Severe heartburn: causes, treatment, what to do if nothing helps

Nausea and dizziness due to heartburn

Major gastrointestinal diseases

Irritable bowel syndrome. Functional bowel disease, manifested by dyskinesia of one of the departments. The appearance of this disease can be caused by disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system, strong reflex disorders that occur with the development of organic ailments of the digestive system, for example, with ulcers, cholecystitis, cracks in the intestines, gallstone disease or other diseases.
Parasitic diseases. Often people do not even realize that weakness, headache, belching and other symptoms appear due to parasites that have penetrated inside the body. Such patients often develop a rash, lumps under the skin, headaches and stomach pain, and vision deterioration. The symptoms described above are typical when the body is infected with roundworms.

Dizziness, heartburn and nausea also occur with other pathologies. In addition, in some cases, medications can cause weakness, heartburn and headache. If the body regularly reacts this way to a drug, the doctor should choose another medication for the patient. If this cannot be done, discomfort can be eliminated with the help of additional medications - they will relieve headaches, dizziness, weakness, belching and other side effects of medications.

About the connection between heartburn and nausea and headaches

Diagnostics

General medical examination. Examination of the patient allows the doctor to assess his condition. The specialist must examine the patient's oral cavity and skin. So, there may be plaque in the mouth, and rashes on the skin, which often indicates gastrointestinal diseases. A physician examines the epigastric part of the patient's abdomen. However, this is often not enough to make a correct diagnosis.

Listening. A research method based on studying the nature of sounds that accompany the activity of certain organs. Listening is carried out through the use of special devices that amplify or filter the sound without them.
Probing. Instrumental diagnostic method. The abdominal probing method is used to assess gastric secretion when diagnosing mucosal functions. Today, for this purpose, an elastic probe is used, the diameter of which is 4-5 millimeters. Administration into the stomach does not provoke the urge to vomit. In addition, if necessary, the probe can be left inside for an hour or an hour and a half. This will allow a more detailed assessment of the function of gastric juice secretion. The diagnostic procedure must be carried out on an empty stomach.
Endoscopic medical examination. In this case, the abdominal cavity is examined using a special device - an endoscope. It is administered through the esophagus.
X-ray diagnostics. Such a study of the condition of the stomach allows us to determine the shape, location and functioning of the organ. The examination is carried out using a probe. In this case, the patient should not eat anything before the procedure.

Treatment

Ways to eliminate discomfort

General therapy

Dietary recommendations

do not eat expired or stale foods;
control the amount of food you eat, do not overeat;
reduce the number of products that cause gas formation;
do not eat fatty, overcooked, smoked foods.

For food poisoning and heartburn, it is recommended to eat soft foods that will not damage the irritated mucous membrane. The attending physician will help you create a detailed menu taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient’s body.

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Attention! The information published on the site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation for use. Be sure to consult with your doctor!

Prevention

Prevention is practically non-existent because the only thing that can be done is not to eat stale food, maintain hygiene, eat healthy foods, do not abuse stimulants and do not use alcohol or drugs.

If signs of nausea are noticed, you should limit your food intake until symptoms improve. It is advisable to drink still water, eat soft foods without spices, without large amounts of sugar or salt.

This is a natural reaction of the body to get rid of poisons (for example, after an overdose of alcohol or drugs).

If you have recurring nausea or other symptoms associated with it (such as stomach pain, fever, headache, restlessness, fever, loss of appetite), be sure to consult your doctor.

Nausea and dizziness due to heartburn

Major gastrointestinal diseases

Irritable bowel syndrome. Functional bowel disease, manifested by dyskinesia of one of the departments. The appearance of this disease can be caused by disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system, strong reflex disorders that occur with the development of organic ailments of the digestive system, for example, with ulcers, cholecystitis, cracks in the intestines, gallstone disease or other diseases.
Parasitic diseases. Often people do not even realize that weakness, headache, belching and other symptoms appear due to parasites that have penetrated inside the body. Such patients often develop a rash, lumps under the skin, headaches and stomach pain, and vision deterioration. The symptoms described above are typical when the body is infected with roundworms.

