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A Different Kind of Heartache: Heartburn Symptoms in Women

Women are prone to all sorts of heartaches, from worrying about their children to wondering what their husbands are up to. However, nothing is quite as bad as the pain experienced during a severe bout of heartburn! Heartburn symptoms can hit you out of nowhere and often violently. It feels as though someone has just poured strong acid down your throat and it burns, hence the name heart burn. This usually occurs as a result of eating something that does not agree with you or perhaps something that is too spicy. Heartburn symptoms in women causes are unclear much of the time. Of course pregnancy can carry quite a risk of heartburn, not only during the early stages but also toward the end when the baby is pushing against the esophagus.

Treating Heartburn Symptoms during Pregnancy

As with any other ailment or condition, heartburn in pregnant women can be quite a nuisance. This is of course because it is not safe to take over the counter medications of all kinds when you are pregnant. For this reason, treating the heartburn could be a little bit trickier. The first suggestion for pregnant women is to make sure that no meals are eaten within about 2 hours of lying down. This can be difficult as pregnant women find themselves hungry so often. If you cannot go without eating before bed, choose something light such as a yogurt or perhaps a few soda crackers. Avoid nuts and potato chips and other salty snacks. Sugary snack such as cookies are also culprits many times and could lead to heartburn.

General Heartburn Symptoms in Women Treatment

Obviously a woman who is not pregnant or breast feeding a baby will have many other options available. There are several remedies for heartburn symptoms. If a natural remedy is desired then Aloe Vera juice is a very good choice. This can usually be found at your local health food or natural foods store. However, if you are looking for an inexpensive and quick fix for heartburn symptoms then you may try using baking soda and water. Yes, this does sound a bit unappealing and it is a bit salty and bitter, but it really works. Use ¼ of a teaspoon to about 4 oz. of water, mix very well and drink it down. In slight cases of heartburn this should be enough to solve the problem. Nevertheless, if there are more severe symptoms that seem to last longer then you may want to talk to your doctor about the possibility of an underlying condition.

Medical Conditions Associated with Heartburn Symptoms

Acid reflux disease is one of the most common illnesses that can lead to chronic heartburn. It is ordinary for someone to have heartburn once in awhile but when it begins to happen frequently, this could be a concern. With heartburn symptoms caused by acid reflux disease the best treatment is usually some kind of daily acid reducer such as Pepcid or Zantac. It is very important to control the symptoms of heartburn as excess stomach acid is no laughing matter and can lead to serious complications such as GERD.

While it may not be quite as common, the onset of a heart attack can sometimes mimic heartburn. Keep in mind a couple of rules of thumb. If you have not eaten or had anything to drink in more than 3 or 4 hours, you should not be having heartburn symptoms. Heartburn that does not seem to go away or even alleviate slightly is cause for further investigation. If you are experiencing anything like this do not hesitate to seek medical attention.

At this link you will find information about heartburn in children

June 29th, 2011 | Category: Heartburn Symptoms | Leave a comment

Understanding GERD Symptoms

Anyone who has ever suffered through GERD symptoms will know that they go beyond a mere annoyance. Some people experience symptoms which are relatively mild while others have what they classify as excruciating pain. However, even though GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) originates in the stomach, most often the severest of symptoms are in the throat. Sometimes it is simply referred to as heartburn, but the actual condition doctors refer to as GERD is much more severe than a simple case of heartburn or acid reflux.

In some cases of GERD symptoms throat pain is quite severe and over time can also develop into other diseases as a result of ongoing acidic reflux. But in the beginning, GERD symptoms may be mild enough to simply be written off as indigestion. The reason for this ‘self misdiagnosis’ is clear because of how GERD presents. Food that is eaten is supposed to pass through the throat, through the stomach and on through the digestive tract. With GERD, there is a breakdown in a ring of muscles that are meant to prevent food from regurgitating back up into the esophagus and throat.

Because of all the acidity in the contents of the stomach, GERD symptoms throat discomfort is quite common. Unfortunately, although GERD symptoms throat relief is available for temporary relief, the most severe cases of GERD can cause permanent damage to the esophagus over time. If you have been experiencing symptoms that mimic heartburn more often than would be probable with simple heartburn, it is suggested that you speak with your physician at the earliest possible opportunity.

It is suggested that you try to control GERD symptoms with intelligent lifestyle choices. For example, foods that are overly acidic will just tend to exacerbate the problem if you are having a particularly troublesome bout. Also, GERD symptoms women experience when pregnant can actually prove to worsen the ‘morning sickness’ that is part and parcel of a normal pregnancy. If you are unsuccessful in reducing or eliminating GERD symptoms with pharmaceuticals, naturopathic antacids or lifestyle changes, surgery may be a viable option. Some physicians can perform an endoscopic procedure if the symptoms are not too severe while there may be times when major surgery is required. In any case, getting an accurate diagnosis of GERD is of primary importance before assuming this is what you are suffering from. Just as some symptoms mimic GERD, so too can GERD symptoms mimic other, more serious, diseases.

June 18th, 2011 | Tags: , , , | Category: GERD Symptoms | Leave a comment