I’m having a Heartburn for the first time at age 19. What does this mean?
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at
12:22 pm
I ate some garlic recently and maybe because of food allergy, it caused a severe heartburn, which never happened to me before in my entire life. I started drinking fennel tea and changed my diet. After few days, it got a lot better, but it still comes back when I eat certain food.
So my question is, at what age do people usually get heartburn for the first time? Will I be ok if I keep doing this diet? Am I having chronic heartburn? thanks
Filed under: Heartburn Diets
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Heartburn is that burning sensation you experience under your breastbone after you’ve eaten something you liked that didn’t like you. Sometimes it’s mistaken for a heart attack. Or worse, a heart attack may be labeled as heartburn.
Heartburn s the result of esophageal reflux, which is the failure of the lower esophageal sphincter (the middle at the end of the esophagus). Normally this muscle relaxes to let food into the stomach, then immediately contracts to close off the esophagus from the stomach contents. But if the muscle weakens–a common result of pregnancy and, sometimes, obesity–acid and bile from the stomach can back up into the unprotected esophagus and irritate it, causing a burning sensation in the chest.
Many foods can trigger heartburn. Peppermint, spearmint, fatty foods and chocolate are among the most menacing. Citrus juice, tomato products, coffee (yes, even decaff!), tea, colas, and alcohol can also aggravate or initiate heartburn.
Certain drugs also have been indicted. Progesterone in oral contraceptives, nicotine, the tranquilizer Valium, antibiotics such as tetracycline, asthma medications such as aminophyulline, and certain heart medicates are just a few examples. The acidity in Vitamin C tablets can also cause the problem.
Heartburn can also be disease related. The major symptom of a gastric ulcer is a burning, gnawing pain, usually felt throughout the upper part of the abdomen and sometimes in the lower chest. It usually occurs just after eating and can last from half an hour to three hours. The problem can come and go, with weeks of intermittent pain alternating with short pain-free periods. A duodenal ulcer produces a similar gnawing pain, usually confined to a small area in the upper middle abdomen but sometimes radiating throughout. The pain is often temporarily relieved by eating but then returns several hours later and lasts for a couple of hours. It’s often worst at night. In fact, nighttime aggravation us such a telltale sign that if you are being awakened by pain the wee small hours, take that as a clue that you may have a duodenal ulcer.
Responses:
The first reaction to an attack of heartburn is usually to take an antacid tablet such as Rolaids and lie down. But it’s the wrong reaction. The best way to get immediate relief from heartburn is to take a liquid antacid such as Mylanta and sit up. Sitting up helps reduce the pressure against the lower esophageal sphincter muscle. And while antacid tables may be more convenient, .liquid preparations have the edge because they coat more of the surface of the esophagus and stomach, providing more soothing relief.
Antacids contain at least one of four neutralizing ingredients–sodium bicarb, calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide–each of which can have its own set of side effects. For this reason, antacids should be used only for occasional bouts of heartburn. Long-term use should be monitored by a health care professional.
Antacids containing calcium carbonate such as Tums and Alka-Mints and Aluminum hydroxide such as AlternaGel can cause constipation. Sodium-containing products can load up your system with sodium. AND ANY ANTACID CAN INTERACT WITH CERTAIN ANTBIOTRICS< HEART MEDICARTIONS AND OTHER DRUGS.
To minimize attacks, avoid the foods or drugs that aggravate heartburn. This can be done by keeping a food diary and noting which food or foods bringing on an attack.
In addition, you should eat small, frequent meals instead of infrequent, heavy ones, eat your last meal of the day several hours before bedtime, rinse your esophagus frequently by lowing slipping water throughout the day and avoid lying down after meals.
If heartburn is a frequent problem at night, raise the head of your bred four to six inches. This will elevate your upper body without folding you in half which can aggravate the condition. And avoid using extra pillows for the same reason.
You can get heartburn at any age, I’ve seen babies treated for it. Certain foods can cause heartburn and I just try to avoid the trigger foods. But a lot of other things can cause heartburn so if it continues I’d consult with my doctor.
Lol..heartburn isn’t for oldies. I started getting it at age 11! It just means you ate something that triggered something in your body to cause it. Eating a certain food causes it, but if you notice that you get it after eating EVERY meal, something is wrong.
Could be acid reflux, or a yeast infection in the stomach. Both are treatable.
Try eating bland foods for a few days to see if the pain subsides. If not, see an Internist. Could also be a small tear in the esophagus where it meets the stomach, or a hietial hernia.
The diet change is good. But when you do get heartburn you should just take a couple Tums and that should take it away.
If you find yourself taking like 10 Tums a day you should start on other medicine like Pepcid, Zantac, Previcid or NEXIUM.
Start with Pepcid or Zantac at the lowest strength.
After a month re-evaluate your condition. You may be able to go back to just taking Tums when you have a problem.