High-Risk Heartburn Groups

It is True: Heartburn and Headaches have A Lot in Common

Individuals who suffer from frequent headaches may find another common ailment creeping up on them: heartburn. What do heartburn and headaches have in common? When we look at the details of these two frustrating ailments the common elements becomes obvious.

Heartburn and headaches affect all people at one point or another, but when headaches are a frequent problem, heartburn can be close behind due to some of the methods we use to treat headaches. This is especially true in people who suffer from an acid reflux problem known as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) or peptic ulcers.

To understand how headaches can lead to heartburn, we must first understand acid reflux. Acid reflux is a process in which gastric acids in the stomach rise up into the esophagus, causing irritation and pain (heartburn). Acid reflux, or GERD when it becomes chronic, is usually related to food, pressure, or gastric swelling caused by the H pylori bacterium.

Additionally, peptic ulcers (small holes in the lining of the stomach or duodenum) can develop as stomach acid washes over the lining of the stomach. Peptic ulcers are usually related to a bacterial infection from H pylori bacteria in the stomach.

Now that we know what commonly causes heartburn, we can explore how heartburn and headaches may be related.

Heartburn and Headache Medications

Over-the-counter medications and prescriptions for chronic headaches including ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, and many migraine medications are “NSAIDs”. NSAID stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. As the name implies, these types of medications are great at relieving headaches by reducing the amount of swelling around blood vessels that cause us to fee a headache.

Unfortunately, these drugs are also great at eating small holes into the lining of the stomach and causing peptic ulcers. (H pylori bacteria are not always a component in this type of ulcer development, though the bacteria may be present as well.) Peptic ulcers can promote acid reflux and cause heartburn.

Medications for headaches and heartburn are dual symptoms that typically develop over a longer period of time. The risk of developing ulcers and heartburn increases when NSAIDs are used for an extended period of time.

Heartburn and Headache Home Therapies are Conflicting

If you have a hangover headache (from a night of drinking too much alcohol, perhaps) it is common practice to drink plenty of water since the cause of the headache might be dehydration.

Unfortunately, alcohol relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and this is the muscle that keeps acid reflux from entering the esophagus and causing heartburn. When you drink water, you dilute the acids but make them rise closer to the esophagus.

Many people with other conditions that weaken the LES report heartburn from drinking water without alcohol consumption, too. Since the LES is relaxed, there is nothing stopping the acids form entering the tube. The best way to avoid this problem is simple: eat something first. The general rule is to “give stomach acid something to do”, so eating crackers or a heartburn friendly food before drinking water can help.

If you have ever had a big headache and no medicine on hand, someone may have suggested that you consume a caffeinate beverage, such as coffee, to increase blood flow and minimize swelling. Caffeine is another agent that relaxes the LES. Most caffeinated beverages are carbonated, too. Carbonation is another trigger for heartburn.

Headache and Heartburn Share Common Food Triggers

Heartburn is commonly triggered by an offending food or as part of a medical condition in which certain foods aren’t tolerated by the body or immune system. Headaches can also be triggered by these foods.

For example, MSG (monosodium glutamate) is a very common seasoning in prepackaged foods that causes people to experience headaches. Spicy foods cause heartburn, too, and people who are intolerant to glutens also experience heartburn. Glutens in general can cause headaches in people who are sensitive to the substance.

There is one more note-worthy common link between heartburn and headaches: lack of food. Skipping a meal causes some people to get a headache; it also causes heartburn and acid reflux. In others, headache and heartburn will happen within just a couple of hours on an empty stomach. The solutions here are our heartburn remedies and to eat smaller, more frequent meals.

Heartburn and Gluten Intolerance: Preventing Celiac Heartburn

Intolerance to gluten and heartburn is most commonly found in individuals who suffer from celiac disease. Celiac disease is a condition in which a person’s small intestine becomes damaged and therefore unable to absorb certain, necessary nutrients from digested foods. The damage in the small intestine is caused by a reaction from the immune system after eating foods that contain gluten – a common protein present in grains such as rye, barley, and wheat.

Oats were once thought to contain gluten. There is no evidence that they do, but oats are commonly processed on the same equipment used to process other grains and can therefore become contaminate.

The most common effect of celiac disease is painful reactions to gluten and heartburn is one of the less-common side effects, but it does occur. People who suffer from celiac disease are encouraged to avoid certain foods, much like those who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease. However, celiac disease sufferers often find that avoiding gluten and heartburn as a side-effect is much more difficult. Gluten is present in most of the foods we eat and can be a hidden ingredient in many processed foods.

