EDUCATION
Prokinetics
Prokinetics help the stomach empty faster. Prescription
Limiting spicy, fatty, greasy, or high-fi bre foods
• Bethanechol Chewing your food well
• Metoclopramide Limiting or not having any coff ee, soda, or alcohol
aspirin and OTC pain and fever medicines (NSAIDs
drinks that may cause indigestion or make symptoms or nonsteroidal anti-infl ammatory drugs). If you do
• Alcoholic beverages
burning feeling (in the
chest or behind the
Quitting smoking
• Foods that contain a lot of acid, such as tomatoes, Getting enough rest
• Spicy, fatty, or greasy foods
Finding ways to lower emotional and physical
stress, such as meditation or yoga
Exercising before a meal or waiting at least
one hour after eating
A doctor may recommend a type of psychological therapy
pain, burning in the
HEARTBURN
called “talk therapy” to help treat anxiety and depression
throat, hot-sour or
acidic taste in the
back of the throat,
diffi culty swallowing,
feeling of sickness
or nausea, feeling of
that may be causing indigestion. If stress is causing “Heartburn is a symptom of indigestion
indigestion, a doctor may recommend ways to help and usually describes the intense, burning
reduce stress, such as meditation, relaxation exercises,
feeling (hence the name) in the chest behind
or counselling. Talk therapy can also help a patient learn the breastbone which occurs as stomach acid travels
how to reduce their stress. backwards from the stomach into the oesophagus,”
explains nutritional therapist Ali Cullen. “Heartburn is
food sticking in the
middle of chest or
throat, coughing,
PREVENTION usually a result of indigestion and can be so severe people
There are many things patients can do to try to often mistake it for a problem with their heart.”
prevent indigestion. The University of Rochester
sore throat, etc.
Other rare symptoms
include pain in the
back, jaw, shoulders,
neck or arms.
from happening include:
• Foods or drinks that contain caff eine
Psychological therapies
breast bone), chest
take them, do so after you eat.
· Other lifestyle changes that may keep indigestion
• Carbonated, or fi zzy, drinks
tomato products, and oranges
heartburn include:
· Avoid medicines that hurt your stomach. These include
A doctor may recommend avoiding certain foods and
worse, such as:
Symptoms of
for meals
prokinetics include:
Changes in what a person eats and drinks
SYMPTOMS OF
HEARTBURN
Eating slowly and giving yourself enough time
Medical Centre recommends:
The pain of heartburn is the irritation or damage taking
place to your oesophagus by the refl uxed stomach acid.
· Making changes in your diet and eating habits can help.
These include: LOCATION OF DISCOMFORT
Eating several small, low-fat meals each day instead of Heartburn is a painful burning sensation in the
three large meals
oesophagus, just below or behind the breastbone.
The pain often rises in your chest and may radiate to
your neck or throat.
CAUSE
Essentially heartburn is caused by acid refl ux or when the
digestive acid fl ows up into the oesophagus. According
to the University of Maryland Medical Center, normally
when food or liquid enters your stomach, a band of muscle
at the end of your oesophagus closes off the oesophagus.
This band is called the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES).
If this band does not close tightly enough, food or stomach
acid can back up (refl ux) into the oesophagus. Usually
acidic, the stomach contents can irritate the oesophagus
and cause heartburn and other symptoms.
Heartburn is more likely if you have a hiatal hernia. A
hiatal hernia is a condition which occurs when the top part
of the stomach pokes into the chest cavity. This weakens
the LES so that it is easier for acid to back up from the
stomach into the oesophagus.
Pregnancy and many medicines can bring on heartburn
or make it worse.
Medicines that can cause heartburn include:
· Anticholinergics (used for sea sickness)
· Beta-blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease
· Calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure
· Dopamine-like drugs for Parkinson disease
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| MAY 2017
Pharmacy Magazine