Most of us are familiar with the nasty feeling that is characterized by a sensation of burning in the throat and regurgitation with an acidic taste in the mouth. When we eat food, it passes through our esophagus and reaches the stomach where it is mixed with acidic juices and enzymes. Heartburn happens when this partially digested acidic food is propelled back to the esophagus and causes inflammation and physical damage. In order to prevent heartburn, it is first important to understand its common causes. Find them here:

• The habit of smoking
  It is no surprise that smoking makes it to the list here. Among many other ill-effects on human health, smoking is also known to reduce the functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter, making it more likely to allow reflux of food from the stomach to the esophagus. If you are a smoker who also suffers from heartburn occasionally, you know what to do – quit smoking.

• Certain dietary components
  We consume certain foods that have a propensity to cause heartburn . These include caffeine (from coffee, chocolate, and carbonated drinks), alcohol, acidic foods like grapefruit, pineapple, tomatoes, and oranges etc. Cutting down on these might alleviate the occurrence of heartburn in some individuals.

Additionally, food rich in fats disrupts the functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter and increases the frequency and severity of heartburn. A simple way to prevent heartburn, in this case, is to avoid fatty food and processed food.

• Certain medications
  Like certain food items, certain medications like ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin might cause heartburn in sensitive individuals. If you take any of these medicines regularly and also suffer from heartburn, then you should discuss it with your doctor. Sometimes, replacing these medicines with other drugs with similar action relieves heartburn.

• Pregnancy and weight gain
  It is not uncommon for many pregnant women to experience heartburn, especially towards the later stages of their pregnancy. This happens because the growing fetus increases the pressure in their abdominal cavity and makes it more likely to experience acid reflux and heartburn. Thankfully, this kind of heartburn is temporary and gets resolved soon after childbirth.

In individuals with unhealthy weight, heartburn may happen because of the sluggishness of abdominal functions. If this is the case, then getting rid of excess weight will automatically solve the problem.

• Pre-existing diseases and medical conditions
  Persons suffering from diseases like scleroderma, sarcoidosis or those that cause inflammation of the esophagus are more likely to experience heartburn. Also, people suffering from a hiatal hernia have an increased tendency to suffer from heartburn . In such cases, completing the treatment and getting rid of these conditions will resolve their problem of heartburn, too.

It is important to understand the cause of heartburn before it becomes severe. If ignored, it may lead to complications like ulcers and internal bleeding. Heartburn, if recurrent, should not be ignored and be brought under medical examination immediately. The patient should continue medication as prescribed by the doctor, take care of his/ her diet and maintain an active lifestyle to prevent recurrent episodes of heartburn.