What are the Main Causes of Heartburn?
If you have ever experienced the pain and discomfort that comes from heartburn you soon start on your mission to find out what are the many causes of heartburn so you can avoid them from now on. When someone has heartburn it can be mild to severe. In some cases, people who suffered from heartburn went to the hospital mistaking the pain for a heart attack.
What causes Heartburn?
There are several foods and even beverages that can cause someone to feel heartburn immediately or a few hours after digestion. Some of the most popular foods or drinks that can cause heartburn include:
garlic
onion
hot spices
foods like chili, spaghetti, pizza, or lasagna
mint
citrus fruits
chocolate
caffeinated drinks
fried foods
Food and beverages are not the only factors that can be one of the many causes of heartburn in fact there are several causes of heartburn. Some of these factors include
pregnancy
smoking
overweight
alcohol
stress, nervous or eating in a hurry
How Do You Know When You Have Heartburn?
There are several different conditions that have similar pain like heartburn and you may be experiencing something more severe. Some examples of other conditions that may feel like heartburn include GERD, or Gastroesophageal reflux disease, Hiatal Hernia, or Peptic Ulcers. These conditions all have some degree of pain in the chest leading you to believe that it is just a bad case of heartburn. Because there are several causes of heartburn you need to see your doctor before it gets out of hand. Heartburn will usually occur shortly after eating a meal, especially a large meal. You may also feel a burning feeling behind the breastbone and may feel like it is slowly going up toward your throat. You may have a sour or bitter taste in the mouth that you can't get rid of. The causes of heartburn may lead to a few minutes of pain or a few hours.
Because there are several different causes of heartburn your doctor may ask you to keep track of all the causes of heartburn. When you go to your doctor's appointment take your notes so you can go over it with your doctor. Follow your doctor's orders when you return back home. Note what works and what don't. Avoid all the foods that you think are causing your heartburn. When eating out or away from home you need to stick with foods that you know will not cause your heartburn to arise. You can enjoy life as long as you know the causes of heartburn.