Heartburn is characterized by a painful burning sensation in the lower chest (substernal area) and can be accompanied by a bitter taste in one's throat. The pain may sometimes radiate up into the chest, into the back, and also less frequently into the throat. If heartburn occurs more than twice a week, an individual may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD; Table 1). GERD occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter fails to close properly and allows the gastric contents to reflux into the esophagus. The gastric acid irritates the lining of the esophagus, causing heartburn.1
Various nonprescription medications (Table 2) have been shown to be effective in treating individuals with heartburn by rapidly relieving symptoms, reducing their frequency and severity, or preventing them from occurring in the first place. The safe and effective use of these medicines always should begin with a thorough assessment of the patient's symptoms to determine whether self-treatment is appropriate or whether the patient should be referred to a physician. Also, in order to ensure a safe and optimal therapeutic outcome, it is essential that the clinician thoroughly evaluate the patient's medical history, concomitant disease states, and medication profile prior to recommending any of these products.
The recommended length of therapy for antacids, histamine2-receptor antagonists, and omeprazole is 2 weeks or less.1 Individuals with symptoms that persist for more than 4 weeks, despite the use of OTC medicines, or those experiencing bleeding, chest pain, stomach pain, and unexplained weight loss should seek medical treatment.
Uvimbe wa moyo huonyeshwa na hisia ya kuchoma yenye uchungu katika sehemu ya chini ya kifua (sehemu ya chini ya kifua) na inaweza kuambatana na ladha kali katika koo la mtu. Nyakati nyingine maumivu hayo yanaweza kuenea hadi kifuani, mgongoni, na mara chache zaidi kwenye koo. Ikiwa maumivu ya moyo hutokea zaidi ya mara mbili kwa wiki, mtu anaweza kuwa na ugonjwa wa gastroesophageal reflux (GERD; Jedwali 1). GERD hutokea wakati sphincter ya chini ya esophageal inashindwa kufungwa vizuri na inaruhusu yaliyomo ya tumbo kurudi ndani ya esophagus. Asidi ya tumbo huchochea utando wa utumbo wa tumbo, na kusababisha maumivu ya moyo.Michezo mbalimbali isiyo ya dawa (tazama 2), imeonyeshwa kuwa yenye ufanisi katika kutibu watu wenye maumivu ya moyo kwa kupunguza haraka dalili, kupunguza mzunguko na ukali wao, au kuzuia kutokea kwao. Matumizi salama na yenye ufanisi ya dawa hizi lazima daima kuanza na tathmini ya kina ya dalili za mgonjwa ili kuamua kama matibabu ya kibinafsi ni sahihi au ikiwa mgonjwa anapaswa kuelekezwa kwa daktari. Pia, ili kuhakikisha matokeo salama na bora ya matibabu, ni muhimu kwamba daktari achunguze kwa undani historia ya matibabu ya mgonjwa, hali za ugonjwa wa pamoja, na wasifu wa dawa kabla ya kupendekeza bidhaa yoyote. Kwa sababu ya upungufu wa dawa za anti-acid, histamine receptor antagonists, na omeprazole, watu wanaosumbuliwa na dalili za ugonjwa wa kisukari, au wanaopata upungufu wa damu, maumivu ya kifua, maumivu ya tumbo, na kupoteza uzito bila sababu, wanapaswa kutafuta matibabu.