Stopping Heartburn At The Root Cause
To treat heartburn, we have to get to the reason its happening in the first place the root cause. Theres a reason you get it because its not a normal, healthy human response to eating food. And obviously taking any kind of pill isnt the path to healing.
Inflammatory foods and stress are both major causes of heartburn.
Long term changes necessary to eliminate heartburn include an improved diet that removes inflammatory foods. Remove processed foods from your diet and limit alcohol and caffeine consumption. Carbonated drinks can also be an irritant. Dont eat foods high in sugar , fried foods, or vegetable oils.
Spicy foods can be a trigger for some people. Other times foods like citrus, tomatoes, garlic, and onion can cause heartburn. While some of these foods are healthy, if your digestive system is already irritated from frequent heartburn, you might have to stay away temporarily until you can heal.
Intentionally reducing stress and keeping the body in a parasympathetic state is also important not just as a critical link to overall health but also keeping heartburn at bay. The nervous system and brain are connected to the digestive system so your thoughts and feelings can directly impact your gut and cause heartburn to flare up. Perhaps youve experienced this before if youve gotten an upset stomach before a big presentation that you were nervous about.
Cut Out Smoking And Avoid Passive Inhalation Of Cigarette Smoke
Yes, another thing smoking is really bad for! Nicotine in cigarettes relaxes the muscles in the lower part of the esophagus, and as such is less likely to keep stomach acid at bay inside your stomach, causing the reflux.
As such, steer clear of smoking, and avoid being near others smoking as passive inhalation can have the same effect.
Adopt New Bedroom Habits
Do you have trouble sleeping at night due to heartburn? If so, try sleeping on your left side this position seems to help. Experts also recommend keeping your upper body elevated to make it harder for acids to flow up the esophagus. Raise the head of your bed or use a thick wedge-shaped body pillow when sleeping to keep heartburn at bay.7
References
* Onset of acid neutralization does not imply the onset of symptom relief.
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What Are My Options If These Treatments Don’t Work
If a person continues to have heartburn, a health care professional may recommend adding a drug such as metoclopramide . This drug empties food and acid quickly from the stomach so less can back up into the esophagus. Reglan also helps tighten the lower esophageal sphincter.
If a person still have symptoms, a health care professional will then recommend one of the drugs called proton pump inhibitors. Examples of these drugs are omeprazole , lansoprazole , esomeprazole , rabeprazole , and pantoprazole . These tablets prevent the stomach from secreting acid. They are very effective and are typically taken only once a day. These drugs usually are prescribed if other drugs have not helped. They may have to be used indefinitely.
The Truth About Antacids: How To Stop Heartburn Naturally
Heartburn after a meal is no fun. But did you know that its a completely avoidable experience with a conventional treatment that actually makes it worse?
Usually when we get heartburn, the known strategy is to reach for a bottle of antacids and keep chewing those chalky tablets until its gone. For chronic heartburn, you might even be prescribed an acid blocker for long-term use.
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A Few Lifestyle Changes Are Worth Trying Before Resorting To Drugs For Controlling Gastroesophageal Reflux
If you are sounding a little hoarse and have a sore throat, you may be bracing for a cold or a bout of the flu. But if you’ve had these symptoms for a while, they might be caused not by a virus but by a valveyour lower esophageal sphincter. That’s the muscle that controls the passage between the esophagus and stomach, and when it doesn’t close completely, stomach acid and food flow back into the esophagus. The medical term for this process is gastroesophageal reflux the backward flow of acid is called acid reflux.
Acid reflux can cause sore throats and hoarseness and may literally leave a bad taste in your mouth. When acid reflux produces chronic symptoms, it is known as gastroesophageal reflux disorder, or GERD. The most common symptom of GERD is heartburnpain in the upper abdomen and chest.
Three conditionspoor clearance of food or acid from the esophagus, too much acid in the stomach, and delayed stomach emptyingcontribute to acid reflux, says Dr. Jacqueline Wolf, a gastroenterologist and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and author of A Woman’s Guide to a Healthy Stomach: Taking Control of Your Digestive Health.
Food And Drink Tips For Nighttime Heartburn Relief
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Eat A Mediterranean Diet
Eating a more plant-based, Mediterranean-style diet may help ease heartburn symptoms as much as medication, according to new research. Researchers at New York Medical College reviewed two years of patient charts and found that those who were instructed to follow a plant-forward Mediterranean diet had the same reduction in acid reflux symptoms as those who were prescribed proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec. Lead study author Craig Zalvan, M.D., FACS, explains that, unlike animal proteins, plant-based protein is not easily broken down in the stomach often being absorbed in the intestinesand thus reduces the amount of acid that’s produced during digestion. Plus, the Mediterranean diet has ample other health benefits, including for your heart, weight and brain health. Not to mention, it’s delicious delicious.
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The purpose of the Southern Cross Medical Library is to provide information of a general nature to help you better understand certain medical conditions. Always seek specific medical advice for treatment appropriate to you. This information is not intended to relate specifically to insurance or healthcare services provided by Southern Cross. For more articles go to the Medical Library index page.
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What To Eat And Drink For Heartburn Relief
Lets say you have heartburn right nowwhat can you do to get some relief? You could try drinking low-fat or no-fat milk, says Zumpano. This can act as an acid reducer, like OTC calcium-based antacids. Another option: Drinking herbal tea for heartburn relief, although you should steer clear of peppermint tea, which may cause heartburn rather than relieve it.
