Almost everyone has had the unpleasant condition commonly called “heartburn” at some time or other. Of course when you have heartburn your heart is not really on fire, although the burning sensation you feel in the chest when heartburn strikes may make you feel as though it was! Heartburn sensations can also be felt in the throat and quite often strike at inconvenient times, like at night when you are trying to sleep.

Taking a common antacid medication is usually an effective remedy for the occasional mild attack. But regular use of antacids can result in unpleasant side effects such as upset stomach, high blood pressure and even ulcers. Therefore the best way to deal with heartburn is to try to avoid getting it in the first place, or if that fails, to try treating it by using more natural means.

Our lifestyle choices can have a major impact on the degree to which one suffers from heartburn. People who are overweight have a higher tendency for heartburn, so modifying your diet to lose weight can make a real difference. There are things we eat and drink which can generate excess acid in the stomach, so reducing or eliminating them from your diet can be very helpful. Citrus fruits in small amounts do not pose much of a problem, but fried foods containing saturated fats should be avoided. Food that is very spicy, like chillies and curries as well as sugary foods all tend to produce excess acid. Eating a lot of food at one time can also encourage heartburn, so smaller, more frequent meals are advised. To avoid nighttime heartburn stop eating at least two hours before going to bed. Drinking alcohol and caffeine are also not helpful.

But what if you take these measures but you still end up with heartburn anyway? Before resorting to antacids, try some simple natural cures first. As soon as you begin experiencing symptoms, drink a large glass of water. This will immediately dilute some of the acid in your stomach. Then follow that up with some ginger and cinnamon tea with honey. Equally effective may be two tablespoons of cider vinegar in a glass of water. Apples appear to be the fruit most helpful in avoiding heartburn. Ripe bananas are also effective, but green ones are not and can even make it worse. Artichokes, peppermint oils and licorice extract have also been known to be helpful.

Heartburn is a condition you can learn to control with the right lifestyle choices and with the help of natural remedies. What works best for you can be determined over time and with the help of those who are experienced with relieving heartburn. We at Reflux Remedy are ready to offer you our expertise in guiding you towards the techniques that will help to avoid and relieve this annoying condition. So don’t spend anymore sleepless nights suffering from heartburn, by visiting us today at refluxremedy.com to find out the safe and natural way to control heartburn.

GERD, or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, is a chronic condition that causes extreme pain and discomfort. Also referred to as acid reflux, this painful condition occurs when stomach acid or bile flows back into the esophagus, resulting in an irritating and burning sensation. With severe cases, it can actually interfere with your everyday activities, including eating and sleeping.

Causes of Acid Reflux:
The esophageal sphincter, responsible for allowing food and liquids to travel downward into the stomach, can become weak or excessively relaxed over time. In infants, this muscle may not be fully developed when they are born. A weakened, underdeveloped, or abnormally relaxed esophageal sphincter is the primary cause of acid reflux.

Risk Factors:
The following conditions can put your more at risk for suffering from acid reflux: obesity, hiatal hernia, smoking, asthma, diabetes, and pregnancy.

Symptoms of Acid Reflux:
Common symptoms include heartburn that can be felt throughout the chest and sometimes even up into the throat. It often leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Chest pain may accompany the burning. There may be a feeling of a lump in the throat along with soreness, a dry cough, and trouble swallowing. Regurgitation is another common symptom.

Acid Reflux Medicines:
There are several different types of medicines used to treat acid reflux. Each type targets the acid in a different location, thereby causing differing chemical reactions.

Proton pump inhibitors are among the most popular and effective medications for treating reflux. They work by reducing the production of gastric acid. Some of the most common proton pump inhibitors are Aciphex, Dexilant, Kapidex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix, and Zegerid. Extended use of proton pump inhibitors posed an increased risk of bone fractures.

The second group of reflux medication is called H2-receptor antagonists. They suppress stomach acid secretions by blocking Histamine2, a naturally occurring chemical that signals the stomach to produce acid. Parietal cells, found in the lining of the stomach, are responsible for making acid. Common H2-receptor antagonists include Axid, Pepcid, Tagamet, and Zantac. Possible side effects include fatigue, headaches, diarrhea, constipation, and a rash.

H2-receptor antagonists block the stimuli that results in acid production while proton pump inhibitors block acid secretion in the stomach by shutting down proton pumps. Proton pump inhibitors require more time to take effect but tend to last longer whereas H2-receptor antagonists have an instant effect but typically work up to 12 hours.

Antacids are a common over-the-counter remedy used to neutralize stomach acid by increasing the pH level of the stomach. If taken too frequently, they could lead to a sharp increase in calcium output in the urine, leading to kidney stones. Additionally, they may reduce the absorption and potency of other medicines. Popular antacids include Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids, and Tums.

Natural Remedies:
Insert a wedge under your mattress to help keep the stomach acid down. You can also try sleeping elevated on several pillows. Try eating an apple every night after supper to reduce symptoms.

