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Understanding the Different Types of Heartburn
Before you start looking for a solution for heartburn, it is better to understand which type of heartburn you are suffering from. This might sound surprising but the fact is that heartburns are classified under different types, depending upon the cause and severity. If you want to learn more about the various kinds of heartburn, read on.
The Most Common Types of Heartburn
Summer Heartburn:
Summer is the time for outings, for enjoying the yummy fries and cheese sandwiches and also the time of increased heartburn. The sultry heat combined with fatty foods can make you more susceptible to heartburn attacks. If you first experienced heartburn in a similar way, then in all probability you suffer from summer heartburn.
A good rule of thumb is to avoid acidic foods while you are out in the sun and eat light meals that are easy to digest. There are some good natural remedies that can offer instant relief from summer heartburn.
Pregnancy Heartburn:
Pregnancy can bring with it a lot of health problems, heartburn being one of them. But the good news is such heartburn problems go away as soon as the baby is born. Toward the third trimester of your pregnancy, the pressure against your stomach increases. This slows down the digestive process and causes the digestive acids to remain in the stomach for a longer time. This increases the risk of flow-back of acid from your stomach into your esophagus, resulting in heartburn.While there are various natural remedies and other medicines that can treat heartburn, it is important to consult your doctor before taking them.
Nighttime Heartburn:
One of the worst and most painful forms of heartburn attacks is Nighttime heartburn. While other heartburns happen in the daytime and can be dealt with by resting and taking medicines, nighttime heartburn attacks you at a time when you entire body is relaxed and unprepared to handle the pain and discomfort.Why does nighttime heartburn happen? Well the answer is very simple – at night we usually lie in one position for a long time, which causes our esophageal sphincter to relax making it easier for the acid to flow into our esophagus. Another reason is the lack of saliva. For those who don’t know, saliva is your body’s best natural defense against heartburn and at night the secretion of saliva is reduced. This makes us more susceptible to heartburn at night.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD):
A lot of people are well aware of GERD or Acid Reflux or Gastroesophageal reflux disease, which is another form of heartburn, the only difference being that it is more serious and more painful. GERD is much more than heartburn and is an indication of a more serious underlying problem. If you suffer from heartburn more than once a week, and the episodes lasts for hours or days, chances are that you are suffering from GERD and not simple heartburn.
The longer you leave GERD untreated, the higher are your chances of suffering from other serious health problems such as gingivitis, halitosis, laryngitis, interstitial fibrosis, asthma and wheezing. Increased amount of intestinal acids that flow into the esophagus can cause inflammation in the lining of the esophagus, making it a more complex and painful condition.Thus it is advisable to get yourself treated at the earliest. Your doctor can suggest various ways that can help determine the severity of your condition and prescribe medications accordingly.
Chronic Heartburn:
Chronic heartburn is a general term that is used to refer to heartburn attacks that occur 2-3 times a week and are more severe in nature. Before finding the best remedy for treating chronic heartburn, it is a wise idea to consult your doctor. Since frequent heartburn attacks can be an indication of other diseases like GERD. It is best to get all your tests done and know the real reason behind the frequent heartburn attacks. As with all other types of heartburn, there are some highly effective natural remedies that can help you treat chronic heartburn and also provide relief from the pain and burning sensation. Knowing the type of heartburn you suffer from can make it easier to determine the cause for your heartburn. This helps in avoiding the triggers and finding the best remedies for treating those painful heartburn episodes.