| The medical dictionary describes heartburn as "a | | | | esophagus when you swallow if they haven't been |
| burning discomfort behind the lower part of the | | | | completely chewed! |
| sternum" | | | | When we swallow our food is forced down our |
| Heartburn can be quite uncomfortable at times with | | | | esophagus and into the stomach by a wavy |
| the pressure in your chest and pain so bad you might | | | | squeezing motion. The medical term for this is |
| think you are having a heart attack. This pressure can | | | | "peristalsis." Picture squeezing the contents out of a |
| even radiate into your back or your arm and may | | | | sausage casing. The sausage meat is pressing against |
| cause numbness. | | | | the casing as you force it out. |
| As a matter of fact people often mistake the | | | | Our esophagus works much the same way and if we |
| symptoms of heartburn for signs of a heart attack. | | | | fail to completely chew our food up before we |
| However pain from a heart attack is made worse by | | | | swallow, then any little bits of harsh or crunchy foods |
| physical activity, and is usually accompanied by one or | | | | are going to scratch or damage the delicate cells of |
| more of the following: chest pressure, shortness of | | | | our esophagus when we swallow. This damage is |
| breath, fatigue, total loss of energy, nausea, or vomiting. | | | | usually in the form of tiny cuts or lesions. |
| Other symptoms may also present. | | | | Then when we swallow acidic beverages like coffee, |
| On the other hand heartburn is not usually caused by | | | | orange juice, tomato juice, or acidic foods they will |
| physical activity. However, if you think you are having a | | | | come in direct contact with these sores or lesions and |
| heart attack, or you're not quite sure, it's important that | | | | the result is pain. It's much like spilling vinegar on a cut...it |
| you seek medical attention immediately. Call 911 | | | | will sting or cause a burning sensation. |
| People that experience heartburn usually have | | | | A simple burp will even expel acidic stomach gases |
| damaged the delicate cells of their esophagus which it | | | | into our esophagus and when these gases come in |
| is very easy to correct, once they know exactly how | | | | contact with the damage in our esophagus we will |
| it got damaged in the first place. | | | | also experience a pain or burning sensation behind the |
| Most people today have a very busy life and they | | | | breastbone. People that don't have any damage to |
| tend to rush everything they do, and this would also | | | | their esophagus can burp and the gases are expelled |
| include eating. | | | | up the esophagus with no pain symptoms what so |
| It's such a RUSH-RUSH world that people don't stop to | | | | ever. |
| enjoy their food anymore and they take even less | | | | Even if we don't belch and we are just suffering from |
| time chewing up the foods they do eat. Considering | | | | indigestion and bloating the acidic stomach gases can |
| that we extract most of our vitamins and minerals | | | | seep past the Lower Esophageal Sphincter valve and |
| from our food during the chewing process it's not really | | | | reflux into our esophagus. When they come in contact |
| healthy to gulp our food down until it is entirely | | | | with any damage that is present we will undergo pain |
| chewed-up, because we are missing out on valuable | | | | or a burning sensation. It is very rare that the actual |
| nutrients that our bodies need to function properly. | | | | liquid contents of our stomach reflux into the |
| Harsh and crunchy foods such as crackers, toast, nuts, | | | | esophagus it is usually just the acidic stomach gases |
| popcorn, sports bars, and other crunchy foods will | | | | which contribute to heartburn. |
| actually scratch and damage the delicate cells of the | | | | |