About the connection between heartburn and nausea and headaches

Diagnostics

General medical examination. Examination of the patient allows the doctor to assess his condition. The specialist must examine the patient's oral cavity and skin. So, there may be plaque in the mouth, and rashes on the skin, which often indicates gastrointestinal diseases. A physician examines the epigastric part of the patient's abdomen. However, this is often not enough to make a correct diagnosis.

Listening. A research method based on studying the nature of sounds that accompany the activity of certain organs. Listening is carried out through the use of special devices that amplify or filter the sound without them.
Probing. Instrumental diagnostic method. The abdominal probing method is used to assess gastric secretion when diagnosing mucosal functions. Today, for this purpose, an elastic probe is used, the diameter of which is 4-5 millimeters. Administration into the stomach does not provoke the urge to vomit. In addition, if necessary, the probe can be left inside for an hour or an hour and a half. This will allow a more detailed assessment of the function of gastric juice secretion. The diagnostic procedure must be carried out on an empty stomach.
Endoscopic medical examination. In this case, the abdominal cavity is examined using a special device - an endoscope. It is administered through the esophagus.
X-ray diagnostics. Such a study of the condition of the stomach allows us to determine the shape, location and functioning of the organ. The examination is carried out using a probe. In this case, the patient should not eat anything before the procedure.

Treatment

Ways to eliminate discomfort

General therapy

Dietary recommendations

do not eat expired or stale foods;
control the amount of food you eat, do not overeat;
reduce the number of products that cause gas formation;
do not eat fatty, overcooked, smoked foods.

Copying site materials is possible without prior approval if you install an active indexed link to our site.

Attention! The information published on the site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation for use. Be sure to consult with your doctor!

Very strong burning sensation

It is worth paying attention to the fact that if a person experiences a strong burning sensation infrequently, then in principle there is nothing serious about it. However, constant terrible pain and heartburn indicate a disease that occurs in the body and which needs to be identified.

First of all, you need to reconsider your diet, what dishes it consists of. If the patient has constant terrible pain and heartburn, you need to avoid foods that provoke the formation of additional acid in the stomach. If the reason is the quality of nutrition, then by correcting it, you can get rid of the burning sensation. However, even after all food irritants have been excluded and heartburn still persists, this is a reason to immediately consult a doctor.

Heartburn and nausea

Any manifestations have a cause, so even harmless heartburn and nausea should not be ignored or treated independently.

Causes and signs of heartburn and nausea

Many people have experienced problems associated with these symptoms. A burning sensation cannot occur without any reason: it is more often observed in diseases of the digestive system, accompanied by high acidity.

It can begin with a disdainful attitude towards a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition: abuse of alcohol, carbonated drinks, fatty and fried foods, fast foods.

Under the influence of provoking factors, the gastric mucosa is disrupted (it becomes thinner, gradually loses its protective qualities, and experiences irritation), which is accompanied by heartburn and nausea.

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Almost every woman experienced nausea during pregnancy. For some, it is constant and incessant, and starting in the morning it can end in the late evening.

And some expectant mothers feel sick solely from pungent odors and stuffiness. Basically, nausea in pregnant women is observed in the first trimester; during the rest of the pregnancy it is quite insignificant and does not interfere with life.

Therefore, each pregnant woman has individual toxicosis and passes differently.

This leads to incompetence of the esophageal sphincter, heartburn, nausea and even vomiting. The body of a pregnant woman is characterized by slower peristalsis, which can cause slower evacuation of contents through the gastrointestinal tract, irritation of its walls by its own acid, and pain.

Headache can be a symptom of many diseases.

An accurate diagnosis can only be made after examination...

Most people suffer from heartburn and headaches from time to time. These conditions usually occur separately and are not related, but can occur together when taking certain medications. Many migraine medications are known to cause headaches as a side effect. Additionally, some heartburn medications may also cause mild to severe headaches if taken over a long period of time or in large quantities.

There are also foods that have been linked to heartburn and headaches. For example, caffeine helps some people reduce migraine pain, but at the same time can cause digestive upset, including heartburn. This particularly applies to drinks such as soda and coffee, both of which are irritants to the stomach and esophagus.

Patients who use caffeine to treat headaches may need to consider alternative treatments if their treatment method causes heartburn. The effectiveness of using caffeine-containing foods and drinks for this purpose is usually no greater than the potential discomfort from heartburn or indigestion.

