What causes stomach heartburn?

Sep 22, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Introduction
Heartburn may be caused by emotional stress, improper diet, functional dyspepsia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastritis, and other factors. In daily life, to prevent heartburn, it is important to manage emotions, maintain a balanced and regular diet, avoid overeating as well as spicy and greasy foods, and maintain a healthy lifestyle to support gastrointestinal health.

Generally, gastric heartburn refers to heartburn. Heartburn may be caused by emotional stress, improper diet, functional dyspepsia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastritis, and other reasons. It can be treated under a doctor's guidance through general lifestyle adjustments and medication. Specific analyses are as follows:

1. Emotional Stress

Conditions such as anxiety and depression can affect gastrointestinal function via the nervous system, leading to abnormal gastric acid secretion and subsequently causing heartburn. It is important to adjust one’s mindset and seek psychological counseling to maintain a positive and optimistic mood.

2. Improper Diet

Poor eating habits such as long-term consumption of spicy foods, overeating, or irregular meals may irritate the gastric mucosa, resulting in excessive gastric acid secretion and causing heartburn. In daily life, it is essential to adjust dietary patterns and avoid spicy, greasy, and irritating foods.

3. Functional Dyspepsia

Functional dyspepsia may be related to gastrointestinal motility disorders and visceral hypersensitivity. It can lead to abnormal gastric acid secretion, thus causing the aforementioned symptoms, possibly accompanied by belching, nausea, and other symptoms. Treatment may include medications such as trimebutine maleate tablets, lansoprazole enteric-coated tablets, and itopride hydrochloride tablets, as prescribed by a physician.

4. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

GERD is primarily caused by consuming excessively oily foods or overeating. This condition may irritate the esophageal mucosa, leading to heartburn. Symptoms may include difficulty swallowing and chest pain. Medications such as esomeprazole magnesium enteric-coated tablets, ranitidine hydrochloride capsules, and aluminum phosphate gel should be used under medical supervision.

5. Gastritis

Gastritis can be caused by various factors, including Helicobacter pylori infection, drug irritation, and autoimmune diseases. Gastritis leads to inflammation of the gastric mucosa, which may result in heartburn. Symptoms may include vomiting and loss of appetite. Patients should take medications such as amoxicillin capsules, clarithromycin tablets, and metronidazole tablets as directed by their doctor.

To prevent heartburn, individuals should manage their emotions, maintain a balanced and regular diet, avoid overeating and consuming spicy or greasy foods, and pay attention to healthy sleep patterns to support gastrointestinal health.