Home : health : How To Distinguish Between Heartburn And GERD

How to distinguish between heartburn and GERD

How to distinguish between heartburn and GERD

Heartburn is an unpleasant, burning sensation in the chest that is more common than a lot of individuals realize. Pregnant women, older men, and even young adults experience it frequently. Despite it being such a prevalent experience, not many know that heartburn has actually nothing to do with the heart and everything to do with the stomach and the esophagus. Unsurprisingly enough, heartburn is also used interchangeably with GERD. But, before we get to deciphering heartburn and GERD, let’s understand what acid reflux is.

What is acid reflux or GER?

Acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter or LES becomes weak, allowing the contents of the stomach to travel in the wrong direction, back up the esophagus. Acid reflux is also called GER or gastroesophageal reflux as it involves the stomach and esophagus. This condition can usually be resolved with over-the-counter medication.

What is heartburn?

Heartburn is a burning or painful sensation that is experienced in the chest. Since the lining of the esophagus is not as strong as the lining of the stomach, the acid from the stomach can cause a burning sensation in the chest. This pain or burning sensation that is heartburn can often be misconstrued for a heart attack. Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux. It generally occurs when someone bends over or lies down immediately after eating.

What is GERD or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease?

GERD, unlike acid reflux, is a far more chronic and long-lasting condition. But, in a manner similar to acid reflux, it affects the stomach and esophagus. If GERD is left unattended or untreated for a long time, it can cause major damage to the esophagus and stomach and even lead to cancer.

If GERD is diagnosed in the initial stages, it can be treated with medication. Extensive damage or diagnosing GERD in the later stages will require surgery.

How to distinguish between GERD and heartburn?

Now, the big question is, “if GERD and heartburn both affect the stomach and esophagus, how do you distinguish between them?”

The first step to identifying GERD is to keep track of how many times you’re experiencing acid reflux. Experts say that if you are having reflux more than twice a week, there is a possibility that you have GERD.

GERD can also be identified by its other symptoms, that include:

  • Constant bad breath
  • Heartburn
  • Regurgitation of food
  • Pain in the chest
  • Respiratory issues such as asthma
  • Trouble swallowing food
  • Constant dry cough
  • Destruction of dental enamel due to too much acid

How do you treat GERD?

GERD is long-lasting but can be managed with the help of medication. In worse cases, the person may need to undergo surgery to help their LES function properly. But, irrespective of this, the only way to truly curb GERD is by making changes to your lifestyle.

  • Avoid foods and beverages that cause the LES to relax
  • Eat meals at least two hours before bed
  • Try losing weight
  • Drop lifestyle habits such as drinking and smoking as they also lead to the relaxation of the LES

Most Popular

Stay at the top of your health game with these 4 tips

Stay at the top of your health game with these 4 tips

Think of the human body as a car. Pouring the cheapest gasoline (unhealthy food) in a car can damage the engine (bodily organs). Instead, if you can take care of yourself by committing to fitness via proper nutrition, it can take you a long way. In a recent study, it was found that approximately 55 percent of people derive daily calories from refined and processed foods. This can be counterproductive as these foods are full of unhealthy fats and devoid of essential nutrients. How are fitness and nutrition related to each other? Fitness and nutrition go hand in hand. Consuming foods containing healthy nutrients enables your body to function in a way conducive to physical and mental well-being. You may find yourself becoming more active, and burning calories off in a healthy manner. If you continue to maintain an exercise routine without getting adequate nutrition, it will have an adverse effect. So, here are some useful tips that can help you to be at the top of your health game: Keep a tab on your calories This is one of the smartest tips to stay healthy. Several diet plans focus on the number of calories that need to be eaten each day.
7 facts everyone must know about gout

7 facts everyone must know about gout

Affecting an incredible eight million-plus people in the United States, Gout is a serious form of arthritis that causes insurmountable pain in the joints. The condition, which is one of the oldest prevailing medical illness in society, develops due to the accumulation of uric acid in the joints, mostly troubling overweight adults and men. Delving further, here are seven must-know facts about this condition. In women, it is more common after menopause Gout basically occurs due to the accumulation of uric acid, which then forms needle-shaped structures in the joints and leads to pain, inflammation, and redness. Estrogen, a hormone found in women, naturally leads to uric acid being released through urine. However, after menopause, their estrogen levels start to drop, which makes the uric acid content in their blood rise. Gout can take birth even with normal levels of uric acid While most patients suffering from gout have a high concentration of uric acid in their bloodstream, some gout attacks can even occur with normal uric acid levels — a rare condition termed as asymptomatic hyperuricemia. Alcohol increases its risk Along with meat, fish, and poultry, alcohol consumption drastically increases the chances of developing gout. This is because alcohol has a high content of purine, a chemical compound that breaks down into urea in the body.
Top 4 reasons for unnatural hair loss patterns

Top 4 reasons for unnatural hair loss patterns

Hair loss is a natural process that automatically gets rid of old tissue and hair to promote new growth. So don’t be alarmed when you do find a few strands of hair tangled in your comb. However, a clearly visible scalp and a receding hairline are indicative of developing the problem of permanent hair loss. There are several internal and external factors that can accelerate hair fall, leading to pattern baldness in both men and women. Here are the top four reasons that trigger unnatural hair fall. Stress Stress ranks among the top risk factors associated with many medical conditions. In fact, one way or the other, taking physical or psychological stress harms the body more than you can imagine. For hair loss, especially, excessive shedding starts right after the body undergoes physical or psychological distress. A few examples include experiencing high fever, blood loss due to accident or injury, or even post-surgery recovery can result in stress that causes hair loss. Stress, coupled with anxiety, results in accelerated hair loss. To cope with this problem and reduce its effects, stress management is of crucial importance. Hormonal changes Men and women both experience hormonal changes throughout their lifetime. However, an imbalance associated with various conditions can trigger hair loss.
Learn about these 3 types of hearing loss