For some people, caffeine helps relieve migraine pain, but at the same time it can cause digestive upset, including heartburn.

This is not necessarily a side effect of the syndrome itself, but can be caused by stress. After the patient makes adjustments to the diet, the digestive system disorder becomes less pronounced, and the headaches go away without any treatment. At the same time, you can take an over-the-counter medicine prescribed by your doctor.

In some cases, patients who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome report frequent headaches as symptoms.

Sometimes both heartburn and headache can be associated with stress. Untreated anxiety syndrome can cause them. It causes increased stomach acid production as well as tension, creating ideal conditions for heartburn and headaches. Treatment may include over-the-counter medications that relieve symptoms, as well as prescription medications designed to treat stress . Usually both symptoms go away when the patient gets rid of anxiety.

Treatment

If unpleasant and uncomfortable symptoms often bother the patient and become permanent, visit a doctor as soon as possible. Medications will help eliminate the root causes of the disease and its symptoms (dizziness, headaches, belching, etc.).

Treatment of such manifestations depends on the causes that cause them. To eliminate unpleasant symptoms, you first need to get rid of the underlying disease that provoked them.

A favorable prognosis for the condition will be if the cause of nausea and belching is a violation of nutritional rules (eating quickly on the go with swallowing air). The correct approach to the food process (thorough chewing, exclusion of provoking foods) completely normalizes the condition.

After identifying diseases of the digestive tract, the prognosis depends on the nature of the process and the timeliness of the treatment started. In some situations, urgent surgical intervention may even be necessary (acute appendicitis, complications of gastric and duodenal ulcers); if a tumor is detected, a planned surgical operation is prescribed.

Brain diseases that cause nausea and belching require long-term and highly qualified treatment.

For thyroid disease, hormone replacement therapy quickly improves the condition.

Comprehensive treatment of infections of the digestive system leads in most cases to complete recovery and elimination of symptoms.

Unpleasant symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract will not appear if the following rules are followed:

avoid haste while eating;
do not talk during meals;
rarely eat fatty and fried foods;
do not get carried away with fast food (street food);
eat only high-quality healthy food;
promptly treat diseases that may cause unpleasant symptoms.

If during diagnosis the specialist does not identify any serious pathologies in the patient, then he prescribes traditional medications to relieve pain.

Less commonly, antihistamines are used when symptoms of nausea are observed. The greatest effect can be achieved using diphenhydramine, diazolin or pipolfen.

Antiserotonin drugs and peritol are used less frequently. In some cases, treatment is done with dopamine receptor blockers: alizapride, cerucal, dimethpramide.

No less effectiveness in the treatment of nausea is achieved when using drugs such as aeron, metacin, platifillin.

One of the available remedies used to treat nausea is a slice of ginger. It must be placed under the tongue and slowly dissolved. Within half an hour the attack of nausea will subside. You should not remove ginger until the symptoms disappear completely.

In cases of persistent nausea, courses of acupuncture or psychotherapy should be prescribed. This should only be done if the causes of nausea are not chronic diseases, the treatment of which involves getting rid of nausea.

How to normalize the acid-base balance with proper nutrition

Meet: another reason to eat more greens, vegetables and fruits - and less meat, baked goods and prepared foods. And it’s not about losing weight - it’s much more serious: we risk losing strong bones and a fair amount of muscle mass, as well as “planting” our kidneys. To figure out what food threatens us with this time, we’ll have to remember what acid-base balance is.

Anyone who went to high school is familiar with the letters pH. They indicate a measure of the activity of hydrogen contained in any substance. The number is used to judge the ratio of acidity and its opposite, alkalinity, in the substance being tested. The more hydrogen, the higher the acidity and the lower the pH value will be.

But in response to the question “How is your acid-base balance?” even a person who pays attention to his health will only shrug his shoulders in bewilderment. Perhaps the doctor does too.

But our body is well versed in the acid-base balance, even if we ourselves do not understand anything about it. But for a variety of reasons, ensuring the proper acid-base balance in modern conditions is more difficult than ever in the past.

