Did U Know?

A M o n t h l y E l e c t r o n i c N e w s l e t t e r f r o m H e a l t h L i n k The NHBA (National Heartburn
Alliance) conducted a survey in the
Spring of 2003. The survey asked
American adults who suffer from
frequent heartburn about attitudes,
behaviors and product usage. The survey revealed interesting
information about the impact of
heartburn on individuals as well as the
level of awareness of the condition on
a national basis. Below are summary
points of the survey: People who either experienced
heartburn or took heartburn
medication two or more days a
week were classified as frequent
heartburn sufferers. 26% (an estimated 54 million) of
adult Americans suffer from
frequent heartburn. Half of frequent heartburn sufferers
believe it is impossible to live
heartburn-free. More than 90% of frequent
heartburn sufferers say that
frequent heartburn impacts their
quality of life in some specific way. Almost a third of frequent heartburn
sufferers feel they will never be able
to enjoy the foods they love. One-third of frequent heartburn
sufferers say the cost of medication
has an impact on their ability to
treat their heartburn. Newsletter Information Sources: WebMD A Heartburn Relief Lifestyle
(www.webmd.com); National Heartburn
Alliance (www.heartburnalliance.com);
About.com How to Prevent Heartburn
(http://heartburn.about.com) Did U Know? YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO
HEALTH CARE AWARENESS Doctors Bag WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR Chronic heartburn is a digestive
disorder. Many patients are
successful at self-managing the
condition; others must rely on over-
the-counter medications,
prescription drugs or even surgery.
Which is right for you? Generally speaking, call your
doctor if simple dietary changes or
over-the-counter remedies dont
offer relief. Heartburn can be a sign
of more serious problems like
gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD), and untreated GERD can
lead to serious complications like
esophageal cancer. More specifically, call your doctor if
you experience any of the following
symptoms along with heartburn: Difficulty or pain with swallowing; Nausea and/or vomiting; Drastic weight loss; Chronic hoarseness, wheezing
or asthma; Chest pain along with: pain in
the neck, jaw, arms or legs;
shortness of breath; weakness;
irregular pulse; or sweating; Extreme stomach pain; Diarrhea; black or bloody bowel
movements. Your personal physician is the best resource for health information.
Talk to your doctor if you have
questions about heartburn or any
other conditions. HL Info FEBRUARY DO-IT-YOURSELF HEARTBURN CONTROL What is heartburn? According to the writers for
webmd.com, Heartburn, also
called acid indigestion, is an
irritation of the esophagus caused
by acid that refluxes (comes up)
from the stomach. When swallowing,
food passes down the throat and
through the esophagus to the stomach.
Normally, a muscular valve called the lower
esophageal sphincter opens to allow food into the stomach (or to
permit belching); then it closes again. Next, the stomach releases
strong acids to help break down the food. But if the lower
esophageal sphincter opens too often or does not close tight
enough, stomach acid can reflux into the esophagus, damaging it
and causing the burning sensation we know as heartburn. Here are tips to help you manage your heartburn. Dont eat your heart out. Stop eating before you are completely full. A full stomach can
cause undigested food to reflux into the esophagus. Avoid the known offenders food or drink that is fatty, fried,
acidic and/or spicy. Stay away from fatty or fried meats, snacks
and vegetables; chocolate; citrus juices, alcoholic, carbonated
or caffeinated beverages; and high-fat dairy products. Dont eat within two-three hours before bedtime and keep your
head elevated slightly while you sleep. Lying down with a full
stomach can cause food to reflux. Maintain a healthy weight. For many people, as little as 10%
weight loss can reduce heartburn symptoms. Stop smoking. Yet another reason to quit smoking stimulates the production
of stomach acid and relaxes the esopageal sphincter. Loosen up. Dont wear belts or clothes that are too tight around the waist. And loosen up as in RELAX. Theres no definitive proof that
stress causes heartburn, but stress has a way of making us
eat, drink, smoke get the picture? by Robert Sorrenti, MD Chief Medical Officer House e Call 2007 HealthLink

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