Help!! I have really bad heartburn, what could be the reasons 4 me havin this? And wot works best 4 it?

Answer:
Think of your stomach as a finely crafted container built to hold acid. As long as the container does its job, the acid isn't likely to cause any trouble. But the valve that connects the stomach to the esophagus sometimes leaks, allowing acid to splash upwards.Normally, everything that's in the stomach is kept from escaping upward by a band of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES, located where the bottom of the esophagus intersects with the stomach. The LES valve opens when you're swallowing food, but otherwise is supposed to be clamped tight. If it begins to open too easily, the contents of the stomach -- food or acid -- can back up into the esophagus. The esophagus isn't designed to handle acid, so the leakage usually causes discomfort and a burning pain.Most people have heartburn every once in awhile. But if acid frequently escapes into your esophagus, the pain will be a regular part of your life. This condition is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Heartburn is the most important symptom of GERD, but it's not the only one. Instead of a searing pain, some people have a sour taste in their throat (acid regurgitation). Other symptoms include a pain in the chest, as if food was "stuck" there, and abdominal pain. Nausea may also be a symptom of GERD. Anything that weakens the valve can set the stage for heartburn and GERD. Diet is a common culprit. Large meals, fatty foods, citrus or tomato-based foods, chocolate, peppermint, and caffeine can all make the LES valve open abnormally. Alcohol can irritate the valve as well as the mucous membrane of the esophagus. Smoking relaxes the valve, leading to symptoms of acid reflux; it can also cause the stomach to secrete more acid. Pregnancy and obesity put extra strain on the valve, often causing frequent heartburn.Some people with severe, chronic heartburn have a hiatal hernia, a condition in which a small portion of the stomach slides up into the chest through the opening that the normal esophagus passes through. This means the stomach joins the esophagus higher in the chest, often leading to a weaker LES. The hernia is an anatomic abnormality, or defect, that may or may not be associated with GERD -- though recent studies suggest that it may contribute to the disease. (Many people with heartburn don't have hiatal hernias, and some hiatal hernias cause no symptoms.)Heartburn -- or a heart attack?Believe it or not, the symptoms of a heart attack can closely mimic the symptoms of heartburn and indigestion, especially among women. Far too often, people with chest pain reach for an antacid when they should be calling 911.You can avoid a potentially fatal mixup by paying close attention to your symptoms. Heartburn usually ignites a burning pain that runs from your stomach to your breastbone, and it's often accompanied by a sour taste in your mouth. Heart attacks, on the other hand, may cause a prolonged heavy feeling or squeezing pain in your chest. (Angina, or heart pain, causes similar pain that lasts just a minute or two.) Although pressure chest pain is more commonly associated with heart disease spasm of the esophagus may cause the same symptoms. It's best to assume the pain is coming from the heart, get emergency help to rule the heart out as a cause, then focus on the esophagus. Other potential symptoms of a heart attack include dizziness, nausea, sweating, shortness of breath, weakness, overwhelming anxiety, and pain that spreads into the jaw, shoulder, or down the arm.Timing is also important. While heartburn usually flares up after a meal, heart attacks and angina are often triggered by exercise, but may come on at any time.If you have ANY doubt about whether you're having a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Trouble down the roadAn occasional bout of heartburn isn't anything to worry about. But frequent bouts of pain may be a sign that your esophagus is in danger. Over time, acid can eat away at the lining of the esophagus, causing painful sores and even bleeding and scarring. This condition is called esophagitis. In some people with acid reflux, the esophagus produces cells that closely resemble cells from the intestines. This condition is called Barrett's esophagus. Barrett's esophagus, in turn, increases the risk of cancer of the esophagus -- the fastest increasing cancer in the Western world. If you have Barrett's esophagus, your doctor will want to follow you regularly for signs of cancer by doing endoscopy on a regular basis.So if heartburn is causing you pain or discomfort, or if you have trouble swallowing, see a doctor right away. Controlling the burnA few simple lifestyle changes -- perhaps combined with a couple of not-so-simple changes -- often bring great relief from heartburn. Even if your case is severe, a little self-help can go a long way.Here are some important steps to take:鈥f you smoke, do whatever it takes to quit. This will not only improve your symptoms of GERD, but greatly lower your risk of heart disease, cancer, and many other serious health problems.
鈥void high-fat foods such as oils, fried foods, butter, and mayonnaise, and monitor your reactions to citrus, chocolate, mints, and any other items that give you trouble. Try to avoid the things that cause symptoms of heartburn, especially if they're on the above list.
鈥at smaller meals, and avoid those late-night snacks.
鈥ry to eat three or four hours before getting into bed. Don't lie down within three hours of a meal, because lying flat just after eating is likely to result in a bad case of acid reflux.
鈥o for a walk after meals if possible (this may also help with gas and bloating).
鈥f heartburn bothers you at night, try raising the head of the bed four to six inches, perhaps by sliding blocks of wood under the bedposts. (Putting an extra pillow under your head probably won't help and can even make heartburn worse.) Lying on your left side or back seems to be better than lying on the right side of stomach.
鈥ose weight if you're overweight: getting rid of a few pounds can make a big difference.
鈥void tight clothing, including restrictive belts and "control-top" underwear.
鈥on't bend over from your waist after a big meal.
鈥ut back on alcohol. Some specialists in GERD recommend gradually quitting alcohol entirely.
鈥at more yogurt. Although there is no firm data on this issue, some physicians interested in complementary medicine recommend this food to heartburn patients. Yogurt with live cultures of beneficial bacteria may aid in digestion and help promote a healthy intestinal tract.
鈥ucking on an antacid tablet, as necessary, may offer relief by stimulating saliva as well as bathing the esophagus with antacid. Chewing a stick of gum 30 minutes after a meal may also help prevent heartburn by stimulating saliva. Don't chew mint-flavored gum, however, because that can affect the valve between your stomach and esophagus. Because people tend to swallow air when they chew, it's also a good idea to avoid gum if you suffer from gas.

