Millions of people are living with heartburn each and every day, but what most people don’t know is that its possible to get your heartburn under control enough to be able to eat the foods you want (within reason). In this blog, I’ll take you through a few home remedies as well as medical solutions for heartburn. It’s important to remember that everyone’s case is different so something that works for a colleague or neighbor might not work at all for you and that is O.K. Don’t get discouraged and keep trying to manage your heartburn.
Heartburn happens when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) that works to separate the stomach from the esophagus functions improperly. The LES is a valve that is responsible for allowing food to enter the stomach then sealing off the entrance to prevent acid from traveling back up through the esophagus resulting in heartburn.
There are some foods that are known to relax the LES and these include: spices, garlic, tomatoes, citrus, spices, alcohol, and fatty foods. Smoking cigarettes is also commonly known to relax the LES and cause heartburn after eating. Below you will find heartburn home remedies and medical solutions, but to learn more about what causes heartburn click the link.
Home Remedies:
1. Sugar free gum
Sugar free gum following a meal causes extra saliva to be produced in the mouth and this could work to combat the acidic taste creeping up the back of your throat. The extra saliva in the mouth makes it easier to wash away the acid accumulation.
2. Baking Soda
Any middle school science class will teach you that to neutralize an acid you simply add a base, and any college science class will tell you to be very careful when doing this. Luckily someone else took the plunge and tried out this next home remedy first. Baking soda can be used to neutralize the acid on your stomach by simply adding one tablespoon to a glass of water and drinking it following a meal.
3. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is powerful plant with many health benefits. When you get a sunburn aloe can be used to soothe the burn, and it works similarly with heartburn. Drinking aloe juice before and after a meal can reduce inflammation and redness in the esophagus caused by heartburn. But be forewarned, aloe can also be used as a natural laxative.
Over the Counter Meds:
1. Alka-Seltzer
2. Pepto-Bismol
3. Tums
4. Rolaids
5. Maalox
If after trying these solutions you are still having a problem with heartburn it might be time to visit a doctor and ask him or her about what your best options are. There are three main types of medicine doctors will prescribe for heartburn and these include: antacids, H2-receptor Blockers, and Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs).
Antacids:
While there are antacids that can be purchased over the counter like Tums, if the need for higher strength antacids is necessary you must see a doctor. Antacids are used to neutralize stomach acid and work much like a base being added to an acidic solution.
H2-Receptor Blockers:
H2’s are used to reduce the amount of stomach by slowing the production of acid in the stomach. H2-Blockers can also be used to treat symptoms commonly associated with heartburn.
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI’s):
PPI’s are the most effective form of heartburn medication because of two reasons.
1. It is the strongest.
2. It completely stops production of acid in the stomach.
When you are suffering from heartburn, it's important to understand the various options out there that can treat your symptoms. One of the hardest choices is decided what's right for you. If you're still experiencing difficulty with deciding what medication best suits your situation, consult your doctor.