Many people with stomach problems report symptoms such as heartburn and belching. The causes, treatment of the underlying ailment are discussed in this article. However, many still question whether heartburn and belching are related.
Why do they appear?
Belching is a symptom of the expulsion of gas from the stomach and intestines through the mouth. Heartburn is the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus with irritation of the mucosa and the appearance of an unpleasant burning sensation behind the sternum or in the stomach area.
With many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, heartburn and belching can occur. The reasons for their appearance may be related to food, eating errors or disorders of the stomach, small intestine or gallbladder. Belching and heartburn cannot always be diagnosed as independent symptoms. In most cases, in combination, they accompany various diseases of the stomach.
Belching after eating - aerophagia
This symptom can be spontaneous or compulsive. Air usually enters the esophagus and causes belching. This usually causes no discomfort or bloating.
Reasons for swallowingair:
- quick eating or drinking;
- mouth breathing;
- nasal congestion;
- hyperventilation associated with anxiety;
- regular gum chewing;
- Poorly fitted dentures.
Carbonated drinks such as soda and beer can cause gas to build up in the stomach and esophagus. Some antacids cause the formation of carbon dioxide as a by-product of neutralizing stomach acid and cause the condition that accompanies heartburn and belching. The causes, treatment of these symptoms depend on what foods were taken by the patient. Changing the diet normalizes the function of the gastrointestinal tract.
Hiatal hernia
A hiatal hernia is a protrusion of part of the stomach into the chest cavity due to a weakening or rupture of the diaphragm. Protrusion and compression of the stomach causes a range of gastrointestinal symptoms.
The exact causes of hiatal hernia are unknown, but there are a number of provoking factors:
- obesity;
- pregnancy;
- smoking;
- weight training;
- chronic respiratory disorders manifested by persistent cough;
- surgical procedures affecting the diaphragm;
- Birth deformities or defects.
A hiatal hernia may not manifest itself for a long time. Acute symptoms include pain in the epigastrium or behind the sternum, discomfort after eating, a feeling of overeating after small meals, dyspepsia,sour taste in the mouth, constant heartburn and belching. Causes and treatments are well understood, so various therapies have been developed.
When a hernia of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm is palpated, some soreness is determined in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen in the region of the stomach and diaphragm.
Diagnosis
Usually, fluoroscopy alone is sufficient to identify a hernia. In order to isolate and identify organs that are translucent to the rays, internal radiologically active substances such as barium are used.
Diet and remedies
So, consider the appearance of such unpleasant symptoms as heartburn and belching, the causes. Both methods of treatment and his methodology include the appointment of products that do not irritate the mucous membrane. Carbonated drinks, sour and spicy foods, coffee and strong tea can aggravate the painful condition.
It is recommended to stop eating foods that can aggravate symptoms such as heartburn and belching. Methods of treatment in advanced cases are surgical intervention.
Helicobacter infection
What else can cause constant heartburn and belching? Causes (and treatments) are well understood in Helicobacter pylori. This infection affects the stomach, causing increased production of stomach acid and ulceration of the stomach wall. This causes the patient to experience symptoms such as heartburn and belching. Causes, treatment of H. pylori infection depend on the degree of infection with this bacterium, which assimilatesammonia and releases carbon dioxide. In chronic infections, high levels of H. pylori bacteria can contribute to the formation of a significant amount of carbon dioxide in the stomach. Infection often causes peptic ulcers.
Diagnosis and treatment
A biopsy of the gastric mucosa is one of the most effective methods for detecting H. pylori infection and should be performed in a clinic or hospital.
Diet and remedies for H. pylori infection include many drugs. Many studies have shown garlic to be quite effective in treating H. pylori infection when used in combination with Omeprazole.
Antibiotic therapy
It is advisable to treat infections with antibiotics in combination with proton pump inhibitors such as Omeprazole. Proton pump inhibitors can help with treatment by acting and soothing the stomach lining, while antibiotics kill bacteria and prevent further growth of the microbial population. This leads to the elimination of such an initial cause as heartburn and belching. And the consequences in case of timely treatment will not manifest itself in the form of a stomach ulcer.
Therapy usually results in complete recovery, but a proton pump inhibitor must be used for a long time. The chances of recurrence of the infection are high, so the treatment must be constantly monitored.
