Relieving Heartburn

Heartburn is a painful feeling millions of people experience. Some of these people will experience it more often than others, and some of these people may suffer from severe heartburn. It is not a pleasant feeling, so ways to relief heartburn are always in need, and what may work for one person may not work for another.

What Causes Heartburn

Heartburn occurs when acid in the stomach comes back up through the esophagus, causing chest pain and nausea. This condition is also known as acid reflux. While it may be called heartburn, the burning sensation felt has nothing to do with the heart. A sour taste is also felt inside the mouth, and the heartburn may last for a few minutes or hours if not treated. Someone who experiences these symptoms once a month suffers from mild heartburn, but someone who experiences it every day has a severe case of heartburn.

Certain foods also can cause heartburn. They include anything fatty, spicy, oily or acidic. Coffee, soda, alcohol and chocolate are a few examples. People should avoid eating two hours before bedtime to avoid heartburn symptoms during the night.

Some people suffer from Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), a condition that can cause heartburn. This is when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) weakens or relaxes, allowing acids to leave the stomach and into the esophagus.

Ways to Relieve Heartburn

Many pharmacy products can help relieve heartburn. Antacids neutralize stomach acids and can be bought at any pharmacy or gas station. They usually take about an hour to take effect. There are also proton pump inhibitors and H-2 receptor blockers, but they take longer to work and are taken to prevent heartburn, not relieve it. However, antacids cause side effects like headaches, nausea, diarrhea and constipation. That is why it is recommended that people try more natural ways of relieving their heartburn.

One way to relieve heartburn is with baking soda. By adding one spoon of baking soda to a glass of water, the acids in the stomach neutralize. The same can go with apple cider vinegar. Mixed with some water and taken during or after a meal can reduce the chance of heartburn occurring. Chewing bubble gum after a meal will produce saliva to keep the acids down in the stomach area. Papaya, pineapple and bananas are great foods to eat to help digestion and treat indigestion.

Changes in Lifestyle

A lifestyle change can help to decrease the chances of heartburn occurring after meals. A change in diet, like eating less chocolate, coffee, sugary drinks and fried foods can make a large difference. Also, someone who is obese is more likely to suffer from heartburn than someone with a healthy weight. Smokers should quit because it too can trigger heartburn. People should eat their food slowly and not eat heavy meals before bed. It is also recommend that people not wear tight clothing because they can put pressure on the stomach area, causing acid to go back up the stomach valve. For more information on the many ways to relieve heartburn be sure to contact Reflux Remedy at www.refluxremedy.com today!