Natural Remedy: Use Baking Soda
You may find relief from infrequent heartburn with sodium bicarbonate, otherwise known as baking soda. Simply mix ½ teaspoon with four ounces of water to help neutralize the acid. Note this contains sodium and should not be used if you are on a sodium-restricted diet. Check with your doctor if you are taking any prescriptions drugs, are pregnant or have a chronic health condition before using baking soda to relieve heartburn.
Medicines For Indigestion And Heartburn
Medicines for indigestion and heartburn during pregnancy include:
- antacids to neutralise the acid in your stomach
- alginates to relieve indigestion caused by acid reflux by stopping the acid in your stomach coming back up your gullet
You may only need to take antacids and alginates when you start getting symptoms. However, your GP may recommend taking them before symptoms come on for example, before a meal or before bed.
If you’re taking iron supplements as well as antacids, do not take them at the same time. Antacids can stop iron from being absorbed by your body.
If antacids and alginates do not improve your symptoms, your GP may prescribe a medicine to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach. 2 that are widely used in pregnancy and not known to be harmful to an unborn baby are:
- ranitidine a tablet you take twice a day
- omeprazole a tablet you take once a day
Things You Should Know About Heartburn And Gerd
- 5 mins read
- Immunity
- Dr. Jatin Bhide
Heres a situation youve probably been in. Youre at a party with your friends and family, catching up with your near and dear ones but secretly wondering when the buffet would start. But soon after a hearty meal, you feel a burning sensation in your chest that makes you restless. Ever wondered what that was about? You probably experienced heartburn or acid reflux, a digestive issue caused by indigestion or overeating of food. This condition if not treated can progress to GERD . To know the difference between heartburn vs acid reflux vs GERD read further.
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Mix Baking Soda With Water
You might have a heartburn remedy at hand in your kitchen without even knowing it. Baking soda can calm some episodes of heartburn by neutralizing your stomach acid.
To do this, dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and drink it slowly. In fact, you should drink everything slowly when you have heartburn.
help relieve nausea, so some believe it may be worth trying for heartburn, too.
Consider adding grated or diced ginger root to your favorite stir-fry recipes, soups, and other foods. To make ginger tea, steep raw ginger root, dried ginger root, or ginger tea bags in boiling water.
Its probably best to avoid ginger ale, though. Carbonated beverages are a common heartburn trigger, and most brands of ginger ale are made with artificial flavoring rather than the real thing.
When To See A Doctor
Even though indigestion is a common problem, some bouts shouldnt be ignored. Frequent indigestion is often a symptom of a chronic digestive problem like acid reflux, gastritis, and even stomach cancer. Therefore, see a doctor if indigestion continues for more than two weeks, or if you experience severe pain or other symptoms such as:
- weight loss
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Eat An Apple Or Banana
Bananas and apples contain high amounts of natural antacids that will help to soothe your heartburn and indigestion. Ripened apples and bananas can easily soothe your burning and inflammation, and help to prevent the heartburn and indigestion from happening in the first place.
Not to mention, the added vitamins and fiber will be great for your diet.
Required Ingredients:
- One ripened banana or apple
Process:
- Eat one of the selected fruits each day, preferably before a larger meal or foods that may trigger your heartburn or indigestion.
Antacids H2 Blockers Ppis Our Pharmacists Explain The Options
Fortunately, pharmacies stock plenty of safe, effective remedies so many, in fact, that it can be confusing trying to figure out which one is right for you. So, we asked some pharmacists for help. Heres a rundown on the three classes of heartburn remedies, courtesy of The Portland Clinic pharmacy team.
Antacids
Antacids such as Tums, Rolaids, Maalox and Mylanta are the fastest-acting heartburn relievers. They take effect in less than five minutes by quickly neutralizing acid in the stomach. For mild heartburn after a meal, antacids offer quick relief that lasts about 20-30 minutes. They come in a variety of strengths, so check labels for dosing information. In general, you shouldnt use antacids more than four times a day. If you find yourself reaching for them frequently, it might be time to try a different one or to switch to one of the stronger remedies.
H2 blockers
Pepcid, Tagamet and Zantac are some of the more well-known H2 blockers, so called because they block a chemical called histamine that prompts the stomach to make acid. They take longer than antacids to bring relief about 30-45 minutes but the relief lasts 4-10 hours. H2 blockers can be used to relieve mild or moderate heartburn, or to prevent it when you anticipate heartburn . You also can combine H2 blockers with antacids for quicker relief. Just dont take H2 blockers more than twice a day, or for more than two weeks if you use them regularly.
