Although Heartburn is a very common reason for pain in the chest and stomach areas, there are also other factors that can cause similar and uncomfortable pain.  One of these just so happens to be Ulcers.  Ulcers can occur in the esophagus, duodenum, gastrointestinal areas and also stomach.  The percentages of having this uncomfortable problem in these certain areas of the body are all very different.  Out of all ulcers that occur in the body, ulcers in the duodenum are the most common making up 90% of cases.  this is followed by 20%  in the Gastrointestinal tract, 5% in the esophagus, and another 5% in the stomach.

The human stomach contains a several important acids that aid in the digestion of foods.  These acids combine with an enzyme called Pepsin and together they are able to break down the food we eat in a very effective manner.  What happens is for some individuals, a portion of the lining in their stomach begins to wear away.  Because of this, the person will begin to feel pain in a certain area because the pepsin and stomach acids still continue to do their job.  An Ulcer is very much like a sore or a blister.  The area begins to get very inflamed and hurtful during the body’s natural digestion process.

For a long time Ulcers were believed to be caused by stress, and they were known to effect more men and women.  Since men were perceived to contain their emotions easier than women, this seemed to be the reason why older men were affected.  However, recent studies have proven this wrong.  Most Scientists now believe that ulcers are caused by a bacterial infection known as Helicobacter pylori.  As an individual ages, the chances of having H. plori increases.   In relation to ulcer cases, it has been found to effect 90% of the people with ulcers in the duodenum, and 70% in the gastric.  Researchers believe that the bacteria weakens the linings of these areas allowing the acid to form an Ulcer.   However, going back to our previous thought,  no one knows exactly why men seem to have more of a battle with Ulcers than women do.  The question is still up in the air.  H. Plori has been known to effect over half of the world, but can easily be treated with antibiotics.  After treatment,  individuals are usually Ulcer free for the rest of their lifetime.

Resources: “50 Ways to Relieve Heartburn, Reflux, and Ulcers”:  M. Sara Rosenthal

Heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest that can cause quite a bit of discomfort.  Even though it’s name may initially make you think that it is associated with the heart, this is definitely not the case.  Heartburn is caused by gastric acids(Stomach acids) that try to make their way back up the esophagus.  For Many people heartburn happens occasionally because of consumption of too many acidic foods in the diet.  Heartburn has been known to be a huge symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease as well.  For many people the valve at the lower part of the esophagus doesn’t quite close all the way after eating a meal. This allows the stomach acids to start irritating the esophagus while they are doing their job in digestion process.  This valve that sometimes doesn’t close all the way  is called the lower esophageal sphincter.  Heartburn can last anywhere from a couple minutes to a few hours depending on the person.  The pain that is experienced is described as being a burning sensation near the upper/middle section of the chest.  Sometimes it may feel like there is food that didn’t quite make it down all the way to the stomach.  Other times it may feel like a hard task just to swallow.  Foul tastes in the back of the throat are also very common.

While someone is experiencing heartburn, they may find that when they try to lay down the discomfort worsens.  This may also be the case when they bend over to pick something up.  There are many kinds of prescribed medications for people that suffer from heartburn weekly.  More often than not, people that only suffer from heartburn occasionally don’t need a prescription medication.  There are over the counter antacids that can be taken for short-term relief and these can usually take care of the job.  Whether you are occasional sufferer or not, there are plenty of heartburn remedies that can help relieve symptoms.

The burning sensation that comes along with heartburn can easily be mistaken as a warning for a heart attack.  It has been mentioned that heartburn can feel very similar to one because the pain is in the same region.  Some people that have severe heartburn often need a doctors examination and EKG tests just to verify that the pain isn’t heart attack related. People that suffer from heartburn daily are often recommended to eat small amounts of foods throughout the day.  Also trying to avoid eating a large dinner before bedtime  can really make a difference.

Heartburn is a very common, According to WebMD, more than 60 million Americans experience Heartburn Symptoms every month.

Resources:

http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/guide/heartburn-symptoms,  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heartburn-gerd/DS00095/DSECTION=symptoms,  http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/digestive/disorders/087.printerview.html