Aim to eat more low fat and high fiber foods, including as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Limit your intake of dairy products and try to avoid extremely spicy food. Eat slowly, carefully and thoroughly chewing each and every bite. Be sure to give your stomach plenty of time to empty before bedtime.

To find out more about the causes and cures for acid reflux disease, be sure to visit Reflux Remedy at refluxremedy.com today.

If you are one of the 15 million people who daily experience heartburn or other discomfort related to acid reflux, you have no doubt already tried many a pill to find relief. Anyone who has ever experienced heartburn knows that, in the moment, the only thing that matters is soothing the pain. With the increase in suffers from acid reflux and related conditions, more and more pills and supposed solutions have hit the market.

For a mild case of heartburn, antacids are a preferred remedy. This treatment option neutralizes your stomach acid. These pills often contain both aluminum and magnesium, both helpful ingredients when attempting to ease heartburn. Antacid pills are available over the counter, making them easy to find and affordable.

Another type of pills, H2 blockers, work by decreasing the acidity of your stomach by telling the histamine interacting with your stomach cells to stop producing the painful acid. This type of heartburn remedy is available both over the counter and by prescription, depending on the specific type and strength you want.

Forming agents, on the other hand, coat the contents of your stomach to prevent reflux. For example, if you have eaten a hotdog and it is causing heartburn, a forming agent remedy will protect your stomach wall by creating a barrier between the masticated hotdog and your stomach lining.

Prokinetics are another treatment for acid reflux discomfort. By speeding up how fast your stomach processes food, this option provides relief by eliminating the agitator. Whatever you have eaten that is causing your pain or discomfort, prokinetics flush out of your body as soon as possible so you can enjoy an empty and pain free stomach.

Another way to block the production of stomach acid in your system is by taking proton pump inhibitors. This deactivates the enzyme in your stomach that produces the acid to begin with. This treatment option is usually reserved for severe cases of acid reflux, heartburn and related conditions. If you have a long term, reoccurring, harsh case of heartburn, your best bet may just be a proton pump inhibitor.

With so many people suffering every single day from this annoying and painful condition it’s no wonder there are so many products custom made for certain types of conditions and symptoms. Some people use all natural or homemade remedies to soothe their condition, too. Because this is such a widespread condition that varies greatly between one patient and the next, the large variety of products makes sure everyone finds relief.

Finding the right solution to your acid reflux troubles might not be as simple as going to the closest drug store or pharmacy. You will have to find just the right treatment for your body and condition to get true relief. To find the information you need to make this important health decision and finally get some relief, check out Reflux Remedy at refluxremedy.com. This website has all the further information you will need to select the safest, most effective treatment for your acid reflux.

Heartburn is a common condition in which a burning sensation is felt rising from the stomach towards the throat. This burning feeling is caused by stomach acid washing back up from the stomach into the esophagus.

Normally, a valve at the end of the esophagus seals off the contents of our stomachs, but sometimes this process does not work properly, typically just following a meal. Heartburn symptoms may be mild and infrequent or, in more serious cases, last for weeks or months.

Persistent heartburn can be extremely uncomfortable and even require a doctor’s care if it becomes a chronic condition. It can occur after eating, when lying down, or when you bend forward. If you have heartburn, you will often have a bitter or sour taste in your mouth from the stomach acid flowing back up into your esophagus. Other symptoms include hoarseness, cough, nausea, trouble swallowing, and chest pain. However, unlike heart attack symptoms, this type of pain is not localized to one side of the chest.

When heartburn becomes chronic in nature it can develop into a more serious condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. The condition can lead to damage to the esophagus. The injuries may include: reflux esopagitis, esophageal strictures, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal adenocarcinoma- a rare form of cancer.

An esophageal pH monitoring test is often performed to check for GERD. It is considered to be the most objective test for diagnosing the disease. It also allows for monitoring of GERD patients to show how they are responding to medical intervention.

There are a number of factors that can cause GERD. Obesity is often associated with more severe cases of GERD. The presence of a hiatal hernia also increases the risks of acquiring GERD, due to its effects on motility of the stomach. Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a disorder with a GERD correlation. This syndrome increases gastric acidity through gastrin production. Another cause of GERD is visceroptosis or Glenard syndrome, where the stomach sinks into the abdominal cavity, disrupting the acid secretion and motility of the stomach.

The presence of cardiac disease is one condition that must first be eliminated as a cause of persistent heartburn. If a person has unexplained chest pain on one side of the chest, they need to see a doctor to be sure of what they are dealing with. The two conditions can have a similar set of symptoms since the esophagus and heart share the same nerve supply.

Chest pain caused by heartburn is typically described as a “burning” sensation, happens after eating, and grows worse when the person bends over or lies down. It is not uncommon in pregnant women, and can occur after consuming large amounts of food, or certain spicy foods, fatty foods, or acidic foods. It can sometimes be attributed to esophageal spasms.

Fortunately, treatments are available for persistent heartburn and the intervention of a doctor is rarely required. If you suffer from persistent heartburn, for more information and resources please visit Reflux Remedy at refluxremedy.com today.