Proton pump inhibitors
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Gerd Diet: Foods That Help With Acid Reflux
Getting a case of acid reflux once in a while isn’t unusual, but some people suffer from burning discomfort, bloating and belching almost every time they eat. About 20% of the population has gastroesophageal reflux disease , a chronic acid reflux condition that’s diagnosed by a doctor.
Normally, the esophageal sphincter protects the esophagus from stomach acid. However, if the sphincter relaxes, food can push upward through the loosened opening and cause acid reflux.
“Diet plays a major role in controlling acid reflux symptoms and is the first line of therapy used for people with GERD,” says Ekta Gupta, M.B.B.S., M.D., gastroenterologist with Johns Hopkins Medicine.
When To Get Medical Help
See your midwife or GP if you need help managing your symptoms or if changes to your diet and lifestyle do not work. They may recommend medicine to ease your symptoms.
You should also see your midwife or GP if you have any of the following:
- difficulty eating or keeping food down
- weight loss
- stomach pains
Your midwife or GP may ask about your symptoms and examine you by pressing gently on different areas of your chest and stomach to see whether it’s painful.
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Does Milk Help Heartburn
When looking for home remedies for heartburn, many people ask if milk helps heartburn symptoms. According to Dr. Minesh Khatri on WebMD, milk can help some symptoms of heartburn but aggravate others.15
For example, Dr. Khatri says that milk can act as a temporary buffer to stomach acid. This can have an anti-acid effect and temporarily stop burning chest pains. Milk also contains calcium which is important for healthy bones and muscle development. However, the fat content of milk can cause the stomach to produce more acid and make the symptoms of acid reflux worse.
If you want to try milk as a natural antacid for acid reflux, Dr. Khatri says you can try drinking a glass of fat-free skim milk as a snack between meals but dont overdo it as overfilling your stomach may increase heartburn.
Finish Your Meals With Something Alkaline
The more acid you eat, the worse your indigestion will be. Remember you need to create a balance in the pH levels. With that in mind, you need to finish your meals with something alkaline.
This is easier than you would think. You can opt for cheese at the end of your mealit goes very well with fruit as a dessert. Cheese will also balance out the acid levels in the mouth, helping to reduce tooth decay and bacteria growth in the mouth! You are in a win-win situation.
If you dont want or like cheese, you could always opt for some yoghurt instead. Natural Greek yoghurt is the best option to avoid unnecessary sugars and calories.
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Dont Sleep On Your Right Side
Several studies show that sleeping on your right side may worsen reflux symptoms at night .
The reason is not entirely clear, but is possibly explained by anatomy.
The esophagus enters the right side of the stomach. As a result, the lower esophageal sphincter sits above the level of stomach acid when you sleep on your left side .
When you lay on your right side, stomach acid covers the lower esophageal sphincter. This increases the risk of acid leaking through it and causing reflux.
Obviously, this recommendation may not be practical, since most people change their position while they sleep.
Yet resting on your left side might make you more comfortable as you fall asleep.
Summary:
What Lifestyle Changes Relieve Heartburn
There are several ways to treat and avoid heartburn with lifestyle changes .
Lose weight and maintain your ideal weight. Excess weight increases the pressure on the stomach, increasing the chance of acid reflux into the esophagus.
Quit smoking: Smoking interferes with the proper functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter.
Avoid foods that aggravate heartburn and replace them with healthy foods. Avoid foods that trigger heartburn . Consider keeping a food journal to alert you to foods that make your heartburn worse. Decrease the amount of food you eat.
Elevate the head of the bed: If you are experiencing heartburn at night, elevating the head of the bed will decrease reflux.
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Can Anxiety Cause Indigestion
Stress and anxiety can affect the body and can aggravate symptoms of indigestion. The physiological stress due to anxiety and stress also affect indigestion. Because indigestion can be caused by anxiety, lifestyle and diet, or another medical condition, it may be difficult to know what is causing it.
Contact a doctor to find out if anxiety is causing your indigestion, and to help you manage your anxiety if it is aggravating indigestion symptoms.
What Triggers Indigestion
Depending on what’s causing your indigestion, you may experience abdominal pain, bloating , belching and gas, nausea, vomiting, and acidic taste in your mouth, “growling” stomach, and even diarrhea. Symptoms usually get worse when you’re stressed but normally go away in a few hours.
Indigestion can be linked to more serious chronic conditions, including ulcers, pancreas abnormalities, or acid reflux disease. Speak to your doctor if your symptoms are severe or last for more than two weeks.
