What are the causes of heartburn?
September 4, 2022 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Babette Kleine
Dear Doctor,
My name is Ben Krebs and I am reaching out to you because I have been suffering from severe heartburn for some time now. It mainly occurs after eating and I feel like it is getting worse. My primary care physician has already prescribed me acid-reducing medications, which provide temporary relief, but do not solve the problem permanently.
I am concerned that there may be a more serious underlying cause for my heartburn. I have already tried to avoid certain foods and change my diet, but so far it has not brought about any long-term improvement. I wonder if there may be an underlying condition causing my heartburn and if further investigations are necessary to find the cause.
Could you please explain to me what possible causes of heartburn are and what tests would be useful to determine what is causing my symptoms? Are there alternative treatment methods that could help in the long term? I would like to be able to live without discomfort again and look forward to your expert advice.
Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
Ben Krebs
Dear Ben Krebs,
Thank you for your message and trust in my professional expertise. I'm sorry to hear that you are suffering from severe heartburn and that the current treatment with acid-suppressing medication has not provided long-term relief. Heartburn is a common problem that affects many people, and it is important to find the cause in order to initiate appropriate treatment.
Heartburn is usually caused by the reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus. This can have various causes, including a malfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter, which should normally prevent stomach acid from reaching the esophagus. A hiatal hernia, where part of the stomach slides into the chest cavity, can also cause heartburn. Other possible causes include overproduction of stomach acid, certain medications, obesity, smoking, or alcohol consumption.
Further investigations are necessary to determine the exact cause of your heartburn. An upper endoscopy (gastroscopy) can provide clues to inflammation, ulcers, or other changes in the esophagus and stomach. A biopsy may also be taken to rule out certain conditions such as Barrett's esophagus or Helicobacter pylori infections.
Additionally, other tests such as pH monitoring can be performed to measure the acidity in the esophagus and check the function of the lower esophageal sphincter. It is important to conduct these investigations to initiate targeted therapy and rule out any serious conditions.
There are also alternative treatment methods that can help with heartburn. These include adjusting dietary habits, avoiding certain foods that can exacerbate heartburn, as well as natural remedies such as ginger or chamomile tea. Relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation can also help reduce stress and alleviate heartburn.
I recommend scheduling an appointment with a gastroenterologist to undergo the necessary tests and develop an individualized treatment strategy. It is important to talk to your doctor about your symptoms and openly discuss all your symptoms and treatment history.
I hope that my information is helpful to you and that you will soon find a suitable treatment to alleviate your heartburn in the long term. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.
Best regards,
Babette Kleine
