Heartburn

Many people suffer from heartburn. This can cause serious irritation. That is why we would like to take the time to explain how heartburn arises and what can be done about it. Be sure to read on for tips and tricks!

What is it exactly?

Stomach acid is an aggressive liquid that we need to digest food and kill bacteria. Stomach acid is therefore necessary, but too much can cause symptoms.

The stomach itself is safely lined with a thick layer of mucus and is therefore well protected against stomach acid. The oesophagus, on the other hand, is vulnerable to corrosive acid. Stomach acid can therefore disrupt the oesophagus.

Heartburn manifests itself in:

• Burning pain in the lower part of the chest
• Burning pain may also radiate to the throat
• Can cause sour/bitter taste in the mouth.

How does heartburn (reflux) occur?

The food we eat, when we swallow, passes through the oesophagus (tube that runs from the pharynx to the stomach). At the junction of the oesophagus and the stomach is the sphincter. This sphincter opens when food passes from the oesophagus to the stomach. As soon as the food is in the stomach, the sphincter closes again.

Only when there is a tear or too much pressure at the sphincter do gastric juices run back into the oesophagus. This is when you suffer from heartburn. Be sure to read on to find out what can cause heartburn.

What causes heartburn?

1. Stress can change eating habits. Eating too much or too little can worsen heartburn symptoms.
2. Tight clothing & going down on your knees (stooping). This pushes the acidic stomach contents upwards. This will also cause you to suffer from heartburn.
3. Overweight. When you are overweight, there is too much pressure on the stomach. This can lead to a small tear in the diaphragm, resulting in heartburn.
4. Lying down too soon after eating: in a lying down position, the stomach contents can leak out more easily.
5. Smoking. Nicotine can cause the sphincter to weaken and the stomach to no longer seal properly.
6. Lazy stomach. Delayed gastric emptying causes food to remain in the stomach longer than normal. It is likely that there is an excess of acidic gastric juices.

What to do about heartburn?

• Do not consume large quantities in one go. It is better to eat 6 smaller portions per day.
• Live more healthily and change your habits.
• Avoid stress (may be different for each person).
• Reducing or (who can) stopping smoking altogether.

You can do this before/at bedtime:

• Lie on the left side. This is better for the stomach than sleeping on the right side.
• Make the head end of the bed 10 to 15 centimetres higher than the foot end.
  PLEASE NOTE: just putting an extra pillow under your head is not a good solution!
• Wear loose clothes to sleep. Tight clothes can put pressure on the stomach.
• Eat the evening meal at least 3 hours before going to bed. This gives the stomach enough time to process the food. Do not eat too large and fatty meals in the evening either.