If heartburn is a regular occurrence in your life then you don’t need an explanation of what it is. However, just for the record, it’s the reflux of stomach acid traveling back into the esophagus or food pipe and causing irritation such as a burning sensation which is felt from mid-chest to the top of the throat.

It’s not a very comfortable feeling to suffer it once in awhile, in fact it virtually stinks however, imagine someone suffering heartburn twice or more a week. That’s what we call frequent heartburn.

Living With Heartburn

This is an all too familiar scenario. It’s almost a catch 22 situation for frequent heartburn sufferers. You need to eat however, the frequency of attacks can lead a person to skip meals altogether.

Difficulty swallowing and breathing after consuming a meal from an episode always plays heavily on the mind. It’s not uncommon for heartburn sufferers to suffer weight loss as a result of skipping meals. This is never recommended and a dangerous way to shed pounds.

Consequences

Frequent heartburn can disrupt your quality of life including work and social activities. Suffering an attack at work means trying to deal with it and maintain concentration and focus on the job at hand.

It’s not uncommon for frequent sufferers to suffer from concentration problems which can lead to lack of productivity. Then there is the social scene. How can frequent heartburn affect one here? In many ways including declined invitations to outings involving lunch or dinner as well as alcohol and activities involving any form of exercise such as bike riding and tennis.

Another area frequent heartburn can rear it’s ugly head is during sleep. 20-25% of the population in the US is said to have their sleep patterns affected by heartburn more than once a month. This is a staggering statistic and further evidence of it’s impact in society. Interrupted sleep patterns affect a person’s behavior due to tiredness and irritability.

What Can You Do?

If you are already implementing a plan to avoid frequent heartburn attacks in your life then that’s a good start. For those who think it’s simply their lot in life think again.

There are some excellent resources available to sufferers and the first step you should consider is seeing your local physician. Together, you can devise a plan based on the regular nature of your attacks, the food common with each attack and an adjustment to your lifestyle.

People with constant heartburn should be aware that left unchecked, it can lead to more serious problems with the worst case scenario being esophagus cancer. But it doesn’t have to get to this if you take the necessary precaution.

The Symptoms Of Constant Heartburn

Pain is a symptom of constant heartburn. It’s a condition which can totally upset your quality of life and can play havoc with your digestive tract. Here are some other symptoms associated with it:

- Inflammation can result from stomach acid entering your esophagus and irritating the lining which in turn can result in a burning sensation all the way up into the throat.
- Difficulty swallowing
- asthma like symptoms such as wheezing and coughing
- Erosion of the esophagus lining could result in bleeding or even ulcers.
- Sour taste in the mouth from acid or bile travelling back into the throat

Controlling Consatnt Heartburn Symptoms

Quality of life is jeopardized when heartburn is at a chronic stage. Discuss with your doctor the symptoms you are experiencing and devise a plan to at least control it. Things you could avoid or do apart from the known food triggers you should avoid include:

- avoiding over-the-counter pain killers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory products which have the ability to produce more stomach irritating acids
- asking your doctor about non NSAIDs.
- women should consider talking their doctor about birth control pills which could have a similar effect to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- eating smaller meals and thoroughly chewing your food

These are just some suggestions to consider and may not apply to everyone with constant heartburn. However, your doctor is best placed to decide what you should avoid and do to control it. He/she can only do this if you keep a record of when attacks occur especially if they follow the consumption of a particular food or medication.

The effects of constant heartburn can be dangerous if left unchecked. There are ways to control it but you need to make the first move. The price you pay for ignoring the symptoms could be hefty.

In a nutshell, heartburn occurs following stomach acid traveling back into the esophagus leaving a person feeling everything from nausea to a bitter taste in the mouth. For many, this is not a regular occurrence but for others, it’s common and it’s known as persistent heartburn.

Symptoms Of Persistent Heartburn

Persistent heartburn means you are experiencing symptoms at least twice week and means something more sinister could be at play. Heartburn is a symptom of GERD and other tell tale signs include:

- difficulty swallowing
- food traveling back into the mouth after swallowing
- burning chest pain
- coughing and sore throat

Obviously seeking medical advice is the best alternative because unchecked, more serious complications could arise. Acid rising back into the esophageal can lead to serious damage overtime. Constant heartburn not treated could result in ulcers in the esophageal or stricture which means the esophageal narrows over time. Worst case scenario may be developing Barrett’s esophagus which in turn could result to esophageal cancer.

Treatment For Persistent Heartburn

Your doctor will evaluate your condition and make the necessary recommendations. For example, medications can be effective in relieving and treating symptoms and combined with some lifestyle changes, symptoms can usually be kept at bay. Lifestyle changes means identifying the triggers associated with an attack and avoiding them.

A shortlist of triggers will include certain types of foods such as acidic fruits, chocolate and spicy foods, coffee, smoking, tight clothing and being overweight. Lifestyle change means making adjustments in these areas and this is something you need to identify every time you experience the symptoms of heartburn and report to your doctor.

Choosing the right medication when you have persistent heartburn should be something left to your doctor to decide. Problem with self-medicating is every sufferer has different triggers which set off an episode and your doctor can save you a lot of trial and error by prescribing you the appropriate medication from the beginning.

Other Treatments

Many persistent heartburn sufferers report relief from natural herb teas such as chamomile which can provide a soothing process on the stomach. Ginger is used in Asian cultures to provide similar relief and also relieves to an extent, that nauseas feeling.Ginger contains anti-inflammatory qualities which can aide in soothing irritation in the lining of the stomach.

Discuss these options with your doctor as they may be helpful assists to any medication which may be prescribed.

You need to asses your heartburn so you are aware of how serious your problem is.  Don’t just put up with it, because it really does serious damage that can progress without you being aware of it.

Ask yourself; do you experience it weekly, and does it have an impact on your daily life?  Does it effect your sleeping, and do you take any medication that could possibly be contributing to its severity?  If your answer is positive to even one of these, you need to see your doctor.  Even if you are already taking medication, you should have it reviewed.

If you do experience reflux or heartburn symptoms that impact your life, you may have GERD.  GERD stands for gastrointestinal esophageal reflux disease.  This definitely requires immediate treatment before it severely damages your esophagus.  Don’t try and put up with it as it isn’t the wise option.

The esophagus is the tube that joins your stomach and your mouth.  When acid doesn’t stay in the stomach as it should, it rises up the esophagus and causes burning and irritation.  Sufferers may have trouble swallowing, nausea and vomiting and indigestion with burping.

Most people will have reflux at some time or another, however, those who suffer from it regularly should heed the danger signs.  There are so many treatments available that stop the symptoms, which are what causes the long term damage.  Even if your reflux is chronic, you can still take something to stop the pain.

You definitely need to examine your diet and lifestyle if you have reflux.  Many people find they can eliminate the problem by recognizing which foods activate it for them.  Eating late at night is a definite contributor, but if you watch your habits closely, you will find other foods that trigger it for you.

Alcohol, fried food and caffeine can all be a common cause, and those with excess weight will benefit from a good eating plan.  Note all your observations down and make an appointment to visit your doctor.  It will help them work out the severity of your problem and decide which treatment plan is most suited to you.