Heartburn, a burning sensation in your chest, is caused by a leaky valve at the base of your esophagus that allows stomach acid to regurgitate. The acid burns the lining of the esophagus, which is not meant to withstand the effects of the acid. Heartburn, also called gastroesophageal reflux or GERD, has many causes, including overeating, lying down soon after eating or eating spicy or acidic foods. The presence of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori may cause excessive stomach acid that leads to reflux.
Helicobacter pylori
Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori, is a common bacterium often acquired during childhood, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Helicobacter pylori is common in developing countries and is decreasing in the United States, says gastroenterologist Nicholas Talley, M.D., Ph.D., of the Mayo Clinic. Approximately 20 percent of Americans are infected with H. pylori, Talley says. The mechanism by which H. pylori passes from person to person is unknown, although it seems to spread among family members.
Symptoms
If you are infected with H. pylori, you may not necessarily experience symptoms, Talley says. However, this bacterium may cause you to have an inflammation of the stomach lining. White blood cells invade the stomach lining. The lining eventually becomes damaged, and an ulcer -- a hole in the lining -- develops. Symptoms of H. pylori infection include pain or burning that may extend from your upper chest to your bellybutton. You may also have a bloated or full feeling and nausea.
Heartburn
Helicobacter pylori may contribute to heartburn by stimulating the stomach to produce excessive quantities of acid, which are then regurgitated into the esophagus, explains the Helicobacter Foundation. Stomach acid may empty more slowly in some people infected with H. pylori, leading to reflux. Additionally, people with H. pylori tend to vomit more frequently than those who are not infected, which damages the esophagus. A study published in the journal "Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics," by P. Malfertheiner and colleagues, found that eliminating H. pylori from people with stomach ulcers reduced their incidence of heartburn.
Treatment
If left untreated, H. pylori may lead to bleeding in the stomach and an increased risk of stomach cancer, Talley warns. The bacterium is usually treated with antibiotics along with medications to reduce stomach acid, to allow the stomach lining to heal. Helicobacter pylori will remain in the stomach unless it is treated.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: H. pylori and Peptic Ulcers
- Mayo Clinic: Bacteria --- Not Stress --- the Cause of Stomach Ulcers
- The Helicobacter Foundation: Symptoms
- "Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics"; Impact of Helicobacter Pylori Eradication on Heartburn in Patients With Gastric or Duodenal Ulcer Disease -- Results From a Randomized Trial Programme; P. Malfertheiner et al; August 2002