The use of antibiotics can exacerbate mucosal inflammationstomach, and repeated courses may be required. Long-term use of antibiotics can also affect bowel activity and a suitable probiotic is essential for a comprehensive treatment.
Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis is a paralysis of the abdominal muscles that prevents or delays the passage of stomach contents into the small intestine. The causative factor may affect the innervation of the muscles of the stomach.
Causes of gastroparesis:
- diabetes (type I or II);
- anorexia nervosa;
- nerve or muscle damage due to surgery or other injury;
- thyroid disease;
- pancreatitis;
- scleroderma;
- condition after viral infection.
Gastroparesis symptoms:
- feeling of stomach fullness quickly or after small meals;
- nausea, vomiting;
- unintentional weight loss;
- heartburn and belching.
The causes and methods of treatment for gastroparesis will determine the correct diagnosis. The endoscopic method is the most accessible and harmless. It allows you to determine the presence of benign formations and cancerous tumors.
Diet
We recommend liquid and semi-liquid meals. Large amounts of fat in the diet are not indicated because they require a significant increase in intestinal motility and the production of increased amounts of enzymes by the liver and pancreas. Alcohol is not recommended for gastroparesis, as it can slow down emptyingstomach.
Treatment of gastric paresis
The treatment of gastroparesis is complex and combines diet, drug therapy and surgery.
Heartburn and belching: how to treat depends on the cause that led to these symptoms.
- Intolerance to certain foods may be due to disorders of the digestive system or malabsorption in the intestines.
- Lactose intolerance occurs due to the lack of the digestive enzyme lactase.
- Hereditary fructose intolerance is similar to lactose intolerance in that there is a hereditary enzyme deficiency.
- Malabsorption of fructose and sorbitol can lead to reduced intestinal absorption of these carbohydrates, allowing gut bacteria to consume it. The consumption of lactose, fructose and sorbitol by intestinal bacteria leads to the accumulation of gases.
Symptoms of food intolerance and absorption are nausea, bloating, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, heartburn and belching. Causes, treatment depend on which enzyme intolerance is present. For example, a lack of fructose can cause more severe symptoms if the diet is not followed. Excessive consumption of fructose and/or sorbitol can lead to vomiting, jaundice, fatigue, liver enlargement, and seizures.
Food intolerance treatment
Diet is essential for her. If you are lactose intolerant, you should stop taking dairy products. fructose intolerance alsowill require a change in diet.
Bacterial growth in the small intestine
This disease increases the number of pathogens in the small intestine, which leads to the accumulation of gas in the intestines, respectively, belching, bloating, diarrhea, and sometimes heartburn. At the same time, there is a nutritional deficiency.
Reasons:
- diabetes (type I or II);
- anorexia nervosa;
- nerve or muscle damage due to surgery or other injury;
- thyroid disease;
- pancreatitis;
- scleroderma;
- intestinal obstruction;
- diverticula.
For diagnosis, a fluid sample is taken from the small intestine, which will show the degree of bacterial contamination.
Treatment. Antibiotics are generally effective in treating this disease. Various nutritional supplements may be prescribed to correct nutritional deficiencies.
Biliary dyskenesia
Bile is necessary for the breakdown of fats when food enters the intestines. Bile reflux is the backflow of bile from the small intestine into the stomach and esophagus.
Causes of bile stasis:
- gallstones;
- cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder);
- cholecystectomy;
- gall bladder cancer;
- hepatitis;
- cirrhosis;
- other liver disease;
Causes of Bile Reflux Gastritis:
- pylorus dysfunction - the valve that separates the small intestine from the stomach;
- peptic ulcers;
- cholecystectomy.
Biliary tract symptoms: right upper quadrant pain, nausea, vomiting of bile, bloating, weight loss, anorexia, heartburn and belching.
Causes, treatment during pregnancy
The symptoms discussed in the article are often found in he althy pregnant women. They are caused by mechanical compression of the growing uterus and constant irritation of the gastric mucosa during toxicosis. Treatment consists in eating small portions of food and using the drugs "Rennie", "Gastal", "Maalox". Without treatment, after delivery, heartburn and belching go away on their own.