Avoiding Gluten and Celiac Heartburn

If a person suffers celiac disease, it is very important to avoid gluten. Not only will this reduce the frequency of heartburn, but it will help to avoid the other, more common symptoms of the disease. This condition causes significant abdominal pain, constipation that can be painful, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and bloody stool. (Many of these symptoms are common to acid reflux, as well.)

To avoid celiac heartburn and gluten intolerance symptoms, a strict alteration to a person’s diet is usually among the very first recommendations by a medical expert. However, these foods contain other nutrients required for healthy living. Therefore, it becomes important to replace these nutrients somehow.

There are two ways for a celiac disease victim to ensure these nutrients are replenished when avoiding gluten and celiac heartburn: eat foods that contain the nutrients lost when avoiding gluten (or a vitamin supplement) or discover the same foods that are made without gluten at all.

Remembering that gluten is present in many grains we eat, it is best to avoid certain food ingredients entirely. Wheat, rye, and barley contain gluten and are in everything from bread to cakes. Flour and whole grains are ingredients in more products than most people realize.

Wheat flour is often used as a thickening agent in sauces, is the primary ingredient in almost all baked goods and is present in the majority of snack foods we love to eat. An alternative to wheat flour is flour from rice, corn, potato, or soy.

To avoid celiac heartburn and gluten, one must pay very close attention to food labels and recognizing less obvious ingredients that often contain gluten.

Avoid foods that contain flour and cereal unless the flour is made from one of the alternatives listed above. Also avoid vegetable proteins and malts that are not derived from corn or soybeans, as well as vegetable gum not made of carob or locust beans, cellulose, gum Arabic or aracia, or vegetable starch, to name a few.

Modified starches usually contain gluten-laden grains that lead to celiac heartburn, so seek out starches made of potato, corn (including maize), tapioca, or arrowroot. These will be difficult to find, so an organic food store may be the best place to look.

Finally, soy sauces almost always contain wheat, so avoid them unless the label expressly says that it is a gluten-free food.

Beware of foods that use gluten in processing, as they can result in heartburn and other symptoms. These include labels that list starch, stabilizers, emulsifiers, and flavoring. Anything hydrolyzed or made with a plant protein will usually contain gluten as well.

A Great Debate about Heartburn and Gluten

Celiac disease and a gastroesophageal reflux disease, known as GERD, share similar symptoms in some individuals; the most common of which is heartburn. Celiac disease and GERD are opposites in the world of gastric medicine. Celiac disease affects the lower digestive system (intestines) while GERD affects the upper digestive system. There is still some debate in the medical community about whether gluten intolerance predisposes a person to developing GERD.

Some foods that are high in gluten certainly trigger heartburn in people with celiac disease, but there is not much evidence to prove that gluten intolerance leads to GERD. Supporters of this theory suggest that people with GERD that promotes heartburn can simply try a gluten-free diet for a period of six weeks to see if their heartburn symptoms subside in the absence of gluten. You can also use all of our heartburn remedies which are gluten-free solutions to acid reflux.

Heartburn and Jaw Pain: Signs of Heart Problems?

Heartburn and jaw pain are rarely the result of acid reflux, the number one cause of heartburn in people. While there are some cases of jaw pain that develops over time as a result of heartburn, it is important to recognize that this can be a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention by medical professionals.

Heartburn and jaw pain that happen suddenly or which are accompanied by chest pain that radiates into the arms, neck, or jaw can be a sign of heart attack and is cause for alarm.

Heartburn and jaw pain can also indicate a myocardial ischemia. A myocardial ischemia is also a medical emergency and happens when an artery feeding blood to the heart becomes blocked.

Another condition that can cause this type of pain that can occur with people who suffer from chronic acid reflux and similar conditions exists, but until cardiac arrest and myocardial ischemia are ruled out, it is best to seek immediate medical attention.

Heartburn and Jaw Pain with a Heart Attack

Jaw pain and heartburn-like pain can be precursors to cardiac arrest or occur at the beginning of a heart attack. Those who suffer from GERD, a chronic acid reflux condition, can usually tell the difference between heartburn related to acid reflux and the pain experienced at the onset of a heart attack.

Sudden, sharp burning in the chest that feels like heartburn may occur just below the breastbone when a person is entering cardiac arrest. Generally, the person will also feel a pain or pressure in the chest that spreads to an arm, the neck, and jaw. Without this particular symptom, sudden heartburn is less likely caused by a heart condition, though it is still possible that a heart attack is underway.

