heartburn pain

June 17, 2011

Symptoms of Indigestion and Possible Treatments

The symptoms of indigestion can be a mild nausea, heartburn, pain in the upper abdomen, gas, a boated feeling, an acid taste in the mouth and a general, vague feeling of discomfort in the abdomen or chest. Indigestion happens during eating, drinking or chewing gum, or soon after. Things that worsen the symptoms of indigestion are obesity, smoking, constipation, eating food that hasn?t been properly cooked, eating fatty foods, an intolerance to gas forming foods like beans, members of the cabbage family or members of the onion family, too much red meat and too little fiber, too much alcohol, intolerance of certain foods and food allergies. Stress and fatigue can also worsen indigestion, as can overwork, as the body uses energy to deal with the stress and not digestion.

Taking drugs like antacids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers, cardiac drugs and drugs to stabilize blood pressure can alter the pH of the stomach, which is normally from 1.5 to 2.5. A pH of 3.5 will interfere with the action of pepsin and hydrochloric acid, both necessary for proper digestion. An abnormal pH can also suppress helpful bacteria in the gut, and lead to the overgrowth of helicobacter pylori, which can lead to peptic ulcer. Eating in stressful conditions also badly affects enzyme production, as each food needs a certain enzyme to be properly digested.

Indigestion famously might mimic the symptoms of a heart attack, with the pain radiating up the left arm and into the jaw, but it also might mask a more serious disease of the digestive track. Symptoms shouldn’t be ignored if they persist or worsen. Diseases that have similar symptoms to indigestion and to which indigestion might be a precursor include heartburn caused by ulcers in the esophagus, gallbladder disease, ulcers, gastritis, which is an inflammation or even erosion of the stomach lining, hiatal hernia, where part of the stomach protrudes into the chest, acid reflux, where stomach acid bubbles up into the esophagus, stomach cancer, and heart attack.

The best way to avoid the symptoms of indigestion is to lower stress levels, avoid foods that cause allergies or don’t digest well, cut down on alcohol consumption, relax after meals, don?t bolt meals and eat in a calm and restful environment. Situations where air is swallowed, such as chewing gum, should also be avoided.

Herbs rich in minerals and trace minerals can help with proper digestion of food. The minerals in herbs work with enzymes in the gut to help food digest properly. Among the herbs that might work for nutrient absorption are sources of fiber like aloe vera, burdock root, slippery elm and kelp, bile stimulants like dandelion root, alkalizing agents like chlorella and peppermint, sources of chlorophyll like alfalfa, nettles and watercress, and sources of beneficial bacteria like garlic, lemon peel and miso. These herbs can be taken in the form of drinks or capsules. If ulcers have developed along with indigestion, licorice root and aloe vera are among the herbs that are good for soothing them, and ginger is well known for easing nausea.

For more information on indigestion symptoms please feel free to download the Reflux Remedy Report at refluxremedy.com today!

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February 7, 2011

Gastric Reflux Natural Remedies

Gastric reflux happens when acid is allowed up into the esophagus, resulting in heartburn pain, belching, hiccups and sometimes acid in the mouth, which leaves a bitter our sour taste behind.

Causes

If you understand what causes gastric reflux, you can be better prepared to deal with the problem naturally.

One cause is certain types of food. Things that are hard to digest like whole milk and ground beef, acidic foods like lemons and oranges, and some vegetables like onions are very common causes of reflux and heartburn. You may react differently to these common foods, and might even have some not so common triggers of your own. It can be helpful to keep track of what you eat, so that the next time you have a flare up of gastric reflux you can identify its cause, and then avoid that food, eliminating your reflux at its root.

Another cause of gastric reflux is certain types of vitamins. Things like iron and calcium are particularly difficult to digest, so the body creates additional acid in an attempt to break them down, which causes pain and reflux. If you need these supplements, try to find more easily digestible ones, or simply add additional dairy or red meat to your diet to get them naturally.

Stress is another culprit for gastric reflux. Reducing your stress levels can greatly reduce the occurrences of gastric reflux in your life. Stress causes the body to overproduce acids, which again causes pressure to build and pain to result.

Additionally how much you eat can result in gastric reflux. Would it be Thanksgiving without heartburn after the meal? Yes, it would. Thanksgiving and special occasions aside, eating large meals on a regular basis can make digestion difficult for your body. So it deals with it the best way it knows how, by producing more and more acid to help break the extra food down. Of course, this extra acid comes with a side of reflux and pain for you.

Solutions

Aside from handling the aforementioned causes, there are a number of things you can do to naturally address gastric reflux, especially if it’s already in full swing.

One of the easiest ways to literally wash your gastric reflux away is by drinking a glass of water. This helps to flush excess acid out of your digestive tract.

Another method you can try is drinking a quarter of a cup of aloe vera juice. You can even do this before a meal if you suspect the meal might stir up trouble for you later in the evening. Use caution when applying this method though. Make sure you drink aloe vera juice and not gel. There is a difference! Gel is not meant for consumption and can have some adverse effects on your digestion. Only drink aloe vera juice that is labeled for consumption.

Things like apples and almonds have also helped dissolve the acids in some people’s stomachs.

