Heartburn can be caused by this serious health problem

Many people feel heartburn after eating a lot. This is usually caused by acid reflux into the esophagus. This condition, known as acid reflux, also often causes belching, flatulence, and nausea and vomiting.

However, pain in the gut can also indicate other, more serious digestive disorders. The following is a review of the causes, how to treat it, and tips for prevention.

Why does the heartburn hurt after eating?

After being crushed in the mouth, the food will move through the esophagus to be digested in the stomach organs. This swallowing movement causes the esophageal sphincter (a ring-shaped muscle that lines the esophagus and stomach) to open.

The esophageal sphincter continues to close as long as no food and fluids move down from the esophagus. If the sphincter does not close completely, food and stomach acid can rise, causing heartburn.

This hot taste comes from stomach acid which is a strong acid. Increased stomach acid also often causes discomfort in the gut, chest pain, or a sour and bitter taste that appears at the base of the esophagus or mouth.

These various uncomfortable sensations are known as heartburn . In most cases, heartburn it is also exacerbated by eating habits to satiety, drinking alcohol, smoking, and consuming very spicy foods.

Pain in the gut as a result heartburn usually lasts a few minutes and may improve after taking antacid drugs. However, consult a doctor if experiencing heartburn up to twice a week or feel the symptoms get worse.

The doctor can provide medicines that suit your condition. If your condition does not improve, your doctor can also suggest further tests to find the cause.

Various causes of pain in the gut

The pain that appears occasionally in the gut is quite normal. However, if this condition occurs repeatedly or you continue to feel it even though you don't finish eating, it's a good idea to get checked out further.

The pain you feel can indicate a disease or disorder in the organs around the solar plexus area, for example, as follows.

1. Gastric ulcer

Peptic ulcer or gastric ulcer is the erosion of the inner lining of the stomach due to the influence of stomach acid. This disease can also occur in the upper small intestine and sometimes the lower part of the esophagus bordering the stomach.

The main cause of stomach ulcers is a bacterial infection H. pylori or overuse of certain medications, especially pain relievers. Infection and drug consumption make it easier for the lining of the stomach to be eroded by acids, which can form sores.

The most common symptom of gastric ulcers is pain in the gut. Other symptoms include:

• stomach ache,
• nausea and vomiting,
• easier to full,
• flatulence, and
• burp often.

These symptoms are quite often experienced by people with acid reflux disease, but not everyone experiences them. The more severe the wound is formed, the more severe the symptoms will appear.

The pain and other symptoms can also get worse when the stomach is empty and only get better after you eat. In more severe cases, internal bleeding can occur which is characterized by:

• lethargic body,
• pale skin,
• hard to breathe,
• vomiting accompanied by spotting of blood, and
• the appearance of blood in the stool.

When bleeding occurs, you may pass dark or black stools or vomit blood that looks like coffee. Bleeding can occur from time to time or occur suddenly, causing life-threatening complications.

2. Gallstones

Gallstones that block bile ducts can cause pain in the gut. Other characteristics include decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting, flatulence, fever, yellow skin (jaundice), clay-colored stools, and pain in the right side of the stomach.

There are 2 types of gallstones, namely as follows.

• Cholesterol stones . This is the most common type of gallstone. It is yellow in color and contains a lot of indigestible cholesterol.
• Pigment stones . This stone is dark brown and black. The color comes from high bilirubin levels.

In many cases, gallstone disease must be treated surgically to remove the stone. You can prevent gallstones by maintaining a healthy body weight, reducing fat consumption, and increasing fiber consumption.

3.Inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis)

Esophagitis is inflammation or irritation of the inside of the wall of the esophagus. This inflammation can be caused by acid reflux, infection, irritation due to the side effects of using certain drugs, and autoimmune disorders.

The main symptom of esophagitis is pain in the gut which can radiate to the right side of the stomach. You may also experience symptoms similar to acid reflux disease such as difficulty swallowing, heartburn , and an abnormal sour taste in the mouth

In addition, other conditions that often indicate esophagitis are:

• pain when swallowing,
• pain behind the breastbone that occurs when swallowing food,
• snagging of food in the esophagus (food impaction),
• heartburn, and
• increased stomach acid to the mouth.

If not treated properly, esophagitis can lead to scar tissue formation, or bleeding. Another complication is Barrett's esophagus , which is a condition when the esophageal cells change to resemble intestinal cells because they are constantly irritated.

4.Inflammation of the stomach (gastritis)

Gastritis is often equated with an ulcer. In fact, ulcers are a layman's term to describe a collection of symptoms of digestive disorders such as:

• stomach ache,
• nausea and vomiting,
• heartburn,
• heartburn ,
• flatulence or bloating, and
• mouth feels sour.

Ulcer is not a disease, but a symptom that indicates a certain disease, such as gastritis. Meanwhile, gastritis is a digestive problem caused by a bacterial infection H. pylori , autoimmune disorders, or abrasion of the stomach wall.