Dizziness, shortness of breath, sudden pain and pressure, and cold sweat are common symptoms of a heart attack. If you are experiencing heartburn and jaw pain with these symptoms, you should consider it a medical emergency.

Heartburn and Jaw Pain with a Myocardial Ischemia

A myocardial ischemia is a condition in which the blood is prevented or slowed from flowing to the heart and may cause heartburn and jaw pain symptoms. Ultimately, blocked arteries can result in cardiac arrest and should be treated as a medical emergency, as well.

It is important to relieve the blockage as soon as possible. Do not sit around messing with heartburn remedies when you have jaw and chest pain. A sudden blockage is also possible, which will lead to the symptoms of a heart attack as described earlier, to include heartburn and jaw pain.

Heartburn and Jaw Pain with Esophageal Spasm

A less common affliction in people who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is known as an esophageal spasm. This is a condition in which the muscles that normally contract within the esophagus to force food down to the stomach begin to spasm uncontrollably in the absence of food.

Heartburn and jaw pain are possible symptoms of this condition because it is thought to be caused by chronic acid reflux. There are two kinds of esophageal spasms: diffuse esophageal spasms and nutcracker esophageal spasms.

Diffuse spasms occur when the muscles in the esophagus contract randomly (as opposed to an orderly fashion that is followed when swallowing). Nutcracker spasms occur when the muscles in the esophagus are coordinated as normal, but the contractions are much more significant and may occur when there is no food to be swallowed.

Heartburn, jaw pain, chest pain, painful swallowing, and the inability to swallow are common symptoms of esophageal spasm conditions. Esophageal spasms can occur with GERD, a nervous system problem known as achalasia that prevents the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) from opening, and as a symptom of a panic attack.

Heartburn and Being Overweight: How Obesity Might Cause Heartburn

Heartburn and obesity can be caused by the same methods: eating the wrong foods. Additionally, obesity can be a heartburn cause by itself, even if a person does not eat heartburn triggering foods.

The reason for this double relation lies in the way stomach acids and the digestive system normally work together in a healthy manner. Obesity affects a few parts of the digestive process in ways that set the scene for chronic or sever heartburn.

How Heartburn Happens

Heartburn is a symptom that most people experience at least once. A symptom is something that we feel because of another condition or illness.

The condition that most often causes heartburn is acid reflux. Acid reflux is a term that described the process in which acids from the stomach get into the esophagus, irritating the throat and causing the burning sensation that we call heartburn.

Normally, a muscle at the base of the esophagus where it meets the stomach closes to prevent acid from entering this area. This muscle, known as the LES or lower esophageal sphincter, is a round muscle that constricts tightly, barricading the throat from stomach contents.

When we experience heartburn, this muscle isn’t working to keep the passageway sealed. This is known as a “relaxed LES”. The LES relaxes several times a day on its own, which is why some people will occasionally feel heartburn. Other triggers can help to relax the LES, too, such as alcohol, chocolate, and a few medical conditions.

In some people, acid reflux is a chronic problem that happens several times a week or more. In their case, they have a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Most people will experience acid reflux in their lifetime. It can happen during times of extreme stress when our daily routine is interrupted, it can happen after eating certain foods, and heartburn can strike by just eating a large meal and getting “too full”.

How Heartburn and Being Overweight are Directly Related

Most of us know that over eating for any person can lead them to be overweight in time. Overeating can also cause heartburn. So if a person habitually overeats and becomes overweight, heartburn will often occur in the process as well.

Other conditions can cause obesity too, making it much more difficult to lose weight and relieve some of the symptoms of acid reflux, such as heartburn. Other conditions can also cause heartburn through medication side effects. Some people who are overweight because of glandular and joint problems may be prescribed diuretics that cause dehydration – another cause for heartburn in some people.

More commonly, however, heartburn and being overweight are related due to the physiology of the body (how things move in relation to each other). When the body is larger than it should be, fatty deposits also accumulate inside the walls of structures and in between organs.

This pushes the organs apart (or together) and increases gastric pressure in the body. Increased gastric pressure leads to heartburn in many people. Shifted organs may also stretch the LES and prevent it from closing properly.

Another common condition is a hiatal hernia where the stomach gets pushed into the esophagus a little. This weakens the LES and allows the flow of acids into the esophagus.

