Name one person who doesn’t love to eat. Most of us just love to eat. We look forward to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But how many of us are prone to something like this: after finishing a meal, you lean back in a chair and suddenly your chest feels like it’s on fire. The pleasure of your meal is gone, replaced by pain.
Inside of your body, stomach acid and even bile seeps backward into your food pipe, which is better known as your esophagus. This backwash of acid irritates the esophagus, causing inflammation and pain to radiate as far north as your throat. The problem is the sphincter in your lower esophagus — which closes after food passes into the stomach — relaxes when it shouldn’t or becomes weakened over time. It goes from being a regular, hinged door to a revolving one.
We know acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease by the term “heartburn.” It’s prevalent throughout North America, and new research has probably found the reason for it: One of the biggest causes is obesity. Extra weight was first thought to be only a risk factor for heartburn, because it put pressure on the stomach, which forces the sphincter to open. But we can now upgrade obesity from a risk factor to a definitive cause.
The new study looked at nine previous studies and found that six showed a major link between heartburn and obesity. As soon as patients’ “body mass index” rose (the best measure of someone’s weight) so did their symptoms of heartburn. Now, we’re not completely sure why this is the case. But it’s important for everyone to know about the link. Many people will continue to suffer from heartburn throughout their lives, thinking it is an unbeatable problem that they can temporarily treat by popping an antacid or by cutting back on spicy foods.
Now, overweight people should know that losing some weight will likely improve symptoms of heartburn-and maybe get rid of it altogether. It’s a perfect example of why tackling the underlying cause of discomfort rather than masking it and permitting it to return is the best course of action. And for those of you who want to shed those extra pounds, well here’s yet another good reason to motivate you.
Next Post: Keep It Spicy and Keep It safe
Previous Post: Avian Flu Cases Surging: Are You at Risk?
Tags: obesity, stomach problems