Learn about these 3 types of hearing loss

Hearing loss, deafness, or impairment is the partial or total inability to hear sounds. People with low to moderate hearing impairment face challenges in understanding what the other person is saying in a noisy environment. Whereas, people with severe deafness cannot hear anything, and rely completely on lip-reading and sign language skills. There are three main types of hearing loss: sensorineural, conductive, and a combination of both. Let’s understand these types in detail and learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatments of each type. Sensorineural hearing loss It’s the most common type of hearing loss. Sensorineural is permanent hearing loss often caused by damage to the tiny hair cells that line the inner ear or the auditory nerve. The damage stops or weakens the transfers of nerve signals to the brain. These signals are essentially the intensity and clarity of sounds. Causes: Aging and exposure to loud noises for a long period of time are the most common cause of the damage. Certain medications and illnesses can also increase risks. It can even be genetic, and pass on to the child in the mother’s womb. Treatment: There is no medical or surgical treatment available to repair the tiny hair cells once they’re damaged.
Simple lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of heart diseases

Simple lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of heart diseases

The heart is the most crucial organ in the body and as the system will cease to function if the heart stops or loses momentum pumping fresh oxygenated blood. This is why it is vital to not neglect your heart health at all and responsibly maintain a healthy, stress-free, and more importantly, a happy lifestyle. Here are a few simple lifestyle changes that will help support a healthy heart function. Switch to a healthy diet Avoid eating foods that are rich in trans and saturated fats. Most foods you find on the shelves of the supermarket contain large quantities of one or the other. Instead, switch to low-fat high fiber alternatives to help manage cholesterol. Maintaining a healthy cholesterol level in the body automatically reduces the risk of heart diseases. The simple reason for this is that fats that normally block major arteries and blood vessels are eliminated from these foods choices. It is also advisable to limit the salt (sodium) intake to control blood pressure and sugar to reduce the risk of diabetes simultaneously. Change certain lifestyle habits Reduce the number of alcoholic or carbonated drinks you have regularly. For men, it is advisable to have not more than two drinks and day and women must have only one.

Popular Articles

5 common joint conditions and how to treat them
health
01

5 common joint conditions and how to treat them

A joint or articulation is made from two bones that aid the body in movement. There are many forms of joint conditions, which, in many cases, arise from the wear and tear of bones. Arthritis is one of the major and most common health conditions in the country, and its intensity increases with age. Here are some common types of joint conditions that you need to know: Osteoarthritis With almost 10 percent of men and 13 percent of women aged over 60 suffering from osteoarthritis, it is one of the most prevalent joint conditions in the country. Osteoarthritis occurs due to the wear and tear of the cartilages that protect the ends of bones. It commonly affects joints of the spine, hands, hips, and knees. If left untreated, this wear and tear of the cartilage soon leads to bone degeneration, thereby affecting flexibility and range of movement. Treatment for osteoarthritis depends on its severity and the patient’s age. Mild symptoms can be treated through medications, physiotherapy, and changes in lifestyle, whereas moderate to severe cases may require surgical intervention. Spondyloarthritis Spondyloarthritis, also referred to as spondyloarthropathy, is a type of rheumatic disease that causes inflammation in various joints. There are two types of spondyloarthritis—axial spondyloarthritis, which causes inflammation of the joints in the chest, spine, and hip bone, and peripheral spondyloarthritis, which causes inflammation in the fingers, knees, and toes.
Read More
Tips to help you strengthen your immune system
health
02

Tips to help you strengthen your immune system

Natural selection has transformed the way in which the human immune system works. While some human genes have evolved to become immune to certain diseases, others have not. This leaves a whole lot of people prone to certain diseases and disorders. That said, there are ways to boost the immune system, improve one’s diet, and lead a healthier lifestyle. Here are a few simple steps that you can take to strengthen the immune system: Ensure adequate sleep There are quite a few studies that prove the relationship between adequate sleep and the strength of the immune system. As an adult, you should ensure that you get seven to eight hours of sleep every night. A teenager should get eight to ten hours of sleep, whereas a young child should get at least 14 hours of sleep on a daily basis. If you have disturbed or no sleep, then you can improve your sleep cycle with these quick tips: Try sleeping in a room that is completely dark Get to bed at the same time every night. This will help regulate your sleep pattern Avoid using electronics that emit blue light before bed Maintain a diet of fruits and vegetables Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains contain essential minerals, fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants.
Read More
8 lesser-known facts about the liver
health
03

8 lesser-known facts about the liver

Considered the second-largest organ in the body, the liver plays an extremely important role in a variety of functions. It is key to the body’s metabolism; and helps burn fat and maintain body weight. It is located above the stomach and beneath the diaphragm, its size similar to that of a football. While such information is common knowledge, there are a few not-so-known facts about this organ. Read on to find out more: It is the only organ that can regenerate Unlike any other organ, the liver has the miraculous ability to regenerate and regrow, needing just 25 percent of the original tissue to do so. According to a study, evolutionary safeguards are responsible for this effect, which is a central concept behind liver transplants. It is the body’s detox center The liver filters everything we eat and drink, ridding the body of the materials that are not meant for it. It first burns toxins using enzymes and oxygen. This is followed by the second step, which combines toxins with amino acids that are later flushed out through urine or bile. It is multifunctional Identified as one of the most complex organs in the body, the liver performs hundreds of vital functions.
Read More