PHYSIOLOGICAL CAUSES
Heartburn occurs when stomach acid rises into your esophagus. Normally when you swallow, your lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes, allowing liquid to flow into your stomach, before closing again.3,4
If the LES relaxes abnormally, acid can flow back up into your esophagus and cause heartburn.5
1. Esophagus
The muscular tube that connects the mouth and throat to the stomach.
2. Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES)
A circular band of muscles around the bottom part of your esophagus.
3. Stomach
An internal organ in which some food digestion occurs.
4. Proton Pump
Tiny pumps in your stomach lining that produce stomach acid.
5. Diaphragm
A muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen.6
You can only get heartburn from eating certain foods.
Triggers differ from person to person. For some people, foods may be that trigger. But for others, the root cause may be physiological or environmental. If you think a certain food may be a trigger, keep tabs on what you eat and drink so you can learn how to avoid the things that trigger heartburn in your body.9
∆2018 IQVIA ProVoice Survey for OTC PPIs.
†Among OTC Frequent Heartburn Brands. IMS OTC Global Analysis 2017
REFERENCES:
3. Heartburn: Symptoms & causes. Mayo Clinic. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heartburn/symptoms-causes/syc-20373223
4. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Symptoms & causes. Mayo Clinic. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gerd/symptoms-causes/syc-20361940
5. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Symptoms & causes. Mayo Clinic. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gerd/symptoms-causes/syc-20361940
6. Medical Definition of diaphragm. MedicineNet. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2983
7. GERD: Can certain medications increase severity? Mayo Clinic. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gerd/expert-answers/heartburn-gerd/faq-20058535
8. Wedro, B., Heartburn. RxList. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.rxlist.com/heartburn/drugs-condition.htm
9. Denk, P. Acid reflux causes: Find your trigger foods. RefluxMD. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.refluxmd.com/acid-reflux-causes-triggers/
10. Common heartburn triggers. WebMD. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/features/heartburn-spot-your-personal-triggers