Pyrosis Points to Digestive System Disorders
Known colloquially as heartburn, pyrosis is the kind of experience many consumers appear to be familiar with after ingesting certain types of food. Commonly stated is the fact that a certain dish “did not agree” with the eater, the heartburn will eventually stop and the consumer is warned that perhaps that particular dish or certain ingredients thereof should be avoided in the future, lest another episode of heartburn is desired. When the heartburn does not stop, however, a serious underlying illness may be at hand and in such cases pyrosis points to digestive system disorders requiring treatment.
This is generally the case when pyrosis is present with other symptoms as well, such as upper abdominal pain, the presence of blood in vomit or feces, and of course pronounced nausea and fever. As each of these occurring concurrently with heartburn may point to peptic ulcers, stomach cancer, or esophageal ailments, physicians will seek out different methods of investigative procedures to ensure that no serious illness is overlooked.
Yet even as pyrosis points to digestive system disorders, at times it is a disorder in and of itself. In such cases physicians will seek to treat the heartburn and offer relief to the patient. Several substances have been found effective in this treatment:
1. Probably the safest of all methods involves baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate. Mix a bit of the baking soda into a small glass of water and drink it as needed to neutralize the stomach acid that is entering the esophagus. This is usually suggested for the kind of heartburn that occurs infrequently.
2. Antacids work along the same lines, but the relief is generally short lived and is usually indicated when pyrosis is associated with a particular food choice that was enjoyed.
3. If the heartburn is ongoing, a physician may suggest the use of an algae derived thickener that will prevent the stomach acid from entering the esophagus in the first place. It is preferable to antacids in that its effect last longer and in that it keeps the acid and the esophagus separate in the first place.
4. An alternate route chosen is that of the H2 blocker which may be ingested prior to mealtime – usually half an hour or 45 minutes before the meal – so that the effect will be at its fullest. Working by lessening the stomach acid in volume, the goal is to prevent an overproduction of the caustic substance which is supposed to keep it from entering the esophagus. This approach differs from others in that it is anticipatory rather than reactive and may be the best solution for those suffering with chronic pyrosis.
In some cases the various treatment options are underscored by a severely restricted diet that seeks to eliminate the ingredients or dishes heartburn sufferers pinpoint as setting off many of their episodes. In this manner the patient has a modicum of control over the presentation of the discomfort and she or he will be able to manage the occurrence of heartburn even without medical supervision.
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