Folk remedies

At home, you can also try to overcome the burning sensation; it turns out that there are products that eliminate this symptom:

Potato or carrot juices have proven to be an effective remedy against heartburn. Peel the root vegetable, grate it on a fine grater and squeeze out the juice.
Milk has an astringent and enveloping effect on the mucous membrane. It is enough to drink a few sips of warm milk and the burning sensation should go away.
Mineral water without gases has also proven its effect. You need to drink this water at room temperature, in small sips.
Pumpkin and sunflower seeds quite quickly prevent the development of a burning sensation. A few pieces of nuts will also have the same effect.

These methods are effective if the causes of burning are not serious and are not caused by pathologies of the digestive system.

Why is excess acid harmful?

Remember the main thing - the internal environment of our body should generally be slightly alkaline.

There are many reasons for this. Proteins in our bodies only function normally at specific pH levels, namely slightly higher alkalinity. Enzymes, as a type of protein, are also sensitive to acidity: an overly acidic environment inhibits their activity. Excess acid interferes with the proper absorption of food, and this, in turn, leads to increased acidity. The circle closes.

Increased acidity causes inflammation in all tissues and membranes, changing their appearance and texture - they look unhealthy and feel harder to the touch.

Alkalinization, on the contrary, reduces inflammation. With healthy levels of alkalinity, tissues retain more oxygen, which improves all cellular functions, including getting rid of toxins, pathogenic bacteria and metabolic waste.

The optimal pH level for the body varies depending on the type of tissue or fluid. For example, the blood pH level should be 7.35–7.45. It's a bit alkaline. If our blood pH drops below 6.8 or rises above 7.8, our cells will stop functioning and we will quickly die.

The healthy pH of the lungs is about the same. The eyes are characterized by a slightly higher acidity - 7.0–7.3. In the stomach, the pH level should be between 2.0 and 3.0 because the process of digesting food requires acid. This is especially true for meat - to digest it, the pH level must be about 0.8 so that the body can break down animal proteins into amino acids.

Almost every process that happens inside us—energy creation, metabolism, oxygenation, immune system function—increases acidity. But as soon as the balance changes, even slightly, the body immediately adjusts the pH level to a normal value. This just goes to show how important alkalinity is for our survival.

What to do?

If heartburn attacks occur quite often, you should always have medications with you that can block the pain in a matter of minutes. These could be “Rennie” heartburn tablets, the effect of which develops within 15 minutes after administration. If Rennie does not cope, you can try using a more serious drug, for example Gaviscon.

Heartburn sufferers often drink soda. However, this is not a very effective method, since after drinking soda, carbon dioxide is released in the stomach, which causes additional irritation to the mucous membrane, as a result of which the acid will begin to be released with a vengeance and the patient will only get worse.

Pay attention to your diet, eliminate harmful foods. Often it is poor quality food that causes severe burning.

Which organs are responsible for acid-base balance?

The lungs are part of the mechanism responsible for alkalization. Every time we exhale, we get rid of acids in the form of carbon dioxide. When we need to reduce acidity, the body simply forces us to breathe a little more often. We don't even notice it.

The skin also plays an important role . The body pushes acids to the surface, where they are removed through the pores through sweat. If you need to get rid of acid, the sweat becomes more acidic. Essentially, the skin always retains a slightly increased acidity - this helps its strength and kills bacteria.

But the main “workhorses” of the acid-base balance are the kidneys , they regulate the composition of the blood and maintain a normal pH level. If the acidity of the blood is too high, the kidneys filter out the hydrogen ion (or bicarbonate if it is too alkaline). Excess acids are then removed naturally through the intestines and bladder.

True, the capabilities of the kidneys are not unlimited. They are only able to process a certain amount of blood in a certain period of time. When they are overloaded, unwanted substances simply circulate in our bloodstream until the kidneys can deal with them. Of course, this is dangerous, since toxins and acids travel freely through our vessels and harm everything they come into contact with.

Vomiting appeared

Very often, patients do not know what to do with severe heartburn, especially if vomiting occurs. The gag reflex is a sign that the walls of the stomach are too inflamed and in an irritated state, and cannot withstand even the minimum load.

In this condition, the patient should urgently contact a medical facility; it is possible that the condition of the body already requires surgical intervention. In the best case, you will have to undergo therapy and continue to follow a diet, refuse to eat smoked foods, pickles, fried and spicy foods.

