Causes and main methods of eliminating heartburn in the throat

Symptoms

Heartburn is accompanied by unpleasant sensations, the intensity and nature of which may vary. Discomfort can manifest itself in the form of warmth in the esophagus, burning or burning, etc. It happens that heartburn is accompanied by the feeling of a piece of food stuck in the throat.

The patient becomes worse in a supine position, which is due to the fact that the gastric juice that has entered the esophagus flows freely throughout all the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract, even into the throat. Heartburn may be accompanied by other symptoms:

• increased salivation;
• hoarse voice;
• cough;
• pain and sore throat;
• regurgitation of food;
• flatulence;
• pharyngitis;
• bitterness or acidity in the mouth;
• imaginary painful sensations in the cardia;
• loss of appetite.

Since frequent heartburn is often a symptom of disease, the patient may also experience blood in the stool or vomit, belching, weakness, hyperhidrosis, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, etc.

How to treat biliary reflux

It is important to remember: the burning sensation in the chest and an unpleasant taste in the mouth themselves are symptoms. That is, manifestations of the disease that force us to see a doctor. To remove inflammation and return the sphincters to the ability to fully close, you need to treat the underlying disease. To treat it, you need to find the cause.

The range of reasons is very wide, therefore, among the first-line examinations, the most significant are esophagogastroduedenoscopy (an endoscopic examination that allows the doctor to visually assess the condition of the mucous membranes of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum and even take tissue samples from suspicious areas to examine the condition of cells) and ultrasound of the abdominal organs, in particularly the gallbladder. An ultrasound will assess the condition of the gallbladder and, in most cases, determine whether there are clots and stones in it, which lead to rapid overflow of the gallbladder and reflux of bile into the oral cavity. It is only important to properly prepare for the procedure so that its results are accurate.

Clinical and biochemical blood tests for this disease make it possible to clarify the general condition of the patient, and not the diagnosis associated with the release of bile into the oral cavity. In some cases, X-ray contrast examination of the stomach and small intestine may be required.

Treatment for biliary reflux is very varied. Antibiotics, choleretic drugs, enveloping agents and acid-reducing drugs may be required. In some cases (for example, if the gallbladder is full of stones), patients need surgical treatment.

Anatomical causes of heartburn

Heartburn occurs due to undigested food and hydrochloric acid. Perspiration and burning may occur due to problems with duodenal motility, when aggressive gastric juice is ejected higher into the esophagus. The walls of the esophagus do not have such mechanisms to protect against acid, which is why gastric juice is very irritating to its mucous membranes.

Pharyngeal heartburn bothers a person when the work in the upper and lower sphincters of the esophagus is disrupted. Thus, we can distinguish the following anatomical causes of heartburn in the throat:

• disruption of the esophageal sphincters, when they stop expanding and closing at the right time;
• inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract;
• hydrochloric acid rises to the larynx;
• ph level is outside the norm;
• the walls of the stomach lose their tension.

Usually the discomfort does not last long. The degree of their manifestation depends on the volume of discarded juice. The cause of heartburn is esophagitis, in which the walls are irritated, which is why minimal entry of hydrochloric acid into the esophagus causes severe heartburn.

Proper nutrition

Heartburn in the throat, regardless of the cause of its occurrence, requires diet and proper nutrition. To do this you need:

1. give up products that enhance the production of hydrochloric acid, as well as semi-finished products;
2. limit consumption of sweets and chocolate;
3. It is recommended to replace juices with decoctions or infusions;
4. do not overeat - you need to eat food often, but in small quantities;
5. Avoid late evening and night meals.

Healthy food and a properly selected daily diet, which contains enough daily doses of vitamins and minerals for the body, are considered the most effective preventative against heartburn.

Common reasons

Heartburn is not always a sign of illness. It often occurs in a healthy person due to food that is difficult for the digestive system. Eating large amounts of salty, spicy, fatty foods, or foods that stimulate the production of hydrochloric acid, often causes a burning sensation. Eating hot food has a negative effect on the esophagus.

Typically, people complain of stomach pain and heartburn 30 minutes after such a meal, and the unpleasant feelings continue for up to 2 hours. Common causes of heartburn are:

Heartburn often occurs in people with bad habits and an unhealthy lifestyle.

• bad habits - excessive drinking and smoking irritate the mucous membrane of the digestive organs, causing a sore throat when swallowing, a lot of hydrochloric acid is released and heartburn appears, the throat is sore;
• stress and constant nervous tension - the nervous system has a direct impact on the functioning of all organs and systems;
• regular lifting of weights;
• love of tight and tight clothes - compression of the abdomen and chest causes deformation of the esophagus, causing a sore throat and soreness and heartburn;
• unhealthy diet - lack of a eating schedule, huge portions of meals, eating at night, eating food “on the go,” etc.;
• Eating harmful foods in the form of salty, fatty, fried foods, as well as coffee and citrus fruits causes heartburn and a sore throat.

