you and your doctor
WORKING AS A TEAM
Heartburn isn’t something
to ignore. We tell you why.
By Lori Goetzinger
Occasional heartburn prob- ably isn’t serious. But if you have heartburn more often than not, it can take its toll on your body and your health.
Over time stomach acid can start to damage the lining of your esophagus. This can lead to complications and even cancer. But treatment
can help. Read on to learn what happens when you have heartburn.
HealthyAdvice.com
Visit us online to learn more about heartburn and acid refl ux.
STOMACH
ANATOMY 101: What happens when you have heartburn?
ESOPHAGUS
FOOD
WHEN YOU EAT, food travels to your stomach through a tube called your esophagus. Your esophagus connects to your stomach by a circular band of muscles, called the
lower esophageal sphincter (LES).
WHEN YOU SWALLOW, your LES relaxes to let food and liquids drain down into your stomach. Afterward, it closes up again. This stops stomach acid from fl owing back up into your esophagus.
LOWER ESOPHOGEAL SPHINCTER
CLOSED LES OPENED LES
IF YOU HAVE HEARTBURN, your LES
becomes weak or relaxes when it shouldn’t. This allows acid from your stomach to fl ow back up into your esophagus—or even into your throat and mouth.
STOMACH ACID
STOMACH ACID
WEAKENED LES LETS STOMACH ACID FLOW BACK UP THE ESOPHAGUS
OTHER SYMPTOMS
Heartburn is a symptom of acid refl ux disease. It’s also called GERD (gastroesophageal refl ux disease). When acid fl ows back up into your esophagus it can also cause:
• chest pain—especially when lying down
• burning in the back of your throat
18 HEALTHYADVICE.COM
• hoarseness or sore throat • bitter or acid taste • trouble swallowing • dry cough
ILLUSTRATIONS BY JUSTIN MULLINS
2
TOO MANY
If you take over-the-counter
antacids MORE THAN 2 TIMES A WEEK, it’s time to
see your doctor. Antacids only help ease the symptoms of heartburn and acid refl ux disease. They don’t actually heal or prevent damage to your esophagus.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60