Indigestion
There is an unpleasant feeling of fullness, pain or burning in the upper abdomen. The symptoms are temporary and do not have a chronic course. This is:
- abdominal pain;
- heartburn;
- burp;
- nausea;
- taste in the mouth;
- discomfort in the stomach;
- constipation or diarrhea;
- reduction or lack of appetite.
Indigestion has many causes, including medical conditions, medications, diet and lifestyle problems.
Tests for diagnosing the stomach include blood tests, abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy, colonoscopy, abdominal CT and MRI, stool and gastric juice analysis. Only after that it is possible to establish what are the causes of the symptom "heartburn after eating". And treatment with folk remedies also gives a goodeffect.
Treatment with folk remedies
Start of treatment for indigestion are:
- lifestyle change, eating small meals by the hour;
- slow chewing food;
- avoiding alcohol, tobacco and coffee;
- eliminating junk food from the diet;
- compliance with the regime.
Medications to treat indigestion include antacids and acid blockers. Treatment for indigestion focuses on addressing the underlying cause. The prognosis for indigestion is usually good if it is caused by lifestyle factors. The outlook for indigestion that is caused by an illness or medical condition varies depending on the resolution of that condition.
What diseases or conditions cause indigestion?
Illness or conditions that can cause indigestion include:
- ulcers (stomach or duodenum);
- GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease);
- esophagitis;
- hernia of the esophageal part of the diaphragm;
- gallstones;
- last trimester of pregnancy;
- pancreatitis;
- gastritis;
- food poisoning;
- irritable bowel syndrome;
- gastroparesis;
- enzyme intolerance;
- heart disease: angina, heart attack;
- thyroid disease;
- depression;
- stomach cancer.
What drugs cause heartburn or belching
- aspirin andmany other pain relievers such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
- "Prednisolone", "Methylprednisolone", "Medrol";
- estrogen and oral contraceptives;
- antibiotics like Erythromycin and Tetracycline
- drugs for the treatment of the thyroid gland;
- drugs that lower blood pressure;
- statins;
- some painkillers.
All of these drugs can cause stomach and intestinal dysfunction symptoms such as heartburn and belching (causes) if used improperly.
Treatment with folk remedies
Some tips to help get rid of heartburn and burping.
1. Aim for a he althy weight.
While heartburn can happen to anyone, GERD is most common in overweight or obese adults. In these cases, the pressure on the abdomen increases. As a result, you are at increased risk of gastric acid reflux into the esophagus.
2. Know what foods to avoid.
No matter how much you weigh, there are some foods that can increase your risk of developing symptoms. Try not to use:
- tomato sauce and other tomato-based products;
- fatty food (like fast food);
- fried;
- citrus juices;
- soda;
- caffeine;
- chocolate;
- garlic;
- bow;
- mint;
- alcohol.
By limiting or avoiding them altogether, youyou can alleviate your condition. You can also keep a food diary to identify problem foods.
3. Eat little but long.
Through chewing food creates less pressure on the stomach, which can prevent backflow of stomach acid. However, you can reduce heartburn by eating less overall.
It is also important to avoid sleeping after meals. This can also cause heartburn and belching. It is not recommended to go to bed immediately after eating. If this is unavoidable, then after you go to bed, try to raise your head higher to avoid nighttime heartburn.
4. Eat foods that help.
First, a low-fat, high-protein diet is recommended. Reducing dietary fat further may reduce your symptoms, while getting enough protein and fiber will give you bulk and prevent overeating.
After every meal, you can chew gum without mint - this will increase the amount of saliva in your mouth and prevent acid from refluxing from the esophagus.
5. Quit smoking.
In non-smokers, the function of the lower esophageal sphincter, which is responsible for preventing the reflux of stomach acids, is in good shape and functions normally.
Second-hand smoke can also cause problems if you are struggling with symptoms of heartburn and burping.
6. Drink herbal infusions.
The following herbs are used to relieve unpleasant symptoms:
- chamomile;
- licorice;
- zephyr;
- slippery elm.
Used both as a tincture and as a tea.
7. Avoid tight clothing.
Wearing clothes that are too tight around the stomach can increase heartburn. This is especially important with stiff belts.
8. Try relaxation techniques.
Yoga is good for healing and relaxation. Her exercises will bring the soul and body back to normal. Even if you're not a yogi, you can try quiet meditation and deep breathing for a few minutes several times a day to reduce your stress levels.
