I was reading this information on the internet:

There are many factors that may cause heartburn, and being overweight is one of them.

Heartburn is caused by stomach acid flowing back up into the esophagus, the organ that connects the mouth to the stomach. The esophagus is about 10 inches long in most people. The esophagus is also called gullet and also spelled oesophagus.

Your food passes from your mouth down the esophagus to your stomach. A ringlike valve at the bottom of your esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is the muscle between the esophagus and the stomach.

When a person swallows, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes during swallowing to allow food to pass from the esophagus to the stomach. It stays closed at other times to keep stomach contents from flowing back up into the esophagus.

If the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) doesn't close or stays relaxed more frequently than normal, acid and food particles seep out of the stomach and up into the esophagus. This is called reflux. The stomach acid can irritate the esophagus. This is the cause of heartburn.

Almost everyone experiences heartburn at some time. Heartburn is a painful, burning sensation in the chest or throat. When you burp, or bend over, the acid fluid may even be tasted in the back of your mouth. The feeling can last for a few minutes or a few hours. Millions of adults experience heartburn on a daily basis.

Occasional heartburn is usually without serious consequences, but if you have chronic (lasting a long time) or frequent heartburn (episodes occurring from several times a week to several times a day), it may be associated with a more severe condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Persistent, everyday heartburn can lead to damage and scarring in the esophagus. If you have this problem, you may want to visit an internist - a doctor who specializes in internal medicine - or a gastroenterologist - a doctor who treats diseases of the stomach and intestines.

Lose weight if you are overweight. Obesity increases pressure on the stomach, and something as simple as bending over can push stomach contents up into the esophagus. In some cases, symptoms disappear completely after an overweight person loses 10 to 15 pounds.

Source came from the The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) website.

I wonder how come some non-overweight people get heart burn and acid reflux. Does it have to do with the foods you eat? What foods should you avoid to try to limit heartburn? I recently went to the Ear Nose and Throat doctor and she told me I had a small sign of acid reflux! I was surprised! I'm not sure if she was right though because my chest never burns... does that have to be a symptom of heartburn? She said I have a sign of acid reflux because that little dangly thing in the back of my throat had some redness to it... and I guess that is a sign of acid reflux.

Q: I wonder how come some non-overweight people get heart burn and acid reflux.

A: Anyone can get heartburn or acid reflux, even infants and children. It is more common in adults over age 40, and the elderly tend to have a more serious condition than younger people.

Q: Does it have to do with the foods you eat?

A: Some people are born with a naturally weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES). When a person swallows, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes during swallowing to allow food to pass from the esophagus to the stomach. It stays closed at other times to keep stomach contents from flowing back up into the esophagus. If the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) doesn't close or stays relaxed more frequently than normal, acid and food particles seep out of the stomach and up into the esophagus. Certain foods can trigger heartburn attacks.

Also, a hiatal hernia (pronounced - hy-AY-tul HUR-nee-uh) may contribute. A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach is above the diaphragm, the muscle wall that separates the stomach from the chest. The diaphragm helps the LES keep acid from coming up into the esophagus. When a hiatal hernia is present, it is easier for the acid to come up. In this way, a hiatal hernia can cause reflux. A hiatal hernia can happen in people of any age, many otherwise healthy people over 50 have a small one.

Q: What foods should you avoid to try to limit heartburn?

A: Foods to Avoid:
1) Citrus fruits such as oranges.
2) Chocolate.
3) Drinks with caffeine, like coffee, tea, many soft drinks.
4) Carbonated beverages.
5) Whole milk.
6) Fatty and fried foods.
7) Garlic and onions.
8) Mint flavorings, peppermint, spearmint.
9) Spicy foods.
10) Tomato based foods, like spaghetti sauce, chili, and pizza.

Q: I recently went to the Ear Nose and Throat doctor and she told me I had a small sign of acid reflux! I was surprised! I'm not sure if she was right though because my chest never burns... does that have to be a symptom of heartburn?

A: Some people have acid reflux without heartburn or acid regurgitation. Instead, they experience:
1) Pain in the chest.
2) Hoarseness in the morning.
3) Trouble swallowing.
4) You may feel like you have food stuck in your throat or like you are choking or your throat is sore or tight
5) Dry cough.
6) Breathing difficulties similar to asthma (asthma is a respiratory disease, often arising from allergies, that is characterized by sudden recurring attacks of labored breathing, chest constriction, and coughing).

Some people have NERD (Non-erosive Esophageal Reflux Disease). NERD is chronic reflux symptoms but without inflammation of the esophageal tissue.

Q: She said I have a sign of acid reflux because that little dangly thing in the back of my throat had some redness to it... and I guess that is a sign of acid reflux.

A: That little dangly thing in the back of your throat is called uvula.
Acid reflux can cause serious complications. If you think you have a problem, you should go to the doctor and get it checked out.


Changes In Lifestyle Can Help

1. Diet modification (avoid the foods that give you hearthburn or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).
2. Raising the head of your bed on blocks by 4 to 6 inches.
3. Do not lie down after eating.
4. Avoiding food 2 to 3 hours before bed.
5. Eat smaller, more frequent meals.
6. If you smoke, quit.
7. Avoid drinks with caffeine.
8. Avoid alcohol.
9. Lose weight if you're overweight.
10. Avoid tight clothing around the waist.

If you don't get relief from the changes in lifestyle, mentioned above, it is best to visit your doctor. Your doctor will give you the proper medications that will help decrease the production of stomach acid. If symptoms are severe, or there are complications and medical treatment does not help, your doctor may recommend surgery. Most people can get sufficient relief from changes in lifestyle and medications and do not require surgery.

