January 6, 2011
Heartburn and Water
When some people are suffering from heartburn, the last thing they tend to reach for is a glass of water, especially when we’re talking about severe heartburn pain. However, water can often be a very effective way to resolve heartburn.
Heartburn happens when stomach acids are allowed to escape the stomach and make their way into the esophagus. This causes pain and discomfort that often radiates from the stomach or mid chest area through the neck. It can be accompanied by burping, reflux (which means acid makes its way all the way into the mouth), and hiccuping.
Heartburn’s Causes
Heartburn has a number of causes, ranging from foods to clothing and stress.
Everyone has their own food triggers for heartburn, and frequent heartburn sufferers might want to keep a log of what they eat in order to identify their specific triggers. However, some common heartburn instigators are caffeine, alcohol, garlic and citrus fruits.
Your daily habits can also cause heartburn. If you go to bed right after eating, stomach acid can creep up into your esophagus, causing heartburn. To avoid this, try sleeping propped up a bit, or just don’t eat less than 2 hours before bed. Additionally, don’t overeat. Large meals are more difficult for the body to digest, and can cause acid to back up. Smaller, more frequent meals are an excellent way to prevent heartburn before it happens.
Don’t wear clothes that are too tight for you. Constraints on the stomach can force stomach acid into the esophagus even if you’re eating all the right foods.
Smoking also causes heartburn, in addition to all the other potentially fatal health problems it causes.
Stress can easily cause the body to go into overdrive when it comes to acid production, so try to stay as calm as possible to avoid feeling the burn later in the day. Take deep breaths, listen to soothing music, try some yoga, count to 10, do whatever you need to in order to keep stress at bay.
Pouring Water on the Fire
Staying properly hydrated is a constant battle for many people. Recommended portions of water continuously change, and vary from person to person. Generally speaking though, you should drink 8 to 10 glasses of water every day. Practicing this technique can help keep a number of conditions at bay, including heartburn. It works by keeping toxins out of your body by diluting them or flushing them away.
This also applies to stomach acid. When it comes to heartburn, drinking a large glass of water can help to wash stomach acids that are causing pain and discomfort away. It’s such a simple solution most people overlook in favor of popping an antacid.
However, depending on the cause of your heartburn an antacid may not always work, especially if your heartburn is due to dehydration. Occasionally, your body will signal dehydration with heartburn, and if you simply pop an antacid your problem won?t be solved and most likely your symptoms won’t be relieved.
When it comes to relief, heartburn and water go hand in hand. For more tips on relieving heartburn naturally, read The Reflux Remedy Report at refluxremedy.com today.
Filed under Heartburn Remedies by admin