Medical experts aren’t positive about all of the ways that heartburn and being overweight are directly linked. But statistics do show that there is a much greater chance for heartburn in obese patients and that overweight individuals are more likely to develop GERD. Consider losing weight in addition to our heartburn remedies if you suffer from heartburn.

Heartburn Radiating to Jaw Pain

Heartburn radiating to jaw pain is not typical a symptom of acid reflux, the primary cause of heartburn. A condition causing esophageal spasms in association with heartburn and acid reflux can cause jaw and neck pain, but this condition happens in a very small number of people.

Esophageal spasms should not be the first assumption for people who are experiencing heartburn radiating to jaw pain. It is more likely that these symptoms are related to a cardiac (heart) problem and should warrant an immediate trip to a hospital or emergency clinic.

What feels like heartburn radiating to jaw pain can be a warning that the person is entering a state of cardiac arrest. It can also indicate that a myocardial ischemia is developing. In either case: it is a medical emergency.

What feels like heartburn radiating into jaw pain could actually be the onset of cardiac arrest (heart attack). A myocardial ischemia is a condition in which a major vessel that is feeding blood into the heart becomes blocked.

Vessels can become blocked slowly over time, leading up to a heart attack. They can also become blocked rapidly, causing a heart attack with no warning at all.

Pain that starts in the chest in the same place as heartburn, radiating to jaw pain, neck pain, or pain in the arms or back are classic symptoms of a heart attack and should be taken seriously

This type of pain is known as angina. It does not necessarily indicate heart attack, but rather a warning sign that one is about to happen or will happen sooner or later if something is not done. Angina is not normal and needs to be treated and anyone with angina needs to be monitored by a doctor.

How to tell if Heartburn Radiating to Jaw Pain is a Medical Emergency

If you feel heartburn that is severe enough to cause esophageal spasms, you will probably know the difference between regular heartburn pain and what seems like heartburn radiating to jaw pain that might be associated with a heart attack.

Additionally, heart attacks cause other common symptoms to appear suddenly and develop rapidly as the heart begins to stop. A sudden, sharp burning beneath the breastbone or ribs is the first hint that cardiac arrest is in progress.

Cold sweats and dizziness are very common with heart attacks, but may not always be present. General pressure on the chest or the feeling that something is inside the chest making everything feel very “tight” is also a common symptoms of cardiac arrest or myocardial ischemia that is worsening.

A mild heart attack may not be as noticeable or present as many unique symptoms. This is why any chest pain, even if mistaken for heartburn, radiating to jaw pain or any other upper extremity should be checked by a medical professional.

Esophageal Spasms that Cause Heartburn Radiating to Jaw Pain

Though it is a rare condition, esophageal spasms do occur in some people. When a person has severe gastroesophageal acid reflux disease (GERD), a complication in which the muscles in the esophagus constrict on their own can cause jaw pain.

Heartburn radiating to jaw pain is not a likely description to be used with this condition, however. Jaw pain in relation to esophageal spasms and GERD is often the result of the tightening of muscles and soreness from constrictions.

However, people who suddenly develop esophageal spasms often seek medical attention because the pain can feel very much like a heart attack. This is the safest way to deal with heartburn radiating to jaw pain, however. Skip the heartburn remedies in this situation and head to the hospital.

The Most Common Triggers for Heartburn in Women

Women suffer from heartburn as much as men do and there are indications that heartburn can occur more often in women. While being female does not necessarily translate into higher risk of acid reflux, many of the triggers that are commonly associated with heartburn are more frequently observable in some demographics of women.

There is only one uniquely female cause of heartburn: pregnancy. Other than pregnancy, any other heartburn trigger can apply to any person. Women are just more likely to develop trigger behaviors and responses because of lifestyle choices and chemical composition.

Studies show that women are more prone to long-term stress effects than men. For example, women are more like to get headaches as a result of stress. As it turns out, headaches and heartburn have a lot in common.

Chronic heartburn is a sign of a condition commonly known as GERD. This condition isn’t exclusive to women, but can occur in women and men equally. Heartburn remedies also work well for both genders.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) in Women

Some women are predisposed to heartburn as the resolute of a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is diagnosed in women who experience heartburn on a regular basis (several times each week). GERD sufferers have a problem with their lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscle that prevents stomach contents from entering the esophagus.

Normally, the LES remains constricted to create a barrier between the stomach and the esophagus. In women with GERD, this muscle relaxes more often than it should and the result is more frequent heartburn. Over time, acid reflux and heartburn further damage the esophagus and make the LES even weaker, so this condition can get worse as the woman ages.

