Home Remedy for Heartburn: Tips to Stop the Burning – Part I
Heartburn. The mere word strikes an unexplainable fear.
Your heart palpitating, burning, flaming, without even a fire extinguisher to help you put out the fire. Fortunately, it’s not really the reality. No matter how we and your body do feel about it, it is not your heart’s that is on fire. It is, in reality, your esophagus. A misnomer, yes, but they do have that “burning” part right. But what causes the burn that seemed to go straight to your heart? The burning sensation is caused by your esophagus burned by acid produced by your stomach. The acid that breaks down the food that you enjoyed is known for its industrial strength, a level that can only be handled by the body’s stomach lining.
Unfortunately for some of us, we experience a condition called reflux. That is when something that goes down, goes north, says Dr. David M. Taylor of the Emory University in Atlanta. Generally, the acid and some of the food that we slip up back through the esophageal sphincter, a valve that should have prevented all of these things from happening, says Taylor. With the food and acid going up where it is not supposed to, the particles causes reaction from the neck down to your stomach.
The key to preventing reflux is as simple as moderation, and properly chewing your food before guzzling it all down. Heartburn is not exactly something you can blame on the esophageal sphincter. It is, in fact, a result of overeating and mindless eating, says Taylor. Here we outline a number of ways on how to put out the fire when it’s burning, and how to put a lid on the acid to keep it where it is supposed.
Have antacids. OTC antacids can be your bestfriend, helping you keep your cool whenever you can’t take the heat, especially when you are just starting on the process of cutting back on food. Generally, I advice my patients to take their antacids every six hours or as needed, says Dr. Nalin Patel of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. But make sure that you watch the doses. Overdoing it may lead to diarrhea or constipation, says Patel.
Take before bedtime. Even if you had taken the Doc’s recommended dosage by day, it is important that you take a portion of your antacid before you snooze. It is during their sleep that people are unaware of the damage that they cause their esophagus, says Dr. Douglas Walta, a gastroenterologist at Oregon. Your esophagus is taking acid-bath hot, something that it really does not enjoy, says Walta. Make sure that you get your dosage before dozing off, keep at least a bottle of antacids on your nightstand so you can be reminded of it every time.
Keep your head up high. In your bed, at least. It is important that you take good care of your esophagus even if you are dozing off to dreamland. By simply putting wooden blocks under the legs that support the head of your bed and choosing a specially-designed sloping pillow, you can be sure that the acid will stay where it is supposed to.
Have your milk. One of the easiest ways to prevent heartburn is having your glass of milk just before bedtime, says Taylor. And since milk is also a healthy substitute for a glass or two of water, drinking up milk during daytime can help prevent acid from ruining a sumptuous lunch.
Don’t pop the soda can. Carbonated beverages are just not what you need whenever you are suffering from heartburns. Carbon just bubbles up the acid, causing for it to do further damage to your esophagus, says Patel.
Skip the mints. Peppermints are known to cause heartburns to some people. Try passing on the after-dinner mints and see if it improves your condition.
Read the second part of this series here – Home Remedy for Heartburn Part II
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