Even papaya can prove very helpful when combating gastric reflux. It contains a digestive enzyme that helps the body break down the food you consume, and keeps acids from building up, which keeps gastric reflux pain at bay.

For more gastric reflux natural remedies, visit refluxremedy.com.

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January 28, 2011

Remedy for Heartburn After a Meal

If you often experience heartburn after eating, you may be searching for remedies to help relieve that pain. Heartburn can be a debilitating condition and can cause damage to your esophagus if it happens frequently. This damage can lead to chronic cough and ulcers if left untreated. So, dealing with your heartburn is often the only way to prevent future issues down the road.

There is no one remedy for heartburn after a meal. Some people find success with some methods, while others have better luck with other methods. However, there are plenty of things to try, most of which are natural and fairly low impact on your wallet and lifestyle.

First of all, if you’re regularly experiencing heartburn after a meal, analyze what you’re eating. Some foods are known to spark heartburn in most people. Things like caffeine, garlic, onions, citrus and alcohol should probably be avoided if you’re frequently experiencing heartburn after a meal. However, everyone is different, and what bothers someone else may not bother you, so keep close track of what you eat. That way you’ll be able to easily identify what set off your most recent episode of heartburn and adjust your diet accordingly.

Second, adjust your intake of food. If you eat smaller meals you’ll be able to better control acid production in your stomach. Large meals prompt the digestive system to produce excess amounts of acid to better break down all that food. So, just eat less more often to get the same amount of food in your system over a longer period.

Third, don’t eat right before bed. It may be tempting to eat a big, heaping helping of comfort food and curl up for a nap on the couch, but you might regret it when that heartburn comes calling. When it comes to heartburn, gravity is your friend. It helps to keep food down in your stomach, where it belongs. When you lie down right after eating, food and acids can mingle in your esophagus, which is painful and irritating to the area, causing heartburn. So, try not to eat less than two hours before you go to bed, and that’ll solve that problem.

If you’ve done all these things and you’re still experiencing heartburn after a meal, there are still some things you can try. For instance, papaya has been found to contain digestive enzymes that help your body to break down the food you’ve eaten and keep excess stomach acids down to a minimum, preventing heartburn. Chew a tablet after meals to help prevent acid buildup and subsequent heartburn pain.

Additionally, if you get heartburn after a meal, try drinking a nice tall glass of water when it strikes. As simplistic as this may sound, it really does work. The rush of water to your stomach will help to dilute stomach acids and flush your digestive tract, removing irritants and thus relieving heartburn pain.

Of course, there are many other things you can do to help get rid of your heartburn pain after a meal. If you’re still looking for just the right remedy for heartburn after a meal, visit refluxremedy.com today and get on the right track to be free of your acid reflux.

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January 27, 2011

Natural Treatment for Pregnant Women With Heartburn

Pregnancy often brings a number of ailments, including heartburn, that has the soon to be mother reaching for natural solutions so that she can find relief without harming the baby. If you’re looking for a natural treatment for pregnant women with heartburn, you’ve come to the right place. There are a number of things you can do naturally to help relieve your heartburn without harming your baby. Here are just a few:

Heartburn tends to plague pregnant women, so in anticipation of that take simple steps to avoid heartburn before it starts.

  • First, try not to stress. Yes, pregnancy is a stressful time. Will the baby be healthy? Will we be able to financially handle this child? Will we be good parents? Will we be able to properly provide for this child? And on and on. However, stress can cause all kinds of problems, some more severe than heartburn, like early labor. So, relax. Get a massage, go for a walk, curl up with a good book, just take some time for yourself. It will help you reduce your heartburn and keep the baby safe.
  • Second, avoid foods that are known to cause heartburn. Your specific pregnancy may bring special triggers to you, but some common ones are garlic, onions and citrus fruits and juices. Caffeine and alcohol also cause heartburn, but hopefully you’re already modifying your intake of those chemicals due their potentially harmful effects on the baby.
  • Third, try not to eat too close to bed time. Although pregnancy cravings can be intense and demand food at strange hours, try to control what you eat and when you eat to avoid a bout of heartburn. Lying down too close to eating allows food and stomach acids to meander into your esophagus, which causes heartburn pain. Eating at least two hours before you lie down can help prevent this. If a craving is just too strong to resist, try propping yourself up with a pillow to help keep your digestive tract aligned and make it more difficult for acids to move upwards.

If you already have a bad case of heartburn, don’t despair! There are a number of things you can do that will naturally help neutralize the acid and relieve your pain.

  • First, try the simplest solution. Drink a glass of water. This will help flush your digestive tract and dilute excess acids in your stomach that might be irritating your esophagus.
  • Ginger has long been used to help settle upset stomachs. So, try a glass of ginger tea, or eat some candied ginger to help soothe your heartburn.
  • Apples have also been found recently to help some people get over their heartburn pain. Just one after a meal can help provide relief from acid indigestion pain.
  • Apple cider vinegar can also help to neutralize acids in your stomach. All it takes is a tablespoon diluted in a full glass of water to help alleviate heartburn pain.

The Reflux Remedy Report contains these and many other holistic tips for reliving your worst heartburn symptoms. Log on to refluxremedy.com to see additional natural treatments for pregnant women with heartburn.

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