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Go to chemist and ask them for advice.

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A lot of time heartburn is from diet. Try not to lay down right after eating, and avoid spicy foods, carbonation, and dairy products. That worked best for me. Plus take OTC Prilosec, that seems to help. If it's really bad, you should see a doctor.

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I've heard apple cider vinegar really helps your stomach out. If you drink it before eating, your stomach realizes it has enough acid and doesn't make so much of its own.

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Try peppermint cordial it's great for heart burn. It could of been something you ate acidic?

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I get it to. Some food cause it, I notice if I eat fried, frozen food I get heartburn. They have some over the counter stuff you can take but if its really bad than you should go to the doctor's and they might suggest a diet and certain food to avoid and medicines.

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Go to the Doctors, Sassy, it may be something like oesophagitus

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A food allergy, alcohol, eatting to spicy of food, what eatting changes have you made since it started? what schedule changes or alteration to your routine? Use liquid anti-acid, don't drink anything else for at least 30 minutes after you take it. If over the counter anti-acids do not help, and you can not identify a change in your eatting habits and times, then I suggest a trip to the doctor. Heart burn should not go un-treated for to long or it will be a life long problem.

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Some antacid tablets should clear it up.
If you don't usually get it it could just be down to alcohol (white wine always does for me!), spicy food, too much coffee, eating too quickly.
I get it all the time though. I've been told it could be a hernia or even a sign of an ulcer! So, if you get it frequently it's best to see a doctor. I'm not going to go yet though - I don't want them to stick that camera thing down my throat!

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Heartburn is usually caused by your diet, but if it continues you need to speak to your GP in case there's a underlying reason .
I find drinking peppermint tea good

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Spicy foods,smoking,pregnancy,stomac... ulcer,hiatus hernia to name but a few. Go to the chemist and ask for ranitadine/zantac or omeprazole. If it carries on for a few days though go and see your GP for a proper diagnosis.

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Don't want to be rude, but could you be pregnant ?

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Smoking is the worst thing followed by alcohol intake. I used to smoke and had really bad heartburn all the time, I would not leave the house without a bunch of antacids. I quit smoking and started taking (Nexium) I have not had heartburn for almost a year now. Apple cider vinegar before a meal is also very helpful however it must be raw, unfiltered.
Take 1 OZ with a glass of water 1/2 hour before a meal
Get off those antacids ASAP because they can cause all kinds of other problems.

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This could be a number of medical reasons for this. First question are you or could you be pregnat? If this only occurs after eating it is most likley the food you ate. Take som tums or rolaids. These are actly good for you they have lots of calicum in them. But if this continues to happen you need to see a dr it could be acid reflux, hiatal hernia, etc. causing thes symptoms. Try to pay attention if it happens after a spicy foood or after eating at all, if not see you dr. Most preg. women experience heartburn also. Just a suggestion lol

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You probably just have GERD(Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) this is the medical term for Heartburn. When you eat the food goes into the esophagus and down to the stomach. But, before it goes into the stomach it goes past the LES(Lower Esophageal Sphinctor) which is a little valve that opens to let food in and closes to keep it in and stops it from coming back up and entering the esophagus. Basically, anything that weakens the LES(Lower Esophageal Sphinctor) or the valve that keeps stomach contents from coming back up into the esophagus can cause that burning sensation that people call heartburn.Lots of things can weaken the LES.
Spicy foods, fatty foods, acidic foods(tomotoes, pizza, oranges, orange juice etc..), caffeine-coffee and chocolate(it has caffeine in it). Limit these foods or pay attention after you eat them and determine what effects you the most and the avoid it!Also, gravity helps keep food in your stomach. So, when you lay down you don't have gravity helping you. That is why you should always wait 2 hours before laying down after eating. You can also try using a wedge pillow or elevate the head of your bed at least 30-35 degrees. Some over the counter medication is okay, but you probably want to see your doctor and get a prescription that can help you. Humans produce up to 2 Liters of stomach acid every day. Sometimes, you need prescription medication to help. They can also make sure nothing else is wrong. You could always have testing so the doc can look down into the esophagus to check for tissue damage. People with chronic GERD can have damage to the the esophagus and even some have something called barret's esophagitis. It is when the cell in the esophagus change abnormally. So, it is important to try and get your GERD under control so it doesn't cause long term problems. I noticed some people stated that you might be pregnant. This is because a lot of pregnant women complain of worsening GERD symptoms. Good Luck!!

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if your heartburn is chronic you should see your GP and get an ulcer bug test, either blood or ' breath test' can be used. If positive, which means you are affected by helicobacter pylorii, then a cure is possible. Ulcer disease was thought to be lifestyle related when I was a student, however we now know 85% of it is due to this infection.The other common cause is GORD = gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. This has steadily increased as it is often lifestyle related. It increases with increasing weight. Weight loss, taking small frequent meals, not eating late and elevating the head end of the bed are non-pharmacological ways of reducing symptoms. antacids and Gavisccon/Peptac ( both seaweed and chalk mixtures) help the symptoms but often need to be taken frequently. Acid lowering drugs like H2 blockers ( cimetidine + ranitadine) or PPIs ( omeprazole) are longer acting. They are all now available over the counter. On the down side the doses you can buy are smaller than those prescribed and if they are needed chronically are much cheaper via a prescription.Overall many patients do avoid their GP and do buy OTC medication for heartburn, overall however there are distinct advantages in a consultation.

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Change your diet.

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Gavascon liquid from your drug store is great.

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