After dinner, you’re getting ready for a movie night when all of a sudden, your chest starts to burn. Do you want to know if this is heartburn or acid reflux? Is it something more serious, like GERD?” Many people don’t understand these words.
Don’t worry, though! You will be able to tell the difference between these three by the end of this educational trip. Are you ready? Let’s begin right away
How Acid Reflux Can Sneak Up On You
Your gut system is like a street that only goes in one direction. It makes sense that the food should only go in one way. Sometimes, though, the stomach doesn’t follow this rule. The acid and some food that hasn’t been processed turn around and go back to the oesophagus. This mess-up is called acid reflux.
This is a fun fact about acid reflux: At some point, everyone will have acid reflux, even that friend who is always in shape and swears by green drinks. This is a normal, if painful, part of the digestive process.
Heartburn: What Happens Next
Have you ever had a burn that was so bad it felt like a volcano exploded in your chest? That’s what heartburn really is. Heartburn has nothing to do with the heart, despite its dramatic name. It’s the pain and burning feeling that come from acid reflux. It feels like it’s on fire when stomach acid that shouldn’t be there touches the walls of our oesophagus.
Heartburn, despite its name, is actually just an oesophageal tantrum and has nothing to do with the heart. The name comes from the fact that it is close to the heart area. But let’s be clear: this hot affair has nothing to do with the heart!
GERD: The Intruder Who Stays
Having the above-mentioned feelings from time to time? All right. But if your chest feels like it’s constantly erupting volcanoes, you may have GERD, which stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. GERD is like acid reflux’s scary bigger brother or sister: More severe, happening more often, and definitely causing more trouble.
Did you know that GERD can affect anyone, even kids? This constant reflux is usually thought of as an issue for adults, but kids can also have it.
One trick that people with GERD often use? They sleep a little higher up. The rebellious acid stays in its lane at this position because gravity acts as a defence.
How To Connect The Dots
This Is What’s Going On
- Acid reflux is when stomach acid comes back up into your throat.
- Heartburn is the burning feeling that you get when your stomach acid backs up.
- GERD is a type of acid reflux that doesn’t go away, which leads to regular heartburn and other problems.
What This Means In The Real World
You might ask, “Why is this difference so important?” You will be the talk of the party when you can tell these two things apart, and it can also be good for your health. If you get angry after eating, you might just need to make some changes to your lifestyle.
But if your chest feels like Mt. Vesuvius is erupting all the time, you should see a doctor. It’s easier to adjust treatments and interventions when you can tell them apart.
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