By Paul Candon, Medical Tribune News Service
People who suffer from heartburn are often unaware of its
causes, a study has found. In addition, most people do not change
their lifestyle or eating habits in order to prevent it.
A research team led by Dr. Susan Oliveria, formerly from Cornell
University in New York and now with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Center, surveyed 2,000 U.S. residents who reported experiencing
heartburn at least once in a six-month period. The participants
were surveyed by phone and ranged in age from 18 to 91 years.
``It is apparent that most individuals with heartburn have
little insight into the factors that cause heartburn,'' the authors
said in the study, published in the July 26 issue of Archives of
Internal Medicine.
Between 23 and 52 percent of respondents said their heartburn
was caused by heavy meals, foods with high fat or high acidic
content, or from lying down. Women were more likely to attribute
the causes of heartburn to a hectic day at home or to stressful
family situations; men reported long work hours and business travel
as heartburn causes.
However, most participants were unaware of the many known causes
of heartburn, which include the consumption of certain foods and
beverages, body position, obesity, stress, smoking and alcohol
consumption. The researchers also found that most people were
unwilling to change their lifestyle or behavior in order to prevent
heartburn. Instead, respondents were most likely to use
nonprescription medications to treat and prevent heartburn. People
also reported taking prescription medications and avoiding spicy
foods to prevent symptoms.
Heartburn is a burning sensation felt behind the breast bone. It
is the result of gastric acid reaching the esophagus and irritating
its nerve endings. In the U.S., more than one third of adults
experience heartburn at least once a month, according to the
report.
Of the survey respondents, 46 percent experienced frequent
heartburn, defined as daily or multiple times per week.
Thirty-eight percent said that the frequency of their heartburn had
increased with age, while 18 percent said the frequency decreased
with age. Overall, older persons were more susceptible to frequent
heartburn. The average age that heartburn began in women was five
years later than it was in men, and women were more likely to have
daily heartburn.
With the information obtained, the researchers hope to better
direct the course of future heartburn-prevention programs. This is
the first heartburn study to address the issues of patients'
knowledge of risk factors, prevention strategies and causes.
(Archives of Internal Medicine, 1999;159:1592-98)
