Heartburn

Causes and Symptoms

See also Acid Reflux Disease (GERD)

• Eating large meals, eating later in the day, and eating fatty foods. These "top three" triggers affect almost everyone who has heartburn, says gastroenterologist Charlene Prather, MD, an associate professor of medicine at St. Louis University School of Medicine.
• Chocolate. This one, unfortunately, is also reasonably consistent, hitting most heartburn sufferers.
• Coffee and caffeinated drinks. "Some people have trouble with coffee and caffeine, while others don't," says Prather.
• Smoking : Nicotine, an ingredient in cigarettes, can weaken the lower esophageal sphincter, a band of muscle at the end of the esophagus, that closes off the esophagus and prevents the acidic stomach contents from entering the esophagus.
• Citrus products, like oranges and orange juice. While caffeine actually induces reflux, says Prather, citrus just mimics the feeling because of its acidity.
• Garlic, onions, and other spicy foods.
• Tomatoes. "They tend to be more of a problem when they're cooked than when they're raw, but both can bring on heartburn," Prather says.
• Alcohol. All types of alcohol can trigger heartburn, but red wine apparently is particularly troublesome for some people.
• Gluten : Foods containing gluten are a frequent cause of heartburn. Eliminating gluten can resolve the problem.

Home remedies

• avoid large meals and eating too fast.
• Eat your last meal at least two to three hours before lying down.
• Chamomile can ease digestive inflammation, spasms, and gas.
• Water : Instead of reaching for common ulcer medications, patients in a recent Greek study who drank a glass of water when experiencing heartburn found themselves experiencing relief much more quickly. Drinking water helps increase the level of pH in the body, reducing heartburn symptoms.
• Certain drinks can stimulate the release of more acids in the stomach. Beverages like tea, soda and coffee and other caffeinated beverages can increase your likelihood of getting heart burn and acid reflux that may result to indigestion. Drinking coffee and tea can be healthy, but try to keep it moderated and limit your intake to one to two servings in a day. But if you’re very prone to getting heartburn and GERD, it may be advisable to totally avoid these drinks.
• Meadowsweet seems to be an effective stomachic, which is used in the treatment of gastritis, heartburn, hyperacidity, and Peptic Ulcers.
• Melatonin is a Natural heartburn remedies proven to beat drugs
• Bananas helps in relieving heartburn. Bananas produce protective barriers against stomach acids.
• capsaicin (the hot stuff in chili peppers) may be helpful for heartburn.
• chewing gum : When gum is chewed, more saliva is produced. This saliva is an alkali which can help neutralize the acids from foods that are regurgitated and thus reduce the burning that is often one of the most miserable symptoms of heartburn.
• Chewable DGL : DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is a folk remedy used for heartburn. It is a form of the herb licorice that has had the glycyrrhizin component removed to reduce the risk of glycyrrhizin-related side effects such as high blood pressure and water retention.Although some research suggests licorice may decrease inflammation, inhibit the growth of potentially harmful stomach bacteria, and help with ulcers, there haven’t been any clinical trials on the use of licorice for heartburn or GERD.
• Ginger : In an article published in the journal Molecular Research and Food Nutrition, they found that one compound in ginger was 6 to 8 times more potent than Prevacid at inhibiting acid production.
• Aloe Vera Juice : The juice from the aloe vera plant is another natural home remedy that is used to soothe an irritated esophagus. Although there isn’t any scientific evidence that it might help, aloe vera juice has a long history of use in Europe as a natural home remedy to relive heartburn.
• Slippery Elm was once a popular drugstore remedy for sore throats in North America. The herb was listed in the United States Pharmacopeia, a compendium of drug standards, until 1960.A member of the elm family, the slippery elm tree (Ulmus rubra muhl) grows primarily in the eastern region of North America.Slippery elm is a folk remedy that hasn’t yet been studied for heartburn. The inner bark contains mucilage, a gel-like substance that swells when it is mixed with water. The mucilage is thought to coat the esophagus and reduce irritation.
• Marshmallow : Like slippery elm, the herb marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) contains mucilage, which is thought to coat and soothe the lining of the esophagus. It is another folk remedy that is used for heartburn.
• Acupuncture is more effective than proton pump inhibitors
• Breath deeply and often : Deep breathing has been touted as a way to calm the nerves. However, it is also effective at reducing the amount of air that is swallowed. In addition, deep breathing can help strengthen the muscles that surround the sphincter that is located in the lower esophagus. This can be instrumental in reducing the symptoms of acid reflux. This technique is quick and easy to do, and it can be completed in any place, at any time.
• Practice good posture : Slouching while standing can compact the stomach, reducing the amount of space for its contents and putting pressure on it. Other ways to help give the stomach unfettered room to digest its food include sleeping on either the right or left side, but not the stomach. Elevating the head and shoulders also seems to help people reduce the effects of heartburn.
• Eat high protein meals : Eating meals that have high levels of protein has been shown to be effective at increasing the pressure on the sphincter that is located in the esophagus. This can help make it able to withstand acid reflux more easily. Fatty foods, though, have the opposite effect and can increase the likelihood of heartburn.

Medical Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be substituted for medical advice. Always consult a medical professional regarding any medical problems and before undertaking any treatment or dietary changes.