Triggers for Heartburn in Women

Whether she suffers from a chronic condition such as GERD or sporadically experiences heartburn, acid reflux typically only occurs as a result of a trigger. Even when the LES opened up more often, these triggers definitely play a role in heartburn episodes. Some heartburn triggers actually cause the LES to open even when the woman doesn’t have GERD.

Stress is popularly held to be a common cause for acid reflux and heartburn. While there is no definitive link between stress and heartburn, there are plenty of links between stress reactions and behaviors that are associated with heartburn.

Women who are stressed are often subjected to a disrupted routine, which can ultimately lead to heartburn. Failure to exercise during stressful situations can disrupt the body’s functions and lead to heartburn for women. Many women fail to eat properly when under stress, another common cause of heartburn.

Food is important in preventing heartburn in women and men, alike. Spicy foods, foods that are fatty and high in acids and caffeine are all offending foods that can cause heartburn. Women may also tend to drink more alcohol when they are stressed and alcohol relaxes the LES. This can cause a higher risk of heartburn.

Headaches are another commonly named stress result. Headaches are often treated with NSAID medications that lead to peptic ulcers. Peptic ulcers can cause the symptoms of heartburn in women and men.

Pregnancy is a very common condition in which heartburn is triggered. Because the uterus is expanding, other organs become displaced during pregnancy. This puts more pressure on the gastric system and causes gastric pressure to occur. It also promotes gas in the digestive system.

Gas coupled with gastric pressure only helps to push stomach contents toward the esophagus. To make heartburn even more likely in pregnant women, displaced organs can stretch the LES and prevent it from closing properly. Of course, this allows the acids to enter the esophagus and triggers heartburn.

Obesity and tight fitting clothing can cause heartburn in women through the same method. Obesity and tight clothing, as well as a condition known as “hiatal hernia”, can cause the LES to shift and stretch, leave the esophagus vulnerable to acids. These two triggers also cause an increase in gastric pressure which can directly trigger heartburn in women and men.

Why Do Some People Get Heartburn on an Empty Stomach?

Why Do Some People Get Heartburn on an Empty Stomach?

If you have heard that the major causes of heartburn are related to food, it may seem confusing that heartburn on an empty stomach is possible. The truth is, heartburn is usually triggered by food – but that’s not really the cause of the painful burning you feel when you get heartburn.

The cause of heartburn is acid reflux and acid reflux can occur at any time – even when there is no food in the stomach. It is a condition in which the naturally occurring liquids in the stomach make their way into the esophagus. Since the muscle that protects us from that process is usually closed, these acids tend to remain in the stomach.

However, this muscle (known as the lower esophageal sphincter or LES) is known to relax after eating certain types of food and randomly throughout the day, leaving the esophagus open to acids. In people with certain gastric conditions, the LES may be permanently weakened, which makes it much easier for heartburn to happen – especially heartburn on an empty stomach.

The reason that heartburn triggered by food is more discussed than heartburn on an empty stomach is because food is the most common trigger in most people. As you might expect, controlling the types of food we eat and how much of it we consume can do much to help control heartburn.

The LES can be forced open when we have eaten too much food and certain food causes the over-production of acids which also weaken the LES by pressurizing the stomach (gas). If you have ever burped and regurgitated a sour tasting, acidic substance you have felt the effects of this type of gas pressure first hand.

Heartburn on an empty stomach isn’t really much different, except that food isn’t the trigger; a lack of food is the trigger. In simple terms, when stomach acid has nothing to “do” it can become concentrated. Some people report that heartburn on an empty stomach is worse than the heartburn they feel when they’ve eaten an offending food because the acid is very concentrated on an empty stomach.

Do I Need to See a Doctor for Heartburn on an Empty Stomach?

Most people will experience heartburn on an empty stomach at some time in their lives. It can easily occur when we drink something acidic such as orange juice, or when consuming a caffeinated or carbonated beverage without first having eaten a meal.

One should also consider seeing a physician if sudden, extremely painful or persistent heartburn is occurring because this may be a sign of something more serious than a stomach acid problem. Heartburn is uncomfortable, but debilitating pain is a symptom for which you should get help. Even if it’s “just heartburn”, steady exposure to stomach acid can significantly damage the esophagus.

Most heartburn can be controlled with dietary and lifestyle changes, but if you get heartburn on an empty stomach only once in a while the treatment is fairly straightforward: eat something that isn’t going to upset your stomach. Eating should help if your stomach is empty and you know you aren’t suffering from another condition that causes heartburn.

