What is long-term heartburn?

Some people with stomach problems often feel heartburn. Heartburn is caused by excessive stomach acid. Excessive stomach acid will cause esophageal reflux. The reflux is usually acid in the stomach. Esophageal reflux is very uncomfortable, so in the early stages of heartburn, you must go to the hospital to see a doctor in time. So what is the cause of long-term heartburn? Let me give you a detailed introduction below.

Heartburn refers to a burning sensation in the stomach or behind the sternum, often extending upward from the lower part of the sternum. It is the most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Etiology and pathogenesis

1. Eating too fast or too much, overeating and other bad habits, spicy food, taking non-steroidal drugs can relax the lower esophageal sphincter or increase gastric acid secretion.

2. Mental factors are also important factors that affect the occurrence of heartburn symptoms, mainly including depression, introversion, sensitivity, anxiety, insomnia, unexpected misfortunes and long-term emotional tension .

3. Clinically, many upper gastrointestinal diseases, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcer, chronic gastritis, etc., can cause heartburn symptoms.

4. Traditional Chinese medicine generally divides the causes of heartburn into three types: heat, qi, and deficiency. The stomach is Yang Earth and is easily transformed into heat. Stagnant heat damages Yin. When stomach Yin is deficient, stomach Yang has nowhere to go and will burn food and water and turn them into acid. Stagnant heat rushing upward will cause heartburn.

Treating symptoms according to syndrome differentiation

Heartburn often occurs at the same time as other stomach symptoms, such as stomach pain, belching, poor appetite, and fullness. Therefore, the treatment of heartburn should be combined with other symptoms and treated based on syndrome differentiation.

1. Stomach heat

Symptoms: heartburn, discomfort in the stomach or behind the sternum, irritability, burning pain in the stomach, dry and bitter mouth, or swollen and painful gums, dry stool, and short and dark urine. The tongue is red, the tongue coating is yellow with little moisture, and the pulse is stringy and slippery.

Treatment principle: Clear heat and clear the bowels.

Prescription: Yunu Decoction combined with Zuojin Pills.

2. Insufficient stomach yin

Symptoms: heartburn, dry mouth and thirst, dull pain in the stomach, especially when hungry, poor appetite or nausea, feeling hungry but unable to eat, restlessness and insomnia. The tongue is tender red with little fluid, little or no coating, and the pulse is thin.

Treatment principle: Nourish yin and moisten the stomach.

Prescription: Adenophora and Ophiopogon japonicus decoction with calcined osmanthus fragrans and cuttlebone.

3. Liver Qi Stagnation

Symptoms: heartburn, fullness and stuffiness in the stomach, and frequent belching. Heartburn is often aggravated by emotional stimulation. Pain, tightness and discomfort in the back, and swelling in the flanks. Uncomfortable bowel movements. The tongue is dark red, the tongue coating is thin white, and the pulse is stringy or stringy and slippery.

Treatment principle: Regulate Qi and reduce adverse effects.

Prescription: Chaihu Shugan Powder plus calcined oyster and gentian.

4. Dampness and heat in the spleen and stomach

Symptoms: heartburn, poor appetite, fullness in the stomach, worse after eating, sticky feeling in the mouth, heaviness in the head and body, thirst without desire to drink. Difficult urination, uncomfortable bowel movements or loose stools. The tongue is dark red with greasy coating, and the pulse is slippery or stringy and slippery.

Treatment principle: Eliminate dampness and soothe the stomach

Prescription: Erchen Decoction or Huoxiang Zhengqi Powder with rhubarb and cuttlefish bone.

Preventive care

1. To avoid heartburn, you should first pay attention to your daily diet and avoid eating too fast. At the same time, try to eat less or no certain foods, such as tea, coffee, fried foods, candy, chili, strong alcohol, etc.

2. Do not lie down in bed or bend over immediately after a meal, and do not start strenuous exercise immediately. A wise choice is to take a leisurely walk 30 minutes after a meal, which can not only help digestion but also relieve heartburn symptoms.

3. You can choose some antacids such as calcium carbonate tablets, aluminum hydroxide gel, etc. These drugs can neutralize gastric acid and quickly eliminate heartburn symptoms. However, if these drugs are taken for a long time, constipation or diarrhea can be caused. You can use Chinese medicine to regulate gastrointestinal function, such as gastrointestinal regulating preparations, to achieve good results.

4. If you have frequent severe heartburn, or if the symptoms are severe and persistent, you should go to the hospital for a checkup.