The following factors contribute to the problem:

• obesity;
• use of certain pharmaceuticals (such as antibiotics);
• surgical interventions on the gastrointestinal tract;
• allergy;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• constant tension of the vocal cords;
• poor environmental conditions (bad air can cause problems when swallowing);
• disruption of the thyroid gland and digestive organs, which are laid down at the embryonic level.

Special causes of pharyngeal heartburn

Heartburn often accompanies a woman during pregnancy, especially in the 3rd trimester. This is not related to health problems. The child grows, the uterus enlarges, pushing the organs upward. This causes problems with breaking down food as the digestive organs cannot function properly. Food stagnates in the stomach, causing a lump in the throat and heartburn. You should tell your doctor about heartburn, as there is a possibility that it is a sign of a medical condition. A specialist will conduct diagnostics to eliminate the possibility of a problem.

Another specific cause of heartburn is overeating. The appearance of the symptom is not related to the disease. When eating a large amount of food, the stomach stretches, the sphincter cannot withstand it, and when it opens, the contents of the stomach erupt into the esophagus. This can cause heartburn in the throat, causing a sore throat.

Lump in throat and heartburn

Sometimes swallowing is accompanied by soreness, pain when swallowing and a feeling of a lump in the throat. People rarely associate such a symptom with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. But in combination with heartburn, this is a sign of reflux disease. This condition is usually caused by taking antacids, changes in diet, or rapid weight loss diets. Unpleasant feelings appear after a meal.

The sensation of a lump in the throat may appear due to stress and nervous tension, which are accompanied by excessive secretion of hydrochloric acid. It may become difficult to take a sip, it hurts, as if something is stuck in the throat. Stress causes cramps in all muscles of the body, which impairs their functionality. Therefore, long-term depressive states cause severe harm to human health.

For quick removal

To quickly eliminate heartburn, you can use one of the following methods:

• Soda. Anyone who suffers from such a problem knows that ordinary soda will help to quickly cope with it. Doctors categorically do not recommend this method, since the expected harm outweighs the benefits of using the medicine. During a chemical reaction, soda, combining with hydrochloric acid, irritates the mucous membranes of organs. That is why this medicine must be used carefully. To minimize the harm of the mixture, you need to add soda to a glass of water, mix well and add a little honey (if you are not allergic). In this way, the walls of organs can be protected from destruction.
• Honey. A solution with honey will help quickly eliminate the problem. To prepare the medicine, you need to dissolve 20 g of a natural product in 200 ml of warm water. You need to drink the solution slowly. This will stop your throat from scratching and the discomfort in the esophagus will disappear.
• Chalk. Regular white chalk is effective. To use this method, you need to crush the chalk to a powder. If heartburn occurs, you need to eat a tablespoon of the product with plenty of water.

Home methods can be used as one-time remedies when pharmaceuticals are not available, which are more effective and safe. Such drugs include Maalox, Gaviscon, etc. If you have frequent heartburn with sore throat and sore throat when swallowing food, or weakness, you should definitely visit a gastroenterologist to diagnose the root of the problem.

Therapy

A general set of diagnostic procedures, tests and treatment will be performed by a gastroenterologist. The doctor will be able to correctly diagnose the cause and help the patient overcome the disease. Getting rid of a disease quickly and permanently is not easy. There is no universal solution to the problem, since the causes of bitterness are different. A quick diagnosis is possible if the patient feels relief after a short course of treatment. Otherwise, laboratory tests and individual treatment are required.

The basis of treatment is the suppression of acidity levels. If heartburn is temporary, symptoms can be easily managed with lifestyle adjustments and diet. The doctor may prescribe the following course of medications:

• Drugs that can reduce acidity. For example, Rennie. The mild composition of the medicine is able to neutralize high acidity. The result comes quickly, there is no addiction.
• Enzyme preparations, if acidity is low, treatment is aimed at improving digestion.
• Drugs to enhance motor processes (cerucal, domperidone, etc.).
• Drink alkaline water, but not longer than two weeks.
• Vitamin B12 therapy.

In modern medicine, treatment uses a procedure for restoring esophageal cells called the Barrett method. It may slow down changes in the esophagus. In severe cases of the disease caused by side diseases of the esophagus and stomach, surgical intervention may be necessary to restore the functions of the sphincter.

What to do?

To get rid of constant heartburn, you need to find the cause of such symptoms. Most often, treatment consists of medication, diet, and lifestyle adjustments. The patient is prescribed non-absorbable antacids, for example, Maalox, Phosphalugel, and bismuth preparations. Antisecretory drugs are recommended that lower the level of acidity (Ranitidine, Omez, etc.). Prokinetics to improve organ motility, antireflux drugs (Cisapride) and enzymatic drugs (Mezim) are indicated.

