Heartburn is one of the forms of gastritis.
Heartburn Gastritis is defined as inflammation of the lining of the stomach including heartburn and gastro-enteritis, the distinction is not always obvious. These digestive disorders most frequently.
Heartburn can occur for example after a meal, this condition is characterized by a burning sensation in the sternum, is the result of rising acidity (reflux) into the esophagus.
If this occurs after a meal, a therapy with anti-acids available in pharmacies only.
However if the pain lasts (from about 3 to 4 weeks) or is not intense and casual, a medical consultation is needed to determine the cause. The doctor may prescribe prescription medicine against heartburn.
Causes of heartburn
The causes of gastritis (in general) or more precisely, heartburn can be numerous:
- Bacterium Helicobacter pylori, the latter leads to gastric inflammation: the revolutionary discovery for medicine was awarded in 2005 by the Nobel Prize in medicine.
- Stress and / or other psychological problems: because the digestive system has more nerve cells than the brain! Thus a link between the nervous and digestive system is a reality that the patient and the physician should more often take into account. In caregiver stress can therefore in some cases significantly reduce heartburn.
- When medication stomach irritants such as certain anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs = (acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, diclofenac, mefenamic acid ,…) or anti-inflammatory drugs (cortisone ,…).
These drugs may greatly irritate the stomach lining and can cause ulcers (sometimes leading to bleeding) and heartburn. Many other classes of medications can also lead to gastrointestinal complications (antibiotics, acetylcysteine …).
- Feeding poorly adapted (too acidic food, greasy, spicy, consits, too much alcohol …). In this case and in gastric complications we speak rather of gastro-enteritis
- Hiatal hernia (muscle between the stomach and diaphragm)
- Improper closing of the valve between the oesphage and entry of the stomach.
- During pregnancy or excessive weight (due to increased pressure on the stomach)
- Infectious agents (such as certain viruses, it refers to this as more of a gastro-enteritis)
- Allergies or pseudo allergic to certain foods or medicines
- Causes genetic (= hereditary causes)
- Overproduction of stomach acid with or without known reason
- Malformation in the stomach
Also note that sometimes the cause of gastritis is not found.
Symptoms of heartburn
- Heartburn cause a burning sensation in the chest, the pain usually occurs behind the breastbone and back toward the throat (at the esophagus). An acid or bitter taste may be present in the mouth. Heartburn may also be associated with acid reflux and cough. Symptoms are often worse after eating.
- Please note that occasional heartburn or taking place on a short term (3 to 4 weeks) may be cured by self-medication, however, if symptoms are severe and prolonged, a medical examination is necessary. In the worst cases, the risks of bleeding and even cancer can occur.
- A gastritis can lead to symptoms of heartburn, severe pain, diarrhea, spasms, …
Depending on the seriousness, ask a health professional.
Here are some natural treatments to treat stomach acid or heartburn:
Medicinal Plants
The following medicinal plants were able to show some efficacy against heartburn or heartburn, the efficiency is relative (compared to conventional drugs) and it appears to be more of a complementary measure rather than treatment of first choice:
>> The true sweet flag (calamities), to take tea
>> Boldo, to take as a tea or in tablet
>> Chamomile true, to take as a tea
>> The celandine, take the form of drops or tablets (note use of drugs ready for use, not to make one’s own medicine)
>> Cabbage, generally take the form of juice.
>> Cumin, to take as a tea
>> Lemon balm, to take tea, drop or capsule.
>> Mint, to take tea or tablet
>> The Yarrow, to take tea
>> The rule to take as a tea
Tags: Bacterium Helicobacter pylori, Causes of heartburn, gastro-enteritis, natural treatments, Symptoms of heartburn
