Have you ever experienced a painful sensation in your chest? That is heartburn and it involves the upper digestive tract.
Despite the name, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart itself.
Heartburn symptoms are sometimes confused by some sufferers as the signs of a heart attack.
Some foods cause a strong reaction with the stomach acids during digestion.
During these times often a small amount of acid forces its way into the sensitive esophagus and this is the cause of the moderate to severe pain that we know as heartburn.
The esophagus, which connects the mouth to the stomach, should under normal circumstances have no exposure to the acids in the stomach.
Inside the stomach is a layer of mucus.
This mucus protects the stomach lining from the acids created for digestion.
There is no mucus lining or similar protection for the esophagus.
The only thing stopping the acids from entering the esophagus is a sphincter muscle close to the stomach.
This muscle, also known as the lower esophagus sphincter, or LES, is a one-way valve.
Sometimes the LES can become weak or even overwhelmed.
This then allows the juices in the stomach to enter the sensitive esophagus, irritating it and causing heartburn.
In severe cases this is also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or known as GERD.
Most heartburn sufferers have a condition called acid reflux.
This is normally a temporay condition and is not GERD.
Acid reflux is sometimes caused by eating spicy foods or large amounts of food.
This causes the stomach to be overwhelmed and may lead to a churning sensation and may even cause a urge to vomit.
Depending on the severity of the heartburn, the esophagus may be affect by heartburn all the way to the vocal cords.
In severe cases, heartburn can cause unbearable pain in the chest and may even lead to difficulty in speaking.