You Might Want to Put That Chilli Pepper Down
Heartburn can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, and it’s easy to panic when we feel sudden symptoms come on. But don’t worry—it’s usually a completely benign phenomenon that affects almost everyone at some point! With that, let’s explore some common reasons why it happens and some symptoms to be aware of.
1. Being Overweight
Unfortunately, being overweight can cause a lot of health problems—and it’s even scarier when it impacts your chest. A few extra pounds can put more pressure on your stomach, which can increase your risk of heartburn.
2. Heavy Meals
We all love a good helping of lasagna, but massive meals are the quickest way to feel the burn. Large portions, especially when paired with triggering foods like chocolate or citrus, can cause serious trouble down the line.
3. Spicy Foods
You may love spicy foods, but they don’t love you. Capsaicin (the compound that makes spicy food hot) is a well-known perpetrator in our systems; it can speed up digestion, which leads to diarrhea, and can also irritate our esophagus by potentially causing stomach acid to come back up.
4. Pregnancy
A good chunk of pregnant women experience heartburn during their journey. Anything from hormonal changes to slowed digestion can do the trick, and it’s one more thing to worry about during those nine months.
Anastasiia Chepinska on Unsplash
5. Resting Too Quickly After a Meal
It might seem like a good idea to hit the hay after dinner, but a quick lie down does more harm than good. When you immediately rest after a large meal, gravity can’t do its job of keeping stomach acid down—which means it might come bubbling back up.
6. Citrus Fruits
Who doesn’t love a good lemon wedge in their water glass? For all their health benefits, citrus fruits can still do a number on our digestive systems. All that acidity only makes it harder on your esophagus and can also exacerbate symptoms.
Cristina Anne Costello on Unsplash
7. Medication
Certain medications can promote heartburn, so it’s best to speak with your doctor about any new prescriptions. Birth control pills and ibuprofen are common suspects, but other medications like antidepressants and sedatives can do it too.
8. Stress and Anxiety
They weren’t kidding when they said stress is bad for your health! Chronic stress and anxiety can absolutely cause heartburn, mainly because of stomach acid production and a weakened tolerance for discomfort as things pile up.
9. Smoking
Smoking does nothing good for your health, and we can officially add heartburn to its list of downfalls. Nicotine relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which can then cause stomach acid to bubble up more easily.
10. Hiatal Hernia
These hernias occur when the upper part of the stomach tries to poke through the diaphragm—and that does a serious number on your system. Among other things, it disrupts the LES and can encourage stomach acid to come back up your esophagus.
With a few major causes out of the way, it’s time we dove into common symptoms you should keep an eye out for.
1. Burning in the Chest
Most heartburn is accompanied by a burning sensation in the chest. That burn is particularly bad after heavy meals or even if you bend down (remember what we said about gravity). You’ll typically feel it around your breastbone, though you can also experience it in your throat.
2. Sour Taste in the Mouth
There’s a lot of unpleasant stuff happening in your mouth during heartburn, which is exactly why you’ll taste it. All that stomach acid mixed with saliva usually leaves a sour taste behind, and you’ll notice it bubbling back up.
3. Exacerbated Pain When Lying Down
As mentioned, lying down after a heavy meal is one of the worst things you can do—though we understand the temptation! If you do rest your head after dinner, stay on the lookout for exacerbated burning in the chest.
4. Burping
Heartburn sufferers tend to swallow more often during an episode. More swallowing means more air, which then leads to burping. Though unpleasant, with any luck, you’ll be out of the woods after a few minutes.
Ekaterina Belinskaya on Pexels
5. Nausea
Not everyone experiences nausea, but chronic acid reflux (or GERD) can cause more severe symptoms. Nausea and vomiting can occur from stress, the sour taste, certain medications, or even backwash.
6. Persistent Hiccups
Nobody likes the hiccups, but they might make an appearance during heartburn. With acid reflux irritating the esophagus, your diaphragm is just as easily impacted, which could mean a bout of hiccups. The good news is that they’re not a common symptom!
7. Bloating
Bloating doesn’t happen as often as chest pain or a hoarse voice, but it can still affect people with heartburn. While it occurs more often in those with chronic acid reflux, it’s still worth keeping an eye out for at home.
8. Sore Throat
Our throats are pretty sensitive, so acid reflux irritates them more than we think. With so much gas and potential backwash bubbling up, our throats can only handle so much. Depending on how long your heartburn lasts, that sensitive tissue could get put through the wringer.
9. Difficulty Swallowing
As you can imagine, if heartburn impacts your throat, it’ll definitely impact your ability to swallow. Acid reflux not only damages your esophagus, but it can even scar it over time. Chronic sufferers might also experience inflammation.
10. Hoarse Voice
From burping and hiccuping to esophageal irritation, it’s hard to be heard! Don’t be surprised if your poor voice goes a little hoarse, especially during a rough battle with heartburn. It’s not as common in people with GERD, but it affects nearly everyone with LPR (or silent reflux).
