them.
The medication only takes effect after more than 30 minutes. This is why a combination with antacids is often used for on-demand medication.
Recently, the use of the preparation Gavicon® has increased significantly. Gaviscon® is an ingredient from brown algae. It swells in contact with stomach acid and thus mechanically closes the passage from the oesophagus to the stomach.
This preparation is often used in combination with or as an alternative to a proton pump inhibitor. Gaviscon® is available over the counter and is not covered by health insurance.
Heartburn can usually be treated by adjusting your diet and taking medication © Lyudmyla V / Fotolia
Rarely, if no other remedies work, surgery may be necessary. This is known as anti-reflux surgery.
If you frequently suffer from heartburn, general measures can lead to an improvement. These include sleeping with your upper body slightly elevated and avoiding foods and drinks that trigger heartburn.
People usually tolerate still water better than carbonated water. Prolonged sitting or working in a bent-over position should be avoided.
It is advisable to keep an interval of at least 2 hours between the last meal and bedtime. If you are overweight, you should lose weight.
The above measures also help with heartburn during pregnancy.
