Heartburn is a common complaint in adults, especially after eating a hearty or spicy meal. Yet, infants and children also can experience that burning sensation in the chest. According to some estimates,
about 2% of children ages 3 to 9
, and 5% of children ages 10 to 17, have heartburn.
Is it normal for a teenager to get heartburn?
Indigestion and
heartburn are common problems for people of all ages
— hence all those commercials for heartburn and indigestion medicines on TV. Some of the medicines you see advertised are OK for teens, but some of them are meant for adults.
Can you get heartburn as a teenager?
Heartburn is not just an adult problem. In fact,
1 in
4 teenagers has gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a serious disorder that damages the body and can lead to cancer.
Can a 16 year old have acid reflux?
With GER, reflux happens after nearly every meal and causes noticeable discomfort. After eating, people with GER feel a burning sensation in the chest, neck, and throat. While it’s more common in adults, kids, teens, and even babies can have gastroesophageal (gas-tro-ih-sah-fuh-JEE-ul) reflux.
Can teenagers get acidity?
For instance, complaints of heartburn, chest pain, gastric issues, acidity or similar symptoms have often been a common complaint among adults. However, this is no longer limited to adults but is being observed among children as well and
more
so among teenagers.
Can drinking water help with heartburn?
Drinking water
during the later stages of digestion can reduce acidity and GERD symptoms
. Often, there are pockets of high acidity, between a pH or 1 and 2, just below the esophagus. By drinking tap or filtered water a little while after a meal, you can dilute the acid there, which can result in less heartburn.
Is GERD curable or not?
Although common, the disease often is unrecognized – its symptoms misunderstood. This is unfortunate because
GERD is generally a treatable disease
, though serious complications can result if it is not treated properly. Heartburn is the most frequent – but not the only – symptom of GERD.
How long does GERD take to heal?
If allowed to continue unabated, symptoms can cause considerable physical damage. One manifestation, reflux esophagitis (RO), creates visible breaks in the distal esophageal mucosa. To heal RO, potent acid suppression for
2 to 8 weeks
is needed, and in fact, healing rates improve as acid suppression increases.
How do you cure GERD permanently?
During a procedure known as
a Nissen fundoplication
, your surgeon wraps the upper part of your stomach around the lower esophagus. This enhances the anti-reflux barrier and can provide permanent relief from reflux.
Why is my acid reflux not going away?
If you have heartburn that won’t go away and won’t respond to OTC medications, see
your doctor
for a diagnosis. Heartburn may be a symptom of a serious condition. Barrett’s esophagus.
What causes abdominal pain in teenage girl?
In adolescent girls, stomach pain can have several gynaecological causes, including
a twisted ovary, ectopic pregnancy and period pain
. Sometimes stomach pain is called functional abdominal pain. In these cases, nerve signals or chemicals might be making your child’s stomach more sensitive to normal triggers like gas.
What are the symptoms of too much acid in your stomach?
- abdominal discomfort, which may be worse on an empty stomach.
- nausea or vomiting.
- bloating.
- heartburn.
- diarrhea.
- decreased appetite.
- unexplained weight loss.
What gets rid of heartburn fast?
- wearing loose clothing.
- standing up straight.
- elevating your upper body.
- mixing baking soda with water.
- trying ginger.
- taking licorice supplements.
- sipping apple cider vinegar.
- chewing gum to help dilute acid.
Is Milk good for heartburn?
“
Milk is often thought to relieve heartburn
,” says Gupta. “But you have to keep in mind that milk comes in different varieties — whole milk with the full amount of fat, 2% fat, and skim or nonfat milk. The fat in milk can aggravate acid reflux.
When should I be worried about heartburn?
If you have any of the following heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (also called acid reflux or GERD) symptoms or conditions, contact your doctor. Your heartburn symptoms have
become more severe or frequent
. You are having difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing, especially with solid foods or pills.
Is GERD a lifelong disease?
GERD is
a chronic condition
. Once it begins, it usually is life-long. If there is an injury to the lining of the esophagus (esophagitis), this also is a chronic condition. Moreover, after the esophagus has healed with treatment and treatment is stopped, the injury will return in most patients within a few months.