The patient is advised to drink mineral waters and take a course of magnesium. Sometimes a patient needs to undergo surgery.

Prevention

The leading principle for preventing heartburn is considered to be proper nutrition, a developed daily routine, feasible physical activity, and resistance to nervous stress. It is necessary to get rid of excess weight that puts pressure on the stomach. Cigarettes, drinking, overeating, and eating foods that cause heartburn should be left in the past forever.

Basic lifestyle recommendations for gerb

Visiting a doctor at the first regular signs of a “burning” malaise will not allow the pathological process to go far. Ignoring signals from an irritated esophagus will lead to inflammation and chronic reflux. Treat stomach problems on time, then you won’t have to resort to surgery.

We recommend: Proper nutrition for heartburn - what diet is prescribed?

Traditional treatment

The most famous folk remedies for burning are water with soda, honey, chalk, but there are other methods of getting rid of the problem. Before treating with home remedies, you should consult a doctor so as not to further harm the mucous membranes.

Once every 30 days, it is recommended to drink activated carbon for a week, 1 tablet per 10 kg of weight.

Aloe. Place the plant in the freezer for 10 days, then twist and mix in equal proportions with honey. You need to take the medicine 10 g before meals for a week. The throat will stop hurting, the soreness and burning will end.

Potato juice is recommended for many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. To cope with heartburn and sore throat, you need to drink fresh potato with the addition of 5 g of honey.

Treatment: methods and means

Treatment of gastrointestinal diseases is carried out after a thorough examination of the patient using ultrasound, fibrogastroscopy, pH-metry, blood and stool tests. A gastroenterologist is conducting research on diseases of the digestive tract. The doctor prescribes treatment based on the patient’s diagnosis.

Ways to quickly eliminate heartburn attacks:

• drink a glass of warm tea or chamomile decoction;
• swallow 1 tbsp. l. sunflower or olive oil;
• take antacids - Rennie, Maalox, Gaviscon.

What not to do:

• drink water with soda, as soda neutralizes acid with the release of carbon dioxide, which is accompanied by stomach pain;
• take the tablets with a small amount of water (dissolution and absorption are impaired, and the effectiveness of the medicine is reduced).

Treatment of heartburn - basic recommendations that must be followed:

• a gentle diet, avoiding fatty and fried foods, smoked meats, pickles, marinades, eating boiled vegetables, cereals, jelly, steamed meat and fish;
• compliance with the daily routine, split meals, dinner no later than 7 pm;
• course intake of antacids – Maalox, Almagel, Bismofalk, Phosphalugel;
• taking antisecretory medications to reduce the production of hydrochloric acid - Ranitidine, Gastrozol, Pantoprazole;
• use of prokinetics to activate motor function - Metoclopramide, Motilium, Domperidone;
• in case of ingestion of bile acids, Ursosan or Cisapride is prescribed;
• drinking alkaline mineral water;
• course of vitamin therapy.

Antacid drugs increase the production of mucus in the stomach and throat, have an enveloping effect, bind and remove bile acid components. Antisecretory drugs reduce the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, but have a number of side effects. They are contraindicated during pregnancy and children under 12 years of age. Medicines containing bismuth form a protective film on the surface of the damaged epithelium. Prokinetics help normalize sphincter function.

Important! Antacids are taken 40 minutes before meals or 3 hours after. These medications have analgesic and enveloping properties.

Treatment of heartburn with traditional methods

At home, using folk remedies, you can reduce painful symptoms. For this purpose, herbal teas, tinctures, and juices are prepared. Let's look at the most popular homemade recipes.

Potato juice

Required:

• potatoes – 2 pcs.;
• honey – 1 tsp.

Grate the potatoes on a fine grater. Squeeze out the juice. Add honey. Take for severe heartburn in the morning before meals or in the evening before bed. For treatment, potatoes dug up in the fall during harvest are used. It is recommended to drink half a glass of this juice 2-3 times a day. Treatment with potatoes is carried out for 10 days.

Chamomile

Infusion recipe:

• chamomile – 1 tbsp. l.;
• water – 1 glass.

Pour boiling water over chamomile. Let it brew for 20 minutes. You can take 2 glasses of infusion per day. You should drink this tea if you have a sore throat or during attacks of burning in the throat.

Celery

Ingredients:

• finely chopped celery roots - 2 tsp;
• water - one glass.

Dried celery roots are poured with boiling water. Leave for 30 minutes. Drink the infusion three times a day, half an hour before meals. Indications: burning sensation in the stomach.

Diet and other recommendations

Without proper nutrition, it is impossible to cope with the problem; treatment will be ineffective. The diet for heartburn is not very strict. You need to forget about food at night. The last meal should be no later than 3 hours before bedtime. You need to eat 5 times a day in small portions.

