arlington doctor
These are quite common problems that people have and for the most part doesn't really cause a concern. If you're someone that gets it now and then, it really isn't that big of a deal. The problem comes into play when it happens on a daily basis. Essentially heartburn is acid from the stomach getting into the esophagus. This acid is quite strong and isn't really designed to spend a lot of time outside the stomach. The burning sensation comes from the fact that the acid is really burning the esophagus and if it persists over time, it will burn away the esophagus.
The problem with this is that your stomach acid is actually quite strong. Your stomach has a protected lining for it, but your esophagus doesn't. That is why you have that burning sensation. Most people don't have it that often, so it's no big deal. The people that get it on a daily basis have to deal with it now. Your stomach acid will actually eat away at your esophagus until it is gone, which is something you don't want to have happen.
You might think that the heartburn you are experiencing is causing you unbearable pain and irritation. However, you will be surprised to find out that some people who suffer from heartburn experience upper back pain as well. Heartburn and upper back pain are often related.
Heartburn is a pain behind the breastbone which radiates upwards into the throat. This burning pain is caused because of digestive juices, including hydrochloric acid, spilling into the throat from the stomach and irritating the unprotected lining of the esophagus. This happens because of the slackening or relaxing of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) muscle, which normally acts as a one-way valve preventing the flow of food or digestive juices into the throat. The two main conditions due to which heartburn may occur are gastro esophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia.
When food is swallowed, it enters a foot long tube that connects your throat to your stomach. This is called the esophagus. A ring of muscles known as the lower esophagal sphincter is located at the bottom of the esophagus.