Some people frequently get heartburn on an empty stomach and should consider getting a medical opinion about their symptoms. Commonly, a person who gets heartburn on an empty stomach a couple of times a week or more is experiencing the symptoms of a widely occurring disease known as GERD.

How GERD Causes Heartburn on an Empty Stomach

GERD stands for “gastroesophageal reflux disease”, a condition in which a person’s stomach is constantly producing more acid than it should. The acid is always there, waiting to get into the esophagus and cause a person to feel the symptoms of heartburn.

Unfortunately, people with GERD tend to also have a more relaxed LES. Since the muscle isn’t working to block acid, it can easily rise up and cause heartburn on an empty stomach.

Is GERD the only Cause of Heartburn on an Empty Stomach?

GERD is not the only cause of heartburn on an empty stomach. Another condition that may cause symptoms that feel like those associated with GERD is a peptic ulcer. Peptic ulcers are small holes in the protective lining inside the stomach and are caused by the acids themselves.

The H pylori bacterium is the most common link in people with peptic ulcers. Medical experts believe this to be the reason that the stomach lining becomes vulnerable to the effects of acids.

As acid continues to wash over these small holes, they become agitated. On an empty stomach, when the acids have “nothing to do” as mentioned earlier, the ulcers can be quite painful. Most people feel this pain in the stomach, but some report heartburn like symptoms as well.

In either case (GERD or Peptic Ulcer), eating smaller more frequent meals and other heartburn remedies can help to curb the feeling of heartburn on an empty stomach.

Are Heartburn and Upper-Back Pain Normal with Acid Reflux?

It is not typical of acid reflux to feel heartburn and upper-back pain. It is typical of another condition related to digestive acids, however.

Heartburn is the sensation we feel when acids in our stomach rise into our esophagus, causing heartburn symptoms like discomfort and sometimes even regurgitation. Most people will feel the effects of this process, known as acid reflux, on occasion.

Sudden upper-back pain in people who suffer from heartburn caused by acid reflux may be experiencing an uncommon symptom of gallstones, especially if there is also the presence of upper right abdominal pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Gallstones that cause this type of pain require medical attention because it can be life-threatening.

Though there is no clear link between gallstones and heartburn, the gallbladder is a part of the digestive system. The fatty foods that can cause acid reflux and heartburn to occur in some people are also processed by the gallbladder.

Diets that are high in cholesterol from fatty foods can cause the cholesterol and bile pigments to form small stones, hardened compounds, in the gallbladder. Gallstones are usually asymptotic, which just means that you may not even know they are there until something changes.

The Difference between Acid Reflux and Gallstone Symptoms

Most people who do experience the rare symptoms of gallstones only feel pain because a gallstone is stuck in a bile duct that carries gastric acids from the liver to the intestines. People who are familiar with heartburn will notice that the pain associated with gallstones is not the normal pain, nausea, or vomiting that they associate with acid reflux.

People who suffer from food related heartburn and upper-back pain for other reasons, such as a back injury may only notice symptoms of there is nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain involved. However, most people report that the pain associated with gallstones is unique and persistent. Other symptoms of gallstones include jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), dark urine, and stool that is clay colored.

When it becomes a life-threatening problem, it is one of the few human organs that can be removed with little negative effect on the rest of the digestive system. Conditions that may arise in the gallbladder include gallstones, cholecystitis, gallbladder cancer, and gallstone pancreatitis.

Gallstones and gallbladder disease can cause symptoms that feel like those associated with acid reflux and can be triggered by similar foods. Heartburn and regurgitation are rare symptoms of this disorder but it should be noted that some of the most common symptoms of gallbladder conditions feel much like those of acid reflux.

Most people do not experience symptoms from gallstones (about 90%). For those that do have symptoms, you may feel pain sometimes during the first 10 years that gallstones have formed. After this time, there is less chance that symptoms will exist.

Who is at Risk for Heartburn and Upper-Back Pain

Chronic heartburn can increase the chance of gallbladder problems. There are also quite a few risk factors associated with gallbladder disease that are also directly associated with heartburn and acid reflux related conditions.

People who are older than 55 years of age are at a high-risk for developing gallstones. This age group is also more susceptible to heartburn because of a weakened lower esophageal sphincter, the muscle that helps to keep acid out of the esophagus.