It is necessary to limit the amount of sweets, coffee and chocolate. Fried foods, garlic, soda and other foods that increase the production of gastric juice should be excluded from the diet. You need to drink less broths, juices from citrus fruits, apples, etc.

It is better to give up alcohol and smoking. Also, don't wear clothes that are too tight.

How to put out a flame

You can get rid of heartburn by attacking it in three directions - changing your lifestyle to a healthy one, reducing the acidity of gastric juice, and increasing the tone of the cardiac sphincter. Additionally, symptomatic remedies are used, which include folk recipes aimed at relieving pain and inflammation, restoring motor skills, improving digestion, and accelerating the healing of the mucous membrane.

Start life anew

Dramatic changes concern all areas of life and are aimed at reducing the mechanical and chemical load on the stomach, establishing a clear daily routine, playing sports, and giving up addictions.

The main provocateurs of heartburn are coffee, tea, chocolate, mint, citrus fruits. It is caused by fatty fried foods, products with margarine, baked goods, hot seasonings, and marinades. Foods that are associated with heartburn attacks should be excluded from the diet. The basis of the diet is boiled, steamed, baked vegetables as a side dish. Fresh vegetable salads with olive and sunflower oil dressing are generously flavored with dill, parsley, and onions. It is better to avoid sorrel for a while. Soups made with low-fat meat, vegetable, and mushroom fish broths are served pleasantly warm.

It's a good idea to include a variety of grains and legumes in your daily grocery list. The meat is preferably sirloin, without fat and fried crust. The fish is selected fresh, baked in the oven. Salted and smoked fish products are undesirable. Fermented milk products with a short shelf life will enrich the diet with calcium, protein, and probiotics. Recommended drinks include chamomile tea, rosehip decoction, still mineral water, and milk. Alcohol, kvass, soda, strong tea and coffee are strictly prohibited. Sweet ripe fruits (except citruses) make a healthy dessert.

The daily routine clearly establishes the time of work, rest and eating. They sit at the table 5 times a day, at the same time. Take no more than 0.5 liters of total food at one sitting to avoid distension of the stomach. After eating, sit quietly for 30 minutes, do not bend over or lie down. After half an hour, you can take a leisurely walk or do light work. Don't eat 2 hours before bedtime. Try to eat in a comfortable environment, slowly, and chew thoroughly. Be sure to eat at work, visit the canteen, and take a lunch box from home.

Intense exercises with a high level of coordination are recommended for those with hyperacid gastritis. The outflow of blood from the stomach will reduce the acidity of its enzymes. Exercise 20-30 minutes before meals. Stop smoking, alcohol, and avoid stress. Understand that medications will be powerless if your lifestyle remains the same.

Pharmacological agents

The main methods of eliminating heartburn are based on antacids, proton pump inhibitors and alginates:

1. Antacids are used in the initial stage of treating a lump in the throat. The active ingredients are complex salts of calcium, magnesium, aluminum. They bind hydrochloric acid, envelop the mucous membrane and protect it from chemical influences. The effect of the drugs is quick, but fleeting. They do not affect the cause of the disease, they only temporarily relieve the burning sensation. Everyone knows the trade names of drugs in this group; they are often advertised on TV. This also includes the popularly loved soda, which doctors ask you to avoid using due to its negative effect on the stomach.
2. Proton pump inhibitors prevent the free movement of chloride and hydrogen ions in the gastric mucosa. Thus, by separating the components of hydrochloric acid, a decrease in the acidity of gastric juice is achieved. The first synthesized drug of this group was Omeprazole in 1979. The invention of Swedish chemists significantly reduced the percentage of surgical interventions on the stomach.

Modern doctors prescribe Esomeprazole, Rabeprazole, Lansoprazole, Pantoprazole. You need to take the medications for one week, 2 times a day.

1. Alginates are a group of enveloping drugs that form a barrier protective layer. They do not bind acid, they only have a protective, probiotic effect, stimulate motor skills, and strengthen the immune system. Commercial names of drugs are Gaviscon, Natalsid, Mucofalk, Alginatol.

In parallel with taking medications, therapy is carried out with folk remedies - flax decoction, rice and oatmeal decoctions, herbal teas from chamomile, sage, calendula.

Radical treatment

If conservative treatment methods are unsuccessful, heartburn does not go away, seek help from surgeons. From the mid to 90s of the last century, vagotomy was a popular operation to make life easier for patients with heartburn. It consisted of partial or complete transection of the branches of the vagus nerve. Thus, the acidity of gastric juice was significantly reduced. Nowadays, vagotomy is done extremely rarely; it has been replaced by fundoplication. The doctor inserts an instrument through punctures in the abdominal wall and wraps the stomach around the esophagus. The cardiac sphincter is strengthened, and the backflow of the “burning” stomach contents into the esophagus does not occur.