ICD-10 | R12. |
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ICD-9 | 787.1 |
Heartburn or pyrosis is a painful and burning sensation in the esophagus, just below the breastbone usually associated with regurgitation of gastric acid.[1] The pain often rises in the chest and may radiate to the neck, throat, or angle of the jaw. Heartburn is also identified as one of the causes of chronic cough, and may even mimic asthma. Despite its name, heartburn actually has nothing to do with the heart. It is so called because of a burning sensation of the breastbone where the heart is located although some heart problems do have a similar sensation to heartburn. Compounding the confusion is the fact that hydrochloric acid from the stomach comes back up the esophagus because of a problem with the cardiac sphincter, a valve which misleadingly contains the word "cardiac", referring to the cardia as part of the stomach and not, as might be thought, to the heart.
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Relief is often found by raising the head of the bed, raising the upper body with pillows, or sleeping sitting up. Avoid pillows that raise the head only, as this does little for heartburn and places continuous strain on the neck. Eating a big meal causes excess stomach acid production, and attacks can be minimized by eating small frequent meals instead of large meals especially for dinner. To minimize attacks, a sufferer may benefit from avoiding certain foods that stimulate excess acid secretion and/or relax the opening between the stomach and esophagus. Acid fruit or juice, fatty foods, coffee, tea, onions, peppermint,chocolate, or highly spiced foods are to be avoided, especially shortly before bedtime.[2] While there are clearly other health-related benefits associated with dietary interventions a zealous recommendation for dietary restrictions is not evidence-based, and there is stronger support for reducing the symptoms of acid-reflux found in behavioral changes such as eating less and elevating your head while sleeping.[3] Tight clothing around the abdomen can also increase the risk for heartburn because it puts pressure on the stomach, which can cause the food and acids in the stomach to reflux to the LES.
Antacids, H2-receptor antagonists, alginates, proton pump inhibitors, and other alternative treatments are used to treat heartburn.
Antacids work by neutralizing excess stomach acid. Therefore, although stomach acid will still splash into the esophagus, it will be neutralized, leading to decreased or absent heartburn symptoms. Antacids provide fast relief of symptoms, but relief typically lasts for only 20-60 minutes.
A simple and relatively harmless way to treat a one-off heartburn is to drink a solution of a small amount of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) mixed with water, which quickly neutralizes the acid that causes the pain. Excess sodium intake, however, is thought to raise blood pressure and cause other health problems.
Often called H2 blockers, H2-receptor antagonists work by decreasing the amount of acid the body releases into the stomach. H2s are systemic, meaning they require absorption into the bloodstream in order to work. Therefore, H2s can often take 30 minutes or longer before they start working, and therefore are often taken to prevent heartburn rather than for fast relief of symptoms.
Alginates work differently than antacids and H2 blockers, by forming a protective barrier in the stomach that prevents stomach acid from refluxing back up into the esophagus. Alginic acid is naturally derived (from brown seaweed) and is non-systemic. Alginates provide faster relief than H2-receptor antagonists and PPIs, and longer-lasting relief than antacids. This is also known to have a better overall outcome for relief.
Proton pump inhibitors, called PPIs, are a class of medications which can be effective for people who do not respond to antacid or acid blockers. Proton-pump inhibitors are systemic and directly block acid production in the stomach cells. In order to prevent heartburn the medication disfigures and disables the proteins (proton pumps) that control the pH of the stomach, allowing the body to digest them. Proton-pump inhibitors are not fast-acting, but provide long-lasting relief. PPIs are intended to be short-term medications only.
Restricting diet is very important, since approximately 90-95% of sufferers of heartburn or esophageal disorder can link their symptoms to specific foods. [4] Therefore, it is important that heartburn sufferers manage their diets as a way to treat their heartburn. Sufferers should choose the kinds of foods and drinks which have little risk of causing acid reflux, while some kinds of foods or drinks should be avoided as they are major heartburn triggers. Specifically, it has been shown that fatty foods and caffeinated beverages can cause the symptoms of heartburn.
Alternative treatments are usually pursued by those either looking for a more natural way of treating their symptoms without medication or those looking for a quick fix. Some treatments include raising one's sleeping bed at a slight angle so that the head is slightly located about the feet. This small angle is intended to prevent gastric acid from rising in the esophagus and causing pain. Other alternative options include homeopathy and laparoscopic surgery of the esophagus.
Controlled Carbohydrate Diet 1. [1] 2. [2]
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