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Why does acidity increase?

Acidity can increase for several reasons.

Often the cause is dehydration , which makes it difficult to remove metabolic waste and other cellular debris. Studies have shown that even mild dehydration causes changes in the kidneys, including renal acidosis, a dangerously high level of acidity.

Another reason for excess acidity is lack of oxygen in tissues . Even emotional experiences play a role - stress hormones are released in the blood, increasing acidity.

Another culprit of high acidity is dietary style . Food increases either acidity or alkalinity. Mainly, you should load up on fresh greens, brightly colored vegetables, avocados, almonds, and cold-pressed oils like olive—all of these foods increase your alkaline levels. Raw vegetables - significantly. Fresh lemons and limes, although sour in taste, also have an alkalizing effect.

Here is a list of foods that are best avoided completely or eaten in moderation - refined sugar and cereals, meat, fish and other animal products, animal fats, processed foods, products containing caffeine, flavorings, dyes. They all increase acidity, a problem common in the Western diet.

True, there are exceptions to the rules. Some healthy foods, such as most legumes, including lentils and peanuts, slightly increase acidity. All proteins (even plant-based ones) and whole grains, as well as nuts and seeds, are the same.

But plant products contain so-called weak acids - the body easily neutralizes them, mainly through the lungs. In addition, plant proteins usually come with minerals that increase alkalinity, such as potassium, which helps eliminate excess acidity.

Maintaining acid-base balance and minerals

What happens when acidity levels become so high that the body can no longer cope with it?

Nothing. Nothing that we could notice, at least at first.

The reason is that the auxiliary system comes to the aid of kidneys that are unable to maintain the proper acid-base balance.

Calcium, sodium, magnesium and other minerals found in the body are highly alkaline. If acidity levels become too high in an area, some minerals are sent to the site to neutralize the acids. By detecting a drop in blood pH levels, the kidneys automatically use minerals to correct the problem. The alkali combines with the acid to form a neutral salt, which is then eliminated from the body without harm. A miracle happens inside us, and we don’t even know about it.

However, neutralizing acids with minerals from one’s own tissues is an auxiliary measure that is not intended for frequent use. If the process is repeated daily, we begin to lose minerals faster than we can replace them. And then the problems begin.

The calcium reserves in the body exceed the amount of any other mineral. It is mainly found in bones and teeth. Sodium and potassium can be found in the interstitial fluid; magnesium - in muscles.

It is these minerals that our support system uses up when acidity levels become too high. First of all, it takes calcium . If mineral leakage becomes regular, your calcium supply may become depleted.

In other words, we deplete our supply of minerals so much that we ourselves provoke the development of serious diseases. However, excess acids do more than just weaken the skeleton. A long-term scientific study found that older adults whose diets are highly acidic lose more muscle mass compared to those who consume high amounts of plant-based foods with high levels of alkalinity.

If potassium and sodium , then the environment surrounding the cells changes for the worse. In addition, these minerals are needed to perform other important functions - regulating the heartbeat, maintaining fluid levels and creating electrical signals.

Symptoms of chronic acidification - fatigue, lack of energy and motivation, mood swings, headaches, colic, digestive problems, heartburn, dry skin and hair, cold hands and feet - are among the common ailments. We endure them stoically, believing that this is the price of age and nothing can be done.

This is actually not normal. All of the above are signs of increased acidity of the internal environment, and this indicates that our health is on the verge of disaster.

Severe burning after eating

An unpleasant, sharp symptom occurs constantly about half an hour after eating. This is explained by the fact that the stomach, having received a signal that food has entered it, begins to secrete gastric juice. However, in a healthy person this does not cause pain, but if there are pathologies, then severe heartburn will definitely make itself felt. The situation can worsen when the patient abuses prohibited products.

It is noteworthy that in case of serious digestive diseases, heartburn can last more than a day, causing a person’s general health to deteriorate, he becomes weak and irritable.

The pharmacy provides a wide selection of drugs, after taking which the condition will stabilize, but it is worth remembering that no matter how good the medicine is, it also has contraindications and it is not recommended to resort to drug treatment on your own without a preliminary examination.