30/06/2024
Do you know that not all heartburn is a symptom of stomach ulcers?
Yes, not all heartburn is a stomach ulcer symptom.
Let dive into the details!
That burning pain or discomfort in the upper-chest and mid-chest you get, you think it's a symptoms of ulcer right?
You might be right but guess what?
It could be something called "Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)." And the main reason you shouldn't do self treatment.
What can you do about this?
What exactly is GERD?
Well, it's a long-term digestive issue where the stuff from your stomach, like acid or food, likes to sneak back up into your esophagus (you know, that tube that connects your mouth to your stomach).
And let me tell you, when that happens, it can really irritate the lining of your esophagus and cause all sorts of symptoms.
So, what causes GERD?
It usually starts with a little hiccup in this muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).
Normally, it's supposed to close up tight after you eat, but if it doesn't quite do the job or if it opens too often, well, that stomach stuff can start creeping up where it doesn't belong.
Now, who's at risk for GERD?
It turns out that quite a few of us are.
Things like being overweight, pregnant, having diabetes, dry mouth, smoking, delayed stomach emptying, having connective tissue disorders, having asthma, or even certain medical conditions can increase your chances of dealing with GERD.
Check next post to know if you have gerd or not!
