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One possible cause of heartburn in pregnancy; is the extra
pressure on the stomach (during the third trimester) exerted by the growing
baby. Also, during pregnancy, the placenta produces the hormone progesterone,
which relaxes the smooth muscles of the uterus. This hormone also relaxes the
valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach, allowing gastric acids to
seep back up the pipe, which causes that uncomfortable burning sensation.
Progesterone also slows down the wavelike contractions of the stomach, making
digestion sluggish.
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Heartburn
and
reflux
are
extremely
common,
with
10
percent
of
the
population
experiencing
them
daily.
Twenty-five
percent
of
pregnant
women
have
heartburn.
Even
though
heartburn
is
common,
it
is
rarely
life
threatening.
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Heartburn or Gastroesophageal Reflux
Disease (GERD) means acid indigestion. This occurs when the lower esophageal
sphincter (LES) does not close properly and the stomach contents reflux or
return into the esophagus. This may create a burning sensation in the chest or
throat when the refluxed stomach acid touches the lining of the esophagus. The
burning sensation is the one called Heartburn.
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Heartburn (Acid Reflux) is a
digestive problem: it has nothing to do with your heart. It occurs when small
amounts of stomach acid accidentally rise up the esophagus (the food canal
running from the mouth to the stomach) causing symptoms like a burning pain in
the chest which rises towards the throat. Sufferers may even taste the fluid in
the back of the mouth, and this is called acid indigestion.
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Heartburn is a burning sensation
in the chest that can extend to the neck, throat, and face; it is worsened by
bending or lying down. It is the primary symptom of gastroesophageal reflux,
which is the movement of stomach acid into the esophagus. Heartburn is generally
related to meals and posture. On rare occasions, it is due to gastritis (stomach
lining inflammation).
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Mostly
heartburn symptoms are related to specific foods.
Therefore, it is important that heartburn suffers manage their diets as a way to
treat their heartburn. There are foods that are usually pretty safe for
heartburn sufferers to eat, that have little risk of causing acid reflux, while
other foods should be avoided as they are major heartburn triggers.
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When large amounts of acidic stomach contents are regurgitated past the
stomach's valve and up into the gutter, heartburn occurs. Small amounts of acid
reflux are normal and harmless, since constantly swallowing saliva quickly
washes it back into the stomach. However if the amount of refluxed material is
greater than normal and persists over a period of time, this can result in
debilitating heartburn , which affects the enjoyment of food. It can lead to
inflammation, bleeding, narrowing of the gutter, anemia and in some cases,
results in cancer. |
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