In more severe cases, gastritis can cause bleeding in the stomach. The symptoms are vomiting of blood that looks like coffee grounds and black stool. This condition must be treated immediately to prevent further complications.

5. Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. Apart from heartburn, other symptoms that appear include loss of appetite, stomach pain, fever, increased heart rate, and oily and smelly stools.

Other symptoms of acute pancreatitis include:

• nausea or vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• indigestion,
• fever up to 38 degrees Celsius or more,
• the skin, nails, and whites of the eyes appear yellow, as well
• pain or swelling in the stomach.

In the most severe cases, pancreatitis can cause bleeding, shock, and possibly be fatal. Therefore, you should immediately see a doctor if you experience signs of this disease.

6. Preeclampsia in pregnant women

Pregnant women are the group most prone to experience heartburn. The reason is, the growing fetus will press on the stomach, causing pain. In addition, hormonal changes during pregnancy can also affect the level of pain.

However, persistent heartburn can be a sign of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure.

Apart from that, here are other signs and symptoms of preeclampsia.

• Sudden swelling of the face, feet, hands and eyes.
• Blood pressure becomes very high, which is more than 140/90 mmHg.
• There is an increase in body weight within 1 or 2 days.
• Pain in the upper abdomen.
• Very bad headache.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Blurred vision.
• Decrease in the frequency and amount of urine.
• There is protein in the urine (this is known after doing urine tests).

Preeclampsia can be fatal to both the mother and the fetus. Therefore, you need close supervision from a doctor if you have been diagnosed. Examinations such as blood tests, urine tests, and blood pressure checks are needed to get a precise diagnosis.

Heartburn can be caused by a variety of factors, from eating too much to diseases of the digestive system. In general, pain due to eating habits can be relieved by correcting wrong habits.

However, immediately consult a doctor if pain often occurs, followed by the various symptoms above, or even other symptoms that are not mentioned. The collection of symptoms you experience could indicate a health problem that must be addressed immediately.

How to relieve heartburn or pain

First of all, first identify what is causing the pain in your gut. Pain management related to eating habits is certainly different from pain due to diseases of the digestive system.

After that, you can take the following steps to deal with the pain in your head.

1. Do not lie down after eating

Many of us succumb to the drowsiness of being full and eventually choose to lie down after eating. However, you should put off this desire, as lying down right after eating can make it worse heartburn .

If you feel sleepy after eating, try taking a walk, washing dishes, or doing other activities for the next 30 minutes. The best time to lie down so that your stomach doesn't hurt is two hours after eating.

2. Wear loose clothing

A belt or other clothing that feels tight can put pressure on the stomach, which can worsen the burning feeling in the gut. After eating, it's best to either loosen up any tight clothes or replace your clothes with looser ones.

3. Avoid smoking, alcohol, or caffeine

Cigarettes, alcohol, and caffeine actually make it worse heartburn . This is because all three can weaken the performance of the esophageal sphincter muscle which functions to prevent stomach acid from rising into the esophagus. As a result, reflux of stomach acid is more likely to occur.

4. Position your upper body higher when lying down

Raising the upper body approximately 10-15 cm while lying down can prevent stomach acid reflux and heartburn . This is because when the upper body is higher, gravity prevents stomach contents from rising back up into the esophagus.

Sleeping on a specially designed sunken pillow is another effective option. Most of the pillows sold will raise your head, shoulders, and chest by 30-45 degrees or 15-20 cm to prevent reflux.

In addition, you can use this pillow on your side or sleep on your back without worrying about putting pressure on your neck or head. Even so, you still need to be careful if you prop your body with a pile of pillows.

Make sure your body is not bent, because bending over will increase the pressure on your stomach. This can actually exacerbate the pain in your gut and a burning sensation in your chest.

5. Eat less fatty foods

Fatty food is not something bad for the body. These nutrients are actually needed as energy reserves and to protect organs. However, people who often experience it heartburn should limit their intake of fat.

Excessive consumption of fat can worsen pain, heartburn, and heartburn. Not only that, a diet high in cholesterol that is not balanced with fiber consumption also increases the risk of developing bile stones.

6. Taking drugs

There are various types of drugs that are effective in relieving heartburn as a result heartburn . Here are among them.

• Antacids. Also known as acid reflux drugs, antacids work by neutralizing excess stomach acid. This drug works quickly, but it cannot heal an injured esophagus or stomach.
• H-2-receptor antagonists (H2RA). H2RA works by reducing stomach acid production. The effect is not as fast as antacids, but they can provide pain relief for longer.
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPI). PPI drugs such as lansoprazole and omeprazole work by reducing stomach acid production.

The drugs above are effective at relieving them heartburn quickly and can be purchased without a doctor's prescription. However, if the above medicines don't work or you use them too often, you should consult your doctor.

You may have a medical condition or indigestion that needs to be examined further. Your doctor will likely order a number of tests to look for the cause of your heartburn.

If the cause is proven to be a disease such as gastritis or bile disorders, you certainly need a different treatment. Treatment for you will be adjusted according to each disease.