Everyone experiences heartburn now and again, the feeling in your stomach or chest as if something’s burning your insides. However, if you experience this regularly, you should have it checked, as it could be a sign of a more serious issue.
At Primary Care Walk-In Medical Clinic in Gilbert, Fountain Hills, Mesa, and Scottsdale, Arizona, our providers, Dr. Pankaj Chopra and Dr. Neha Maheshwari, regularly see patients with varying degrees of heartburn. While most cases can be managed well with lifestyle modifications, such as not eating spicy food or drinking alcohol, some require more intervention. Here’s why.
Heartburn is a painful sensation that feels like something is burning the tissue in the middle of your chest near your heart. However, it’s not a heart issue. It’s actually caused by the strong acids in your stomach acid flowing back up the esophagus (food tube), which runs through your chest.
Normally, the lower esophageal sphincter remains closed to prevent backflow, but if it’s damaged and can’t close fully, acid can move up the tube.
When the condition is chronic, you might have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is actually more common than you might think. Some 20% of people in the United States live with it. Fortunately, it’s treatable.
It may be difficult to distinguish heartburn from other types of chest pain. It helps to focus on any other symptoms you might have with it. If you experience burping, a sour or bad taste in your mouth, nausea, or the regurgitation of food, this points to GERD rather than a heart attack or other heart disorder.
Occasional heartburn allows the esophageal lining to heal between episodes. However, if you have chronic reflux, it can lead to long-term complications, such as:
If esophageal tissue is constantly inflamed, it may replace itself with scar tissue that narrows the esophagus, leading to difficulty swallowing and food blockages.
Sometimes the esophageal tissues don’t scar, but instead undergo a different kind of change – they begin to look more like the intestinal lining. Within the esophagus, this is known as Barrett’s esophagus, a precancerous condition.
Esophageal cancer is relatively rare, but there’s a direct pathway from persistent inflammation (esophagitis) to cellular changes (Barrett’s esophagus) that then lead to cancer. The more severe your symptoms, and the longer they go untreated, the more likely you are to develop cancerous cells.
Heartburn from acid reflux may also indicate other digestive problems, such as too much acid in your stomach. This can lead to gastritis and stomach ulcers. Persistent acid reflux can worsen asthma and other chronic respiratory conditions, and if the acid reaches your throat, it can lead to swelling, ulcers, and growths on the tissue.
Many over-the-counter medicines can relieve occasional heartburn.
Antacids help neutralize stomach acid and can provide quick relief. However, they can’t heal a damaged esophagus.
H2 blockers reduce stomach acid production. They don’t act as quickly as antacids, but they may provide longer relief. Two common types are cimetidine (Tagamet HB®) and famotidine (Pepcid AC®).
Proton pump inhibitors also reduce stomach acid. Some drugs in this class include esomeprazole (Nexium 24HR), lansoprazole (Prevacid 24HR®), and omeprazole (Prilosec OTC®).
If nonprescription treatments don’t work or you find yourself relying on them too often, schedule an appointment with us. You may benefit from a prescription-strength medication or further testing to determine the exact problem.
A last-resort option is surgical. The doctor wraps the LES around the esophagus to tighten its seal, preventing backflow.
If you’re feeling the burn in your chest more than just occasionally, it’s time to get it checked out, and Primary Care Walk-In Medical Clinic can help. Walk in, call us at any location, or book an appointment online.
