Good sleeping posture helps combat heartburn

SHAH ALAM - All health problems should not be taken lightly even if it is a heartburn or scientifically referred to as Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (Gerd).

Some individuals often think of it is a common problem which occurred from eating too fast, consuming spicy food or not having a proper eating schedule, but in reality it is not true.

Melaka Mahkota Medical Centre Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Internal Medicine Consultant Dr T. Ruben Raj said heartburn could be a symptom of several diseases such as heart attacks, internal organ disorders (such as liver, lungs and bile), cancer, gastritis or inflammation of the digestive tract.

"This occurs when the muscle functioning as a means of separating the esophagus (food channel) and stomach weakens. Because of that, food contents would return to the esophagus along with the acid, causing discomfort.

"It will cause a person to feel bloated, pain and heat in the chest and throat," he told SinarPlus.

Dr Ruben said individuals above the age of 40 should have endoscopic examinations at least once a year as it would help identify the conditions of the organs in the body and determine whether they are functioning well or if there is a problem.

A heartburn would usually require a stomach endoscopy and if an individual reached the age of above 45, they would be advised to do endoscopy and colonoscopy tests, he explained.

He added that health problems would not only be related to their diet.

"An individual with stress, lack of sleep and unbalanced eating habits could have heartburns. It often happens to those between the age of 20 and 40 as it may be due to stress and an unbalanced lifestyle," he said.

Among the obvious symptoms of the health crisis are discomfort in the throat, sleep disturbances, nausea, vomiting, bad breath and frequent headaches.

Dr Ruben said patients who experience these symptoms are advised to see a specialist.

This, he said was because the treatments rely on the level of the person's health.

"Typically, to overcome recurring pain, doctors would advise patients not to eat large amounts of food on an empty stomach.

"It would be best to eat in small portions around five or six times a day and if possible not miss a meal regardless of whether it is in the morning, at noon or at night," he said.

He suggested for those who experience a heartburn at night to use two pillows when lying down to avoid having the stomach acid from travelling up to the food tract.

"Positioning the body to the left would cause the acid to rise from the stomach to the esophagus, it would be different if positioned on the right," he said adding that sleeping position plays a big role in preventing heartburns.

Meanwhile, Hello Doktor suggested some methods of reducing heartburn symptoms quickly.

The medical portal said there are several medicines that could treat acid reflux, the first being Antacid that functioned as a neutraliser to the acid in the body that could be purchased at any pharmacy and to be consumed after a meal.

It also recommended Histamine-2 receptor antagonists as it functions as binding histamine-2 receptors in the stomach blocking the release of acid in the stomach.

The medicine could provide immediate relief and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved four Histamie-2 receptor antagonists which are cimetidine, famotidine, ranitidine and nizatidine, some of which are prepared without needing prescriptions.

The public are advised to seek advice from doctors to avoid any side effects from consuming the medicines.

Hello Doktor said a proton pump inhibitor could reduce the acid secretion in the stomach.

Its intake could affect the parietal cells in the stomach that contain proton pumps.

Blocking the proton pump reaction is the final measure to prevent acid secretion in the stomach.