Pod Coffee Makers 411

What causes heartburn? Seriously, the question is so elementary that when I asked someone who had absolutely no medical background the immediate answer was ‘diet.’ True enough, diet is a factor, but it is not the cause. What happens is that the lower esophageal sphincter or LES does not tighten after the food travels through it from the stomach. This laxity in the sphincter allows the eaten food to go back up the esophagus with the stomach acids which is the burning sensation felt in the chest: heartburn. And what does heartburn feel like? Painful and burning from the stomach up the chest where the esophagus is located all the way to the back of the throat which can last from a few minutes to hours.

What cause the weakness of the sphincter can be two main things: overeating and too much pressure on the stomach like that in obesity and pregnancy. These two excesses can also be further compromised with certain foods that can trigger the laxity: tomatoes, citrus foods, garlic, onions, chocolate, and coffee… all the good stuff. Another trigger can be stress accompanied usually with smoking which by themselves already contribute to excess in stomach acids.

In short, what causes heartburn in modern man is simply lifestyle. So the common concept of diet as the main culprit is justified, to a certain extent. Modern man is a victim (?) of modern necessities. The need to succeed despite all odds, the need to have everything instantly, including food, the need to push the self beyond the limits, these are all triggers to heartburn and heart attacks, even if the two are not really related.

Even if sufferers know what causes heartburn, it doesn’t mean that all those triggers can be avoided. Junk food, fast food, alcohol, and cigarettes are all glorified by media, judging from that popular bumper sticker that says, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” Very true, ironically.

A supremely stubborn attitude is what causes heartburn. That position of superiority and the “well, I’m smarter than you” feeling is definitely a major reason. People hate being told what to do, especially when it comes to changing a major part of their lifestyle. Try telling a smoker to quit or cut down, or a fast food addict that his diet is harmful, and they feel like you’re itching for a fight.

Thankfully, all it took was that one major attack for her to tweak her lifestyle a bit. She still loves her chips but doesn’t pair them with soda anymore. The coffee was changed to herbal tea, and she looks over the salad bar at the cafeteria more often. She won’t give up her late nights yet, however, so that’s the last bad habit that she’s got left. She already knows what causes heartburn for her so it’s her final decision to do what she will with the knowledge that she has.

Cyndi Funaldi talks about solutions for heartburn at her blog where you can find out more about heartburn cure and indigestion symptoms.

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