Burning sensation in the esophagus during late pregnancy

Pregnant women generally have more body problems, and they may also develop some other problems. There are many reasons for their problems, and there are many types of these problems. For example, a burning sensation in the esophagus in late pregnancy is an abnormal symptom, which may indirectly lead to some other diseases. So what is the burning sensation in the esophagus in late pregnancy?

In the late stages of pregnancy, pregnant women often experience a burning sensation, heaviness, or burning pain behind the sternum and in the pit of the stomach, which often rises to the throat. It often occurs after sleep. It is also easy to induce when the body position changes from sitting or standing to lying, or when coughing, holding breath or straining to defecate. Heartburn may worsen after eating acidic or spicy foods. It is often accompanied by symptoms such as belching, nausea, and discomfort in the upper and middle abdomen.

This heartburn during pregnancy is caused by increased intra-abdominal pressure and esophageal reflux as the pregnancy progresses. When esophageal reflux occurs, the acidic gastric contents can irritate the gastric mucosa and even cause reflux esophagitis. Due to the increased secretion of progesterone in the middle and late stages of pregnancy, it can affect esophageal motility and slow down the clearance of gastric contents that reflux into the esophagus, thereby aggravating reflux esophagitis.

When lying down, the diaphragm is raised, and when coughing, holding breath and straining to defecate, the intra-abdominal pressure increases, which can increase the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus and aggravate the symptoms.

Acidic and spicy diets can irritate the inflamed esophageal mucosa, which can naturally aggravate the symptoms. When you eat too much, the intragastric pressure increases, which can easily induce esophageal reflux.

Fatty foods, chocolate, strong tea, coffee and aromatic foods can reduce the tension of the smooth muscles in the lower esophagus and aggravate esophageal reflux.

Treatment: 1. Reasonable diet: Do not eat too much to avoid increasing the pressure in the stomach and lifting the diaphragm. Eat small meals frequently, slow down your eating pace, and chew your food thoroughly.

Especially for dinner, you should avoid eating too much or too late. It is best to eat within 2 to 3 hours before going to bed so that you have enough time to digest the food.

Avoid foods and drinks that cause gastrointestinal discomfort, which usually include: carbonated drinks, alcohol (you should not drink alcohol during pregnancy anyway), caffeine, chocolate, acidic foods (including citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, mustard and vinegar, etc.), cooked meats, mint foods, and spicy, strong, fried or high-fat foods. Chew a piece of gum after eating. Chewing gum stimulates saliva secretion, which helps neutralize stomach acid.

2. Sleeping posture: When sleeping at night, use a few more pillows or wedge-shaped cushions to raise the upper body. Raise the foot of the bed by 15 to 20 cm at the head and raise the upper body by 10 to 15 degrees, which can effectively reduce esophageal reflux. However, it is not advisable to raise the entire upper body by raising the pillow, because raising the pillow cannot lift the entire upper body. Instead, it may cause a bend between the esophagus and the stomach, affecting the flow of food into the stomach, aggravating esophageal reflux, and exacerbating heartburn.

3. Loose clothing: To reduce esophageal reflux, pregnant women should wear loose clothes and avoid tight clothes that squeeze the waist and abdomen. Bowel movements should be smooth and respiratory tract infections should be actively prevented and treated to avoid increasing intra-abdominal pressure.

4. Don’t smoke: Never smoke. Not only does smoking lead to many serious health problems, but it also increases stomach acid secretion. To achieve the desired effect, women who smoke should quit smoking before becoming pregnant. But if you're still smoking after becoming pregnant and find it difficult to quit, talk to your doctor to see if she can help you find a suitable way to quit smoking.

5. Taking medication: Over-the-counter acid suppressants containing magnesium or calcium may also help you relieve stomach discomfort, but be sure to consult a doctor before taking them, because some brands of acid suppressants contain aluminum, aspirin or large amounts of sodium. Under the guidance of a doctor, you can take alkaline drugs, such as aluminum hydroxide gel, Ledewei, or drugs that protect the gastric mucosa, such as sucralfate, Dile Granules, etc., which can help relieve heartburn.