Thanks for answering my questions, Ziggy! This is great information!

So how does GERD differ from acid reflux and heartburn? Maybe I have that since my chest never burns?

Makes sense to me.

I used to think heartburn was something slackers made up to get out of going right back to work after lunch. Then I gained a few pounds and discovered what it's all about. No fun at all.

GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).
GERD is the flow of the stomach's contents back up into the esophagus (acid reflux ). This happens when the muscle between the esophagus and the stomach (the lower esophageal sphincter) is weak or relaxes when it shouldn't. Heartburn is so common that it often is not associated with a serious disease like GERD.

Heartburn and GERD sound like one and the same, the flow of the stomach's contents back up into the esophagus. The difference is "occasional" heartburn is usually without serious consequences, as mentioned above, but when heartburn turns into persistent heartburn, having heartburn more often than you should, and you have been using antacids for more than 2 weeks, it is time to see a doctor. Persistent, everyday heartburn can lead to damage and scarring in the esophagus. You may want to visit an internist (a doctor who specializes in internal medicine) or a gastroenterologist (a doctor who treats diseases of the stomach and intestines).

GERD Can Cause Serious Complications
Erosive Esophagitis is one of the more serious forms of gastroesophageal reflux disease. If left untreated, the acid from the stomach can wear away or erode the lining of your esophagus.

Inflammation of the esophagus from stomach acid causes bleeding or ulcers.

Scars from tissue damage can narrow the esophagus and make swallowing difficult.

Some people develop Barrett's esophagus, where cells in the esophageal lining take on an abnormal shape and color, which over time can lead to cancer.

Also, studies have shown that asthma, chronic cough, and pulmonary fibrosis may be aggravated or even caused by GERD.


Yeah, having a few extra pounds around the waist and then "bending over from the waist" can do it!! I would think that puts pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) making acid and food particles seep out of the stomach and up into the esophagus, creating that "No fun at all" burning feeling.

They make Prilosec "over the counter" heartburn medication. You can get it at Walmart. I think it's a 14 day supply for like 20 bucks, maybe. Beats going to the doctor and paying a doctor bill, then the doc prescribing GERD medication which can cost over 100 some bucks a month or more to take it.

Prilosec "over the counter" medication can at least let you see if that helps your hurting stomach problem, or whatever feeling you are experiencing in your stomach, since you said you don't have the burning in the chest.

By the way, what are you experiencing????

I don't really have a burning feeling any where, so I don't know. When I went to the Ear Nose Throat doctor a while ago she saw that my uvula was red in the back and said I may have some acid reflux, but she didn't prescribe me any medicine for it since I guess it wasn't that bad. Instead she treated me with some sinus medicine and so I took it all and still don't feel like I'm back to my normal self. My nose was really stuffy and runny... that is a little better, but my nose will still just run for no reason at all. I still have a bad taste in my mouth and when I lay down, I feel like I have some sort of fluid in my throat which makes it hard to swallow. When I swallow it feels like the fluid is kinda just building up in my throat rather than going down. It's really hard to explain what it feels like. But I really don't even have that much of a stomach problem, so maybe acid reflux and GERD is not what I have? I just want to be better! This has been going on for about 7-8 months now .

That sounds like a lot of stuff you are dealing with. I wonder if maybe you have the post nasal drip, or allergies that just won't go away.

You could put a 4 to 6 inch board under the head of your bed to raise you up so things in your stomach will stay in your stomach. That would be to just see if there was any improvement with what you have.

Or trying the Prilosec over the counter, to rule out GERD.

Maybe you could take Benadryl to see if that would help with allergies or post nasal drip. Equate Allergy Medication from Walmart is the same thing though, for way less money.

I'm not a doctor... duh... but anyway, sometimes we try some simple things first to begin the ruling out process.

Yes, it is a lot of stuff. I wrote out a list of all of my symptoms:

• Fluid/mucous in throat, especially when laying down. Gives me the feeling that I need to clear something out of there.
• Nose runs for no reason at all. I can just look down at something and all of a sudden some clear liquid will just run out of my nose like I turn a faucet on.
• Bad taste in my mouth and a filmy something on my tongue that won't scrape off with a tongue scraper. No matter what I eat my tongue will turn the color of that substance. For example I had a pickle yesterday and my tongue turned green. Usually a pickle would not affect my tongue color!!
• Water tastes really bad when I drink it.
• I seem to be burping more than normal and have the hiccups a lot more than normal.
• When a burp happens or when I have to blow my nose, there is this pressure feeling in my right ear that doesn't feel good.

Okay, so those are most of my symptoms and I am very tired of them all! If anybody has had symptoms like these and knows how to get rid of them and what is wrong with me, I would really appreciate any advice.

I've already been the the Ear Nose & Throat doctor twice and a general practice doctor twice.


I need to sleep on a flat surface or else it will kill my back. Any incline doesn't feel good for it.


I took allergy medicine for a month and a half straight and I bought some Prilosec and used that after the doctor told me she saw a sign of acid reflux. None helped.

4 doctor visits and it didn't help????? That is unbelievable!! I would be sooooo mad about that. I would go back to those doctors and tell them they took your money and didn't solve your problems.

I know you problably don't want to hear this, but you need to go back to a doctor and find out what is causing all this to happen to you.

I called the doctor back and already made an appointment for next Tuesday. We'll see what they say... third times a charm, right?

Good, let us know what you find out.

Well, I went to the ENT (ear, nose, throat) doctor today and she insisted that I just have allergies. These are some annoying allergies. I'm thinking maybe of getting air purifier and hopefully that will help the air in my house and help my "allergies" go away.