What causes heartburn? - Rusha Modi

翻译人员: Yifan L 校对人员: Yu Xie

Just between your chest and abdomen

就在你的胸部和腹部之间，

is where you’ll find one of the most important muscles

有一个你所不知的

you probably didn't know you had:

非常重要的肌肉组织：

the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES.

那就是食管下括约肌，简称 LES。

When functioning properly,

当 LES 正常运作时，

this ring of tissue plays a crucial role in helping us eat.

这个组织环对我们的进食功能 有很重要的促进作用。

But when the LES malfunctions,

而当 LES 不能正常运作时，

it becomes the main player in heartburn

它就成了导致胃灼热的罪魁祸首——

--a searing, sometimes sour-tasting chest-spasm

这是一种灼热的， 有时带有酸味的胃部痉挛，

that many people will experience at some point in their lives.

许多人在一生中或多或少 都会有这样的经历。

We know that humans have been battling heartburn

我们知道人们千百年来

for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

都在试图战胜胃灼热。

But recently the incidence has risen,

但近年来，胃灼热 的发病率反而不断增高，

making it a common stomach complaint worldwide.

成为了令人困扰的世界性胃病问题。

When the symptoms of heartburn become more more regular and intense

当胃灼热的症状的发作变得 更加频繁和剧烈时，

—such as twice a week or more--

比如说一个星期两次或者更多，

it’s diagnosed as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD.

就会被诊断为胃食管反流， 又称 GERD。

But what causes this problem,

那么，是什么造成了胃灼热？

and how can it be stopped?

用什么办法才可以消除这些症状呢？

Heartburn starts in an area called

胃灼热由 LES 所在

the gastroesophageal junction, where the LES resides.

的胃食管交界处产生，

This smooth, muscular ring of the LES

LES 这一圈平滑肌

is moderated by an intricate tree of nerve roots

是由错综复杂的神经根调节，

that connect to the brain, the heart, and the lungs.

这些神经与大脑， 心脏和肺部相连。

After food enters the stomach from the esophagus,

当食物从食管中进入胃部，

the muscle’s task is to stop it

这一圈肌肉的功能就是阻止

from surging back up again.

食物返流。

The LES contracts, squeezing the stomach entrance

LES 收缩，挤压胃上口

and creating a high pressure zone

产生一个高压力区，

that prevents digestive acids from seeping out.

防止胃酸流入食道。

But if the LES relaxes at the wrong moment or gradually weakens,

但如果 LES 没有及时收紧， 或者功能逐渐失调时，

it becomes like a faulty, ill-fitting lid,

密封性就会变差，

causing the area to depressurize.

这个部位的压力就会减弱，

That allows burning stomach acid--

导致灼烧的胃酸

and even chunks of food--to spurt into the

甚至食物返流，

esophagus, sometimes going as far up as the mouth.

进入食管，甚至口中。

The cause of all this internal drama

长久以来，人们认为日常饮食习惯

has long been put down to diet.

是造成这一内部闹剧的罪魁祸首。

Foods like caffeine and peppermint contain

比如说，咖啡因和薄荷中的成分

ingredients that may have a relaxing affect on the LES,

可能有松弛 LES 的作用，

which makes it incapable of doing its job.

让它无法正常运作。

Other acidic foods, like citrus and tomatoes,

其他的酸性食物， 比如柑橘和西红柿

can worsen irritation of the esophagus

和胃酸一起滤出时，

when they leach out with stomach acid.

会刺激食管。

Carbonated beverages can similarly

而碳酸饮料

bubble up in the stomach,

在胃里产生气泡时，

forcing open the valve.

也会使 LES 强制打开。

But researchers have discovered that food isn’t the only trigger.

但研究者们发现， 食物并不是导致发病的唯一因素。

Smoking poses a risk, because the nicotine in cigarettes relaxes the LES.

吸烟也构成了威胁， 因为香烟中的尼古丁会使 LES 松弛。

Consuming excessive amounts of alcohol

饮酒过量

may have a similar effect.

也会产生这种效果。

Pregnant women often experience more heartburn

孕妇常常经历胃灼热，

due to the pressure of a growing baby on their stomachs.

不仅因为她们肚中成长的胎儿 对其胃部施加压力，

and the levels of certain hormones in their bodies.

还与她们孕时 的荷尔蒙水平变化有关。

Obesity can cause hernias that disrupt

肥胖症所造成的疝气会损坏

the anti-reflux barrier of the gastroesophageal junction

胃食道交界处的抗逆流屏障，

that normally protects against heartburn.

使其失去对抗胃灼热的功能。

Numerous medications, including those for asthma,

很多针对哮喘，

high blood pressure, birth control, and depression

高血压，避孕和抑郁症的药物

can also have unintended effects on the LES.

也会对 LES 产生副作用。

An occasional bout of heartburn isn't

偶尔的胃灼烧

necessarily something to worry about.

无须担心，

But, if heartburn starts happening regularly,

但如果胃灼热发生频繁，

it can weaken the LES muscle over time,

则会使 LES 的功能衰退，

letting more and more acid escape.

导致更多的胃酸返流入食道。

And if it goes untreated,

如果不及时治疗的话，

this can cause bigger problems.

会引发更大的问题。

Over time, constant acid leakage from heartburn

久而久之，因胃灼热 而不断渗出的胃酸

may form scar tissue which narrows the

可能会灼伤食道， 从而产生瘢痕组织，

esophageal tube, making it harder to swallow food.

使得食道变窄，吞咽食物困难。

Ongoing reflux can also damage the cells

持续的胃酸逆流也会损伤 食道粘膜的细胞，

lining the esophagus--a rare condition called

导致一种罕见的疾病，

Barrett’s esophagus, which can elevate

叫做巴洛氏食道症，

the risk of esophageal cancer.

从而提高患食道癌的风险。

Luckily, heartburn is often treatable with

幸运的是，当前有很多的药物

a range of medicines that can help

都能通过中和或者减少胃酸的方式

neutralize or reduce stomach acid.

来治疗胃灼热。

In extreme cases, some people have surgery

在极少数的情况下， 患者需要通过手术治疗

to tighten the LES to minimize their distress.

来缩紧 LES，从而缓解他们的病症。

But we can often stop heartburn

其实，我们能在胃灼热

before it reaches that point.

变得严重前预防它。

Reducing the consumption of certain foods,

比如说，改善我们的饮食习惯，

not smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight

不抽烟，保持健康的体重，

can all dramatically reduce reflux.

这些都能大大地减少胃食管返流。

With proper care we can help our LES’s keep

只要我们采取对的措施，

the chemical fountain of our stomachs in proper order

维护好我们胃部的“化学喷泉” LES，

and avoid having to feel the burn.

就能避免体验胃灼热感。