How does heartburn after eating occur?
The food we eat travels from the mouth to the stomach through the esophagus, and the normal mechanism is that the food passage through the esophagus should be one way; that is, food should pass from the mouth towards the stomach. Organs are in place to keep the food from traveling back up to the esophagus.
In some cases, however, the acid will traverse the reverse direction and move from the stomach towards the mouth, through the esophagus. One reason for this is there may be a defect in the esophageal sphincter, which is a valve-like structure at the end of the esophageal tract and at the top of the stomach.
What causes the burning sensation?
The problem here is that the esophagus is not protected by the protective layer found in the stomach. This is why a burning sensation in the chest region is felt when this regurgitation or backflow happens. This is known as heartburn, sometimes also called acid indigestion. The pain is usually felt in the middle of your abdomen and the chest region. In some cases, the pain is also felt up to the throat. Despite the term ‘heartburn’, this condition is not associated with any problems involving the heart. It should be mentioned, however, that frequent heartburn can be one of the symptoms of a heart ailment.
Which foods trigger heartburn?
There are certain food items that trigger the occurrence of heartburn. Some of these food items and substances include citrus fruits, chocolates, garlic, onions, tomatoes, caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, oily foods, fried foods, and chillies. Thus, if you regularly suffer from heartburn, it would be best to avoid these food items completely. Overeating is also one of the major causes of heartburn; you have to avoid heavy meals if you are suffering from frequent heartburn.
How to prevent heartburn after eating
Another common cause of heartburn is going to bed immediately after eating. The food items that we eat needs some time to settle in the stomach. If this period of digestion is ignored, there will be greater chances for heartburn to occur. You should provide at least 2 hours to digest your food prior to going to bed. During this gap, some of the food items in the stomach are sufficiently digested and absorbed, freeing you from heartburn.
When you go to bed, always stack your pillows high to allow food to settle in the stomach, with the help of gravity. Eating smaller meals – albeit more often during the day – will prevent the occurrence of the symptoms of heartburn. Pregnant women are especially prone to having heartburn because the growing baby presses on the stomach, often forcing food back into the esophagus.
Many people suffer from heartburn after meals, but it only takes simple changes in habits to solve this problem.
