5. Heartburn: The Fiery Side of DES
When heartburn kicks in, it feels like your chest is literally on fire. You could mistake it for a bad case of spicy food aftermath, but when it’s a symptom of DES, it’s a different ball game altogether. Now, you may think heartburn is exclusive to conditions like acid reflux, but DES begs to differ. The burning sensation in the chest is actually caused by stomach acid flowing backward into the esophagus.
What’s the science behind this? When your esophagus is in spasm, its muscular walls constrict, disrupting the natural flow of food and stomach acids. So, while the spasm itself is problematic, it’s the aftermath, this reflux of stomach contents, that ignites the heartburn. Imagine a two-way street suddenly becoming a chaotic free-for-all, with stomach acids acting like rogue drivers.
Don’t underestimate the social repercussions either. Planning a date night? This could put a dampener on your evening. Not only does heartburn make eating out a gamble, but it also means your choice of cuisine is severely limited. No one wants to be scanning a menu, wondering which dish will set their chest on fire. (5)