Rapid weight loss can increase the risk of heartburn and upper-back pain caused by gallstones. Gallstones are known to develop in 25% of people who are significantly obese and take on a strict diet to lose weight. Obesity is also a leading risk factor for acid reflux. Also, gastric bypass surgery to assist in curing obesity causes an increase in heartburn and gallstones.

Pregnancy significantly increases the rate of heartburn and back pain in general. It is a significant risk factor in the development of gallstones, especially in families with a history of gallbladder conditions. (This is true for gallstones in general.)

When to Seek Medical Treatment

Heartburn and upper-back pain can be unrelated. If you have acid reflux and injury, you may experience this pain occasionally or frequently. When the onset of pain is sudden, is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, or if you have diabetes or an immune system deficiency it is best to seek a doctor’s opinion right away.

Many doctors will wait to see if your symptoms persist or go away. Many people are able to pass a gallstone through the bile duct and never have symptoms again. Most doctors will want to wait to perform surgery until you’ve had gallstone symptoms more than once.

Rarely, someone with no symptoms at all may need surgery. This procedure is only performed in cases where a person is at great risk for developing cancer, has sickle cell disease, or is in the process of obtaining an organ transplant.

Bloating with Heartburn Could be a Sign of a Serious Condition

Bloating with heartburn is a sign that something in the digestive system is not working as it should. It may be a symptom of chronic acid reflux, a gastrointestinal infection, or a number of other commonly diagnosed digestive issues. Bloating with heartburn may also occur simply because the stomach is too full or because of an “off day” in the intestines. At the core of the problem, we experience these two symptoms for simple reasons.

Bloating is caused because of too much air (gas) in the stomach or somewhere in the digestive system. Heartburn symptoms are caused by acid reflux when the acids in our stomach make their way into the esophagus. Heartburn with bloating is common on occasion and shouldn’t warrant a trip to the doctor if it occurs infrequently or goes away with at-home treatment. The symptoms may also be caused by a serious condition which needs medical attention – especially if the symptoms persist for two weeks or are aggressively becoming worse even though you haven’t changed anything about your routine.

Some Conditions cause Chronic Bloating with Heartburn

Bloating with heartburn may be a symptom of a serious or significant digestive issue, though this isn’t always the case. Underlying conditions that cause this symptom are typically discovered by a doctor after numerous attempts to remedy the problem with over the counter medications and other remedies. Because nausea with heartburn can occur simply because we have eaten something too spicy or eaten too much, it’s easy to miss the signs that something else could be wrong. However, it is important to recognize that there are typically multiple symptoms that should be connected when there is an underlying condition at play.

If you experience heartburn with nausea daily and you do not intend to change your diet and lifestyle to accommodate acid reflux, or if the changes you have made do not seem to be working, you should seek a prescription from your doctor to prevent damage to your esophagus. Over time, a damaged esophagus can lead to serious problems including esophageal cancer.

You should also consider a doctor if you are experiencing any of the following serious symptoms in addition to heartburn with bloating:

• The feeling that you are choking

• Bleeding or coughing up blood

• Repeated vomiting

• Unable to eat enough food without feeling too full

• Loss of appetite and\or weight loss

• Difficult or painful swallowing

One of the most common conditions known to cause chronic bloating with heartburn is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD symptoms may also include sore throat, coughing, difficulty swallowing or a feeling that something is stuck in the throat behind the breastbone. GERD is treatable through diet and lifestyle changes, as well as over the counter and prescription medications. (The treatment for heartburn with bloating is similar for each type of underlying condition and is explained in further detail in the next section.)

Be Aware that Occasional Bloating with Heartburn is Normal

Though these conditions may seem like significant reasons for concern, one should not assume the worst. Since bloating with heartburn is often caused by some fairly common conditions like temporary acid reflux or over-eating, it may be best to take a simple approach at first. If you are unsure of why you are experiencing bloating with heartburn and it doesn’t happen very often, you may immediately benefit from a natural remedy or antacids. Avoid lying down or bending over and loosen your clothing until the symptoms subside. Bloating with heartburn will begin to fade as the offending food is cleared through the digestive system. Just be aware that some foods will cause systematic symptoms, e.g. bloating with heartburn can fade in abdominal cramps and diarrhea if you have consumed a food to which you are sensitive.

Whether you have a known gastric condition or you just feel bloating with heartburn after eating certain meals, it is in your best interest to investigate the items that may be triggering these feelings. The foods and drinks that cause temporary bloating with heartburn can also aggravate a serious condition, so the following tips are a great way to deal with the symptoms regardless of the underlying cause.

