How To Treat Heartburn

Author:Bioplasm UpdateTime:2018-03-31

Take a bite of warm, gooey pepperoni pizza, and your digestive system kicks into action. Acids tumble into the stomach, ready to break down your meal. In many people, a faulty valve-like structure lets these acids run amok, triggering a burning sensation in the chest. Heartburn is an extremely common symptom. More than 60 million Americans have heartburn at least once a month.

To understand what causes heartburn, let's trace the path of that pepperoni pizza. Once you swallow a bite, it travels through the esophagus to the stomach. A valve-like ring of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter opens to let the food in. Then it's supposed to close again to prevent stomach acids from sliding up into the esophagus.

In some people, the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus doesn't work as well as it should. This allows acid to seep into the esophagus (called acid reflux), where it can cause pain and irritation. Not everyone with acid reflux suffers from heartburn, and some people with "heartburn" symptoms don't actually have acid reflux but may have some other condition causing this pain.

Heartburn usually doesn't pose a serious threat to your health. However, complications can occur with severe, frequent, and persistent acid reflux. If you have severe heartburn or heartburn two or more times a week, you may have a condition called GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and you should see your doctor. Without treatment, chronic GERD can cause inflammation, ulcers, and scarring. GERD can also lead to changes in the cells lining the esophagus. Known as Barrett's esophagus, these changes raise the risk of esophageal cancer.

Anyone can develop heartburn, but certain lifestyle factors affect how well the sphincter works, as well as the amount of acid produced by the stomach. People who are overweight, eat large meals, wear tight-fitting clothes, or smoke tend to be more vulnerable.

You may be able to manage mild heartburn with a few changes to your daily routine. Start by eating smaller meals. Finish dinner at least three to four hours before bedtime and avoid late-night snacks. (Having food in your stomach when you lie down can trigger acid reflux symptoms such as heartburn.)

Some foods are known to contribute to heartburn by bringing additional acid into the stomach or by relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter. Stay away from food that may give you problems. Your symptoms may improve if you avoid tomatoes, onions, garlic, chocolate, peppermint, fatty foods, and citrus fruits, including oranges and grapefruit. If you find spicy foods are a trigger, try milder versions rather than giving up your favorite foods altogether.

Certain beverages can also bring on heartburn. These include coffee, tea, sodas, alcohol, tomato juice, and orange juice. However, unless these are causing you acid reflux symptoms, you don't have to avoid them.

For occasional heartburn, take something that works immediately, like a liquid antacid. Just like the name suggests, an antacid neutralizes stomach acid. This provides temporary relief from heartburn, and is emptied from the stomach quickly. It's important to follow the directions carefully, because the overuse of antacids can cause serious side effects. And with more prolonged heartburn symptom, antacids may not help.

Heartburn Remedies: Antacids and H2 Blockers

Also available over-the-counter, H2 blockers work differently than antacids. Rather than zapping acids after they appear, these medications lower the production of stomach acid. This can help prevent heartburn from acid reflux if taken about 30 minutes before meals. More powerful doses are available in prescription form.

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