What Type of Heartburn Are You Experiencing?

Types of Heartburn

You may already have heard or read some methods to cure heartburn. The remedies will range from natural ways, over-the-counter medicines and prescribed medication. Your main goal probably is to find what remedies work best.  You have to be extra cautious though as what works for somebody else may not work for you.

Another puzzle that you may come across is the type of heartburn you are experiencing. It could possibly be summer heartburn, night time heartburn, pregnancy heartburn, chronic heartburn or any other kind of heartburn. You experience heartburn because of the excess stomach acid that comes out of the stomach and goes into the esophagus. The acid then irritates the esophagus which results to pain and can also manifest as chest pain. Sometimes, heartburn is mistaken for a heart attack.  Below is a compilation of possible types of heartburns that you may be experiencing.  Information on how to prevent or cure heartburn is also presented.

Summer Heartburn

Heartburn may not be most talked about during summer. But experiencing it can be a problem.  You usually gets heartburn through picnics and side-effects of long lazy days in summer. The humid air together with too much fried and fatty foods consumed within a short span of time leaves you prone to an attack. And if you drink too much coffee to wake you up then there's a possibility the combination of these factors will blow up and result in a heartburn attack.

Heartburn During Pregnancy

Women have higher chances of getting heartburn during pregnancy. This is caused by the weakness of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a muscle that connects your stomach and the esophagus. It regulates the flow of the food from esophagus to the stomach. If LES works properly, then there's no heartburn to be feared of. Though pregnancy is wonderful experience, there are a lot of changes in the body and LES is affected as well. Heartburn during pregnancy, especially in the latter stages, can be common

When considering for remedies for heartburn relief, be cautious because some may not be good for your baby. Even natural remedies may contain ingredients that can possibly do harm to you and your baby.  Consult your doctor first to make sure what is best for you and your baby.

When it comes to heartburn relief, "prevention is better than cure."  You have heard this a thousand times. Food intake should be in small portions. You should not put too much pressure on your stomach because this may push the acid back upwards. After eating dinner, wait for around two to three hours before going to bed. Also, the bed should be tilted with the head raised a few inches high. This is the power of gravity. The acid would less likely to go up with this orientation.

Night Time Heartburn

This is known to be the worst type of heartburn. In addition to the usual chest pain, it's hard to get any sleep. Some people who are suffering acid reflux heartburn tend to put off going to bed. It's like having a nightmare ahead of time. If you are one of these people, then you might have experienced yourself doing just anything to delay bed time. One easy and doable trick that will reduce night time heartburn is lifting the head of the bed by few inches.  This may just be a temporary heartburn relief method and not a way to cure heartburn, so make an appointment with your doctor. Your situation may be an indication of much more serious illness.

Chronic Heartburn

This is a severe heartburn which in general can be any type of heartburn that occurs on a regular basis. If you experience heartburn two or three times a week, then you are likely to have chronic heartburn. You need something more than over-the-counter medications to cure heartburn. The frequency of the attack may result complications. You better consult your doctor and know for certain that the pain is due to heartburn and not any other type of illness like GERD or even cancer.