• Avoid Over-Eating – A stomach that is too full will obviously cause the stomach to stretch the feeling of bloating. With heartburn as a symptom, it’s the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) that has been stretched. This prevents the esophagus from closing and allows acid to enter.

• Avoid Eating Spicy or Fatty Foods – Spicy foods prompt more acid production and fatty foods slow down the digestion process. Together, these types of foods can cause heartburn that lasts for a few hours or more.

• Avoid Citrus Fruits, Carbonation and Caffeine – Drinks like tea and coffee or beer and sodas cause gas and acid production that lead to bloating with heartburn.

• Avoid Chocolate, Alcohol, and Mint – These items relax the LES so that acid can easily enter the esophagus.

Infant-Safe Treatments for Heartburn or Acid Reflux

Even for adults, heartburn or acid reflux symptoms in general are no laughing matter. We feel nauseous, bloated, sore throats, and of course the burning sensation we have come to know as heartburn. Unlike adults, infants are unable to give a voice to their heartburn symptoms.

This can be extremely frustrating for parents who may not really know what is happening or what to do about it. Not only do we have a fussy baby on our hands, but the poor thing cries through frequent episodes of regurgitation, arches his or her back in pain, and refuses to eat.

What you should know is that these are the classic symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in an infant. GER is actually quite common in children and most of the time it will go away by the time they reach eighteen months. Gastroesophageal reflux disease may be developing if your child continues to exhibit the symptoms of heartburn or acid reflux after this marker, which can lead to respiratory problems as well.

In addition to vomiting, arching, and refusing to eat, constant (or sudden) bouts of crying and hiccups may also signal a problem with the digestive system. Unfortunately, this doesn’t provide a clear picture of the problem because all of the symptoms are very similar to symptoms of colic or an allergy to a formula. It may be difficult to determine the exact nature of the problem since the infant is not capable of telling us where it hurts.

How the Pediatrician Tests for Heartburn or Acid Reflux

Like diagnostic testing for almost all other medical ailments, there is no exact science in determining if your baby has GER, GERD, colic, or just a formula allergy. Some methods include endoscopic procedures or testing the pH content of the reflux. A new technology known as impedance measurements allows doctors to obtain detailed information about what is happening in your baby’s esophagus to help determine the exact cause of the symptoms.

As a standard practice, a pediatrician might prescribe and H2- blocker or antacids on a trial basis to see if this causes symptoms of heartburn or acid reflux to subside. If the trial medication works, it is likely that the infant is experiencing GER. To eliminate the possibility of a formula allergy, the pediatrician may recommend simply changing to a formula with lower protein content.

If this corrects the problem, then heartburn or acid reflux was not the likely cause of symptoms. Occasionally, heartburn or acid reflux will also cause bleeding, inadequate weight gain, and respiratory problems that can assist in an accurate diagnosis of the condition.

Treatments for Infant Heartburn or Acid Reflux

There are a few approaches to treating an infant with heartburn or acid reflux that are similar to the methods used in adult treatments. Smaller, frequent meals can assist in relieving bloating or fullness that leads to heartburn. Be sure to burp your baby well and don’t wait until he or she is full to do it. Take breaks in feeding to burp him or her to lessen the likelihood of regurgitation.

Keep your infant sitting up during and after he or she eats. Adults experience more heartburn or acid reflux symptoms when they lie down after a meal and this is also true for your baby. Finally, you may try thickening the baby’s formula with rice cereal so it doesn’t rise up through the esophagus so easily. This measure won’t reduce the occurrences, but it can certainly help with the heartburn or acid reflux amount that travels higher into the throat.

Beyond these preventative measures, you may need to seek medications and assistance from the pediatrician. He or she may choose to start with a simple antacid to see if it will alleviate the symptoms. If antacids don’t work, the doctor may recommend H2-blockers and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the same types of medicines prescribed to adults with GERD. These medications reduce the amount of acid secreted in the stomach, lessening the amount that can cause heartburn or acid reflux.

H2-blockers and PPIs come with a few side-effects, however. H2-blockers are considered safe for infants and when used to treat heartburn or acid reflux can cause constipation, diarrhea, or abdominal pain in infants. PPIs are new to infant treatments, but have been safe so far. The side-effects of PPIs occur over a long-term use of the medication and include liver damage and polyps. Even in adults, PPIs are considered as a treatment for only severe cases of GERD.