Handling Heartburn

It's estimated that ten percent of Americans, some 30 million, suffer from heartburn at least once a week.

What is it, and how can people head if off, or at least minimize its effects?

Early Show medical correspondent Dr. Emily Senay says, first off, heartburn doesn't really involve the heart.

The discomfort in the upper abdomen occurs when digestive juices back up from the stomach and enter the esophagus, the tube that connects our mouths and throats to our digestive organs. The reflux typically occurs when a muscle that closes off the connection between the esophagus and the stomach relaxes, or is just too weak to do the job. Digestive juices aren't supposed to flow upward, but if the sphincter muscle isn't doing its job, they can. Those juices have a high acid content, so they can irritate the esophagus. They also can literally put a bitter taste in our mouths.

Generally, Senay continued, heartburn isn't a serious health threat. Most cases of acid reflux are more annoying than truly harmful. But especially-prolonged or severe cases have been known to cause severe irritation, or even cancer, of the esophagus. Damage to the esophagus can make swallowing difficult, or trigger both acute and chronic coughing, as well as asthma. When acidity spills over from the digestive system into airways, reflux can also damage the lungs.

To try to minimize or end acid reflux, people can buy antacids sold both over-the-counter and by prescription.

But some of the most basic steps involve watching what we eat. Certain foods can make stomach acid more caustic. And if you suffer from acid reflux, you should try to avoid them. They include fried and fatty foods, coffee and alcohol, and fruit juices or carbonated beverages. Also, products containing chocolate or mint, and condiments, including ketchup, mustard, tomato sauce and vinegar. And whatever people eat, they should do it in small portions, and avoid eating meals less than two or three hours before bedtime.

Senay also pointed out that acid reflux is yet another of the many harmful consequences of smoking. So if you smoke, stop.

People who are overweight are more prone to acid reflux. So losing excess pounds is a good idea, through exercise as well as diet.

And you can also combat acid reflux while you're fast asleep! If you raise the level of the head of your bed about four-to-six inches above the foot, gravity may help to hold the acid down in the stomach, where it belongs.

But what if you think you've tried everything, and your acid reflux won't go away?

That, Senay advises, could be the time for your doctor to take a closer look, literally. You might be asked to swallow a barium solution that highlights abnormalities on an X-ray. You may also be asked to undergo an upper-endoscopy, which is considered an even more accurate exam. That's where the doctor numbs your throat, then slides a flexible tube with a light and a camera lens down into the esophagus. Other tests include tissue biopsies, and special tests to measure when and where acid is at its highest concentrations within the esophagus. Information from these tests enables the doctor and patient to refine the treatment routine and improve its effectiveness. It may also be a signal that more aggressive treatments, such as surgery, might be needed.