How to prevent that burning sensation

Joe put down his tools and took a vacation with his family. The first day at the beach was bliss. He leaned back in his chair in the sand and enjoyed a cold beer. He caught a few fish and watched the sunset, ate pepperoni pizza, drank some beers, and enjoyed his family. Vacation was great. Until that evening, when intense burning feeling right in the lower area of his chest, close to where his belly starts, jabbed him. He could taste the stomach acid. Bad ending to a great day; or could it have been prevented?

That burning sensation with the acid in the throat are common signs of acid reflux, also called heartburn or indigestion. Since you know your heart is under your hand when you pledge allegiance, you know heartburn does not affect the heart but gets you over to the right, toward the middle, in the esophagus.

Your stomach produces acid juices to digest your food. A valve between your esophagus and stomach is supposed to keep the acids working in the stomach. When that valve relaxes too much, the acid flows up into your esophagus. You might feel some of the stomach acids in your throat or get that sour taste in your mouth, along with too many burps.

The burning pain comes from the stomach acid irritating your esophagus. Symptoms often occur after you eat a heavy meal when your stomach has produced a large quantity of acid to process that meal and it can get crowded in the stomach, causing the “backup.” When you lie down, the acid can flow back into the esophagus.

Often, you can figure out what triggers the acid reflux for you. Some foods, like tomatoes, chili peppers, oranges, grapefruits, and coffee are common culprits. But aspirin, ibuprofen, and peppermint can also contribute to that burn feeling. Smoking and excess weight are also factors. Beer seems to be problematic too.

Eating foods that are easier on your stomach and eating smaller meals can help you avoid acid reflux. Getting to the right weight can help and, of course, just about everything is better when you don’t smoke. Over-the-counter medications, such as antacids to neutralize stomach acids or an acid-blocking drug may help. Some report that chewing gum and drinking chamomile tea can tame the stomach dragon.

When acid reflux is severe or chronic, it might be gastroesophageal reflux disease. If you suffer with heartburn for more than two weeks, if it is getting worse, and if the over-the-counter medications do not help, you might have GERD. Over time, the continuous rub of the acid on the lining of your esophagus can cause esophageal cancer. If your symptoms persist, it is time to consult your health care provider.

Dr. Nancy Rudner Lugo, local workplace nurse coach with HealthAction.biz, helps individuals and employees understand their health, make healthy choices and achieve their health goals. Send your questions to [email protected]