And this is an odd but effective food remedy: Add a hearty dose of mustard to your mealit may help neutralize your stomach acid, relieving that burning pain, says Zumpano. Mustard also stimulates saliva production, which acts as a lubricant and coats your esophagus, protecting it from stomach acid.
What about baking soda? A go-to heartburn solution for years, it can provide the relief youre looking for. Its a natural remedy, says Zumpano. Baking soda is a base, so it offsets the acidity in your esophagus and your gut. Try a teaspoon or even a half of a teaspoon dissolved in an 8-ounce glass of water. Dont overdo it, though: Too much baking soda may be harmful, leading to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Women who are pregnant and people with chronic conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and kidney disease, should avoid baking soda altogether.
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Relieve Heartburn During Pregnancy
Heartburn is a common pregnancy complaint, even among women who never had heartburn before. The most obvious cause? The baby itself. As babies grow in the uterus, they push into the stomach, which can force food and acid back up into the esophagus. An increase in pregnancy hormones can also cause problems. The job of these hormones is to relax abdominal and pelvic muscles to make delivery easier, but they can also cause muscles around the esophageal valve to relax, allowing it to open more easily. And finally, pregnant women may also have trouble digesting their food properly, adding to the heartburn risk.
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If youre pregnant and struggling with heartburn, these are some of the steps, recommended by Stanford Childrens Health in California, to prevent or manage your discomfort:
- Eat small meals more frequently. This gives your stomach time to digest the food.
- Avoid foods that may cause heartburn. Keep track of your diet to see if a particular item is leading to your pain.
- Sleep in an elevated position. Place blocks under the front legs of your bed , slip a wedge under the mattress or elevate your torso with pillows.
If you still have trouble with heartburn, speak with your doctor. Some heartburn medications are safe to take during pregnancy, but some arent.
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How To Cure Heartburn Four Quick Fixes And Long
How to cure heartburn you ask? Well, theres no easy answer to that question.
If youve been struggling with acid reflux for any length of time, then you know there isnt a quick fix to this disease as a whole. GERD has many symptoms, one of which is heartburn. At the crux of this disease is the lower oesophageal sphincter . Located at the junction of the oesophagus and the stomach, the LES can weaken and no longer function as an effective barrier, allowing the acidic contents of the stomach to back-flow up into the oesophagus. When this happens, heartburn often follows. This weakening of the LES is progressive, so the more often you reflux, the more frequent the episodes become.
Learn more: GERD explained: The role of the LES
Medications can help relieve acid reflux symptoms by making the contents of the stomach less acidic however, they dont stop reflux from happening. Thats why managing GERD requires commitment and diligence: Watching what and how you eat and making lifestyle choices aimed at minimizing reflux can reduce your symptoms AND help stop the progression of the condition.
But sometimes, despite your best efforts to manage your GERD, heartburn strikes and you need relief . So though we cant provide a definite answer to how to cure heartburn? We can offer four quick fixes to help you cool the burn.
Sleep On Your Left Side
Sleeping on your left side can help you avoid heartburn, especially if you do need to nap or go to sleep after a meal. Because of the way the stomach is shaped, lying on the left lets gravity do the work of keeping acid out of your esophagus. Another option is to elevate the head of your bed so that you sleep on an incline.
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When Can I Expect Heartburn To End
Someday, scientists may very well invent a miracle medication that promises permanent pregnancy heartburn relief. Unfortunately, that hasnt happened yet.
So, if youre wondering how long you can expect to deal with heartburn while youre pregnant, it will probably be throughout your entire pregnancy.
However, just because theres no cure, that doesnt mean you cant find some relief in the meantime.
Treating Heartburn Naturally When It Happens
Instead, we actually want to introduce more acid into the stomach to help it digest the food. A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in water is a super easy way to help balance the stomach pH and eliminate heartburn without taking any harmful pills.
Lemon juice also works in place of apple cider vinegar. Thats not to say that water with lemon will save you from ever experiencing heartburn at your meals or that you should continue your food and lifestyle habits as normal and cancel out your heartburn with a drink later. Heartburn is a signal that a major issue is happening, and it can cause damage over time. Therefore, its important to get to the root cause.
Also Check: How To Cure Heartburn Home Remedies
When To Seek Medical Treatment
Dont Drink Too Much Coffee
Studies have found that coffee temporarily relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, increasing the risk of acid reflux .
Some evidence also points toward caffeine as a possible cause. Similarly to coffee, caffeine relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, which could cause reflux .
Nevertheless, although several studies suggest that coffee and caffeine may worsen acid reflux for some people, the evidence is not entirely conclusive.
For example, one analysis of observational studies found no significant effects of coffee intake on the self-reported symptoms of GERD.
Yet, when researchers investigated the signs of acid reflux with a small camera, they found coffee consumption was linked to greater acid damage in the esophagus .
Thus, whether coffee intake worsens acid reflux may depend on the individual. If you find coffee gives you heartburn, its best to simply avoid it or limit your intake.
Summary
Evidence suggests that coffee may make acid reflux and heartburn worse. If you feel like coffee worsens your symptoms, consider limiting your intake.
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Follow A Low Carb Diet
Growing evidence suggests that low carb diets may relieve acid reflux symptoms.
In fact, some researchers suspect that undigested carbs may cause bacterial overgrowth and increased pressure inside the abdomen, which could contribute to acid reflux (
Summary
Excessive alcohol intake can worsen acid reflux symptoms. If you experience heartburn, limiting your alcohol intake might help ease some of your discomfort.
Lifestyle Changes For Heartburn Symptoms
If acid reflux is bringing you down, Dr. Gabbard recommendsgiving these lifestyle changes a shot:
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