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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.vii
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How To Avoid Heartburn
There is just one rule that each of us needs to follow. Be observant if your heartburn is getting worse after every meal. So, the next time you experience a sharp pain in the centre of your chest and it lasts for more than an hour, play it safe and call your doctor. The right medication and lifestyle changes will save you from the long-term repercussions of heartburn. Stick to a light and healthy diet and pay attention to your body, its always trying to tell you something.
References:
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What to know bout indigestion or dyspepsia? Available at Accessed on 12th August 2021
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Look Beyond Chest Pain Symptoms
When you have a heart attack, its because one of the coronary arteries that provide blood to the heart is blocked. The blockage obstructs the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart.
When you think of a heart attack, you may picture a person clutching their chest and collapsing from sudden, severe pain. But the symptoms of a heart attack often are much more subtle. This is especially true for women, Dr. Abdallah says.
A study by researchers at the University of British Columbia showed women are slightly less likely than men to experience chest pain during a heart attack.
Instead, they often suffer from subtle symptoms such as:
- Pain in the arms, neck or jaw.
- Sweating or cold sweat.
- Feelings of fullness, indigestion or choking .
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Lightheadedness, dizziness, extreme weakness or anxiety.
People with diabetes who are having a heart attack often have atypical or minimal symptoms, Dr. Abdallah says. If you have diabetes, you should seek medical attention for even slight chest or stomach pain or discomfort.
Can Gerd Cause Asthma
We dont know the exact relationship between GERD and asthma. More than 75% of people with asthma have GERD. They are twice as likely to have GERD as people without asthma. GERD may make asthma symptoms worse, and asthma drugs may make GERD worse. But treating GERD often helps to relieve asthma symptoms.
The symptoms of GERD can injure the lining of the throat, airways and lungs, making breathing difficult and causing a persistent cough, which may suggest a link. Doctors mostly look at GERD as a cause of asthma if:
- Asthma begins in adulthood.
- Asthma symptoms get worse after a meal, exercise, at night and after lying down.
- Asthma doesnt get better with standard asthma treatments.
If you have asthma and GERD, your healthcare provider can help you find the best ways to handles both conditions the right medications and treatments that wont aggravate symptoms of either disease.
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Consider Eating Less Chocolate
GERD patients are sometimes advised to avoid or limit their consumption of chocolate. However, the evidence for this recommendation is weak.
One small, uncontrolled study showed that consuming 4 ounces of chocolate syrup weakened the lower esophageal sphincter .
Another controlled study found that drinking a chocolate beverage increased the amount of acid in the esophagus, compared to a placebo .
Nevertheless, further studies are needed before any strong conclusions can be made about the effects of chocolate on reflux symptoms.
Summary:
There is limited evidence that chocolate worsens reflux symptoms. A few studies suggest it might, but more research is needed.
Eat Drink And Be Wary Chronic Heartburn May Indicate A More Serious Disorder
I cant believe I ate the whole thing.
Weve all been guilty of overindulging at one time or another particularly during the holiday season and have suffered the discomfort that often follows. Sometimes the pain after eating too much is more severe than the typical gas, bloating, or indigestion or it happens frequently and is hard to control with the usual over-the-counter remedies. And sometimes heartburn just happens and has nothing to do with what weve eaten.
Twenty percent of Americans one in five individuals experiences heartburn at least once a week. While its common, dont take heartburn lightly. Frequent indigestion may indicate a serious health problem known as gastroesophageal reflux disease severe or chronic acid reflux that can lead to complications such as sleep disorders, esophageal bleeding or ulcers, and cancer.
Heartburn, or indigestion, is that pain in the chest we feel after overeating. Its caused by stomach acid backing up into the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. Overeating isnt the only cause of acid reflux. It can also be triggered by medications, obesity, pregnancy, stress, chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes or a hernia or even sleeping in certain positions.
The signs and symptoms for heartburn and GERD are similar the difference is generally the frequency and severity of symptoms.
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What Lifestyle Changes Help Heartburn
The best way to avoid heartburn discomfort is to prevent it. These lifestyle changes can make a big difference:
- Avoid trigger foods: Foods that promote heartburn include fried and fatty foods, caffeine, chocolate, spicy foods and carbonated beverages.
- Lose weight: Being overweight increases the likelihood that you’ll experience heartburn.
- Avoid eating late at night: Try to eat three hours before going to bed. At a minimum, you should wait at least one hour after eating.
- Elevate the bed: Physically lift the head of your bed about six to eight inches so you’re sleeping on an incline. If that’s not possible, use a wedge pillow for lift.
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco: These substances increase the chances of heartburn attacks.
- Wear looser clothing: Tight clothing can put pressure on your digestive system.