Natural heartburn remedies
Most people experience heartburn occasionally
Most people experience heartburn occasionally, usually after a meal, but some people have more frequent or serious heartburn.
Heartburn is also called acid reflux because it occurs when stomach acid comes into contact with the lining of the esophagus, causing irritation. This can happen when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES)—the muscle that opens and closes between your esophagus and stomach—is weakened or relaxed and doesn't do its job properly.
Some treatments aim to avoid substances that weaken the LES and physical impairment of its function. Other treatments aim to reduce stomach acid production, buffer it, or avoid irritation of the esophagus.
If you experience heartburn and need to use a heartburn remedy more than twice a week, you should see your doctor. You may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and your doctor will be able to recommend more effective treatment, including prescription medications.
Heartburn is also called acid reflux because it occurs when stomach acid comes into contact with the lining of the esophagus, causing irritation. This can happen when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES)—the muscle that opens and closes between your esophagus and stomach—is weakened or relaxed and doesn't do its job properly.
Some treatments aim to avoid substances that weaken the LES and physical impairment of its function. Other treatments aim to reduce stomach acid production, buffer it, or avoid irritation of the esophagus.
If you experience heartburn and need to use a heartburn remedy more than twice a week, you should see your doctor. You may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and your doctor will be able to recommend more effective treatment, including prescription medications.
Home Remedies and Lifestyle
You can alleviate heartburn by avoiding food that causes heartburn and making lifestyle choices that can minimize heartburn.
Don't Smoke
Nicotine relaxes the esophageal sphincter. Smoking also stimulates the production of stomach acid. Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.
Lose Weight If Overweight
Being overweight or obese places pressure on the abdomen and increases the risk of heartburn. Reducing heartburn is one of many health reasons you should aim for a body mass index of 30 or lower.
Loosen Your Waistband
Tight clothing around the waist increases abdominal pressure. Belts, pantyhose, and compression garments such as Spanks are common sources.
Avoid Food & Drink Triggers
Some heartburn triggers are common while others will vary for each individual.
Drinking alcohol before, during, or after meals can worsen heartburn because alcohol weakens the LES muscle. In addition, drinking alcohol can result in eating more than you intended and making poorer food choices.
Avoid foods and beverages that weaken the LES muscle. These foods include chocolate, peppermint, caffeinated beverages, carbonated beverages, alcohol, fatty foods, and greasy or fried foods.
Avoid foods and beverages that may irritate the esophagus. These include citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes and tomato-based products, chili peppers, and black pepper.
Create a heartburn-friendly diet by keeping a food diary to record which foods are safer for you and which are more likely to trigger heartburn. You may be able to enjoy some foods occasionally or in smaller amounts, while you will find others need to be avoided most of the time.
Drinking alcohol before, during, or after meals can worsen heartburn because alcohol weakens the LES muscle. In addition, drinking alcohol can result in eating more than you intended and making poorer food choices.
Avoid foods and beverages that weaken the LES muscle. These foods include chocolate, peppermint, caffeinated beverages, carbonated beverages, alcohol, fatty foods, and greasy or fried foods.
Avoid foods and beverages that may irritate the esophagus. These include citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes and tomato-based products, chili peppers, and black pepper.
Create a heartburn-friendly diet by keeping a food diary to record which foods are safer for you and which are more likely to trigger heartburn. You may be able to enjoy some foods occasionally or in smaller amounts, while you will find others need to be avoided most of the time.
Sleeping Habits
Nearly 80 percent of people with heartburn experience heartburn at night. Besides avoiding eating too soon before bedtime, there are ways to calm that burn to get a good night's sleep. Some of these methods include:
Sleep with your head and shoulders elevated. Lying down flat presses the stomach's contents against the LES. With the head higher than the stomach, gravity helps reduce this pressure. You can elevate your head a few inches in a couple of ways. Place bricks, blocks, or anything that's sturdy securely under the legs of your bed at the head. You can also use an extra pillow, or a wedge-shaped pillow, to elevate your head.
Wear loose-fitting pajamas
Sleep with your head and shoulders elevated. Lying down flat presses the stomach's contents against the LES. With the head higher than the stomach, gravity helps reduce this pressure. You can elevate your head a few inches in a couple of ways. Place bricks, blocks, or anything that's sturdy securely under the legs of your bed at the head. You can also use an extra pillow, or a wedge-shaped pillow, to elevate your head.
Wear loose-fitting pajamas
Baking Soda
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a natural antacid. If you dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda into 8 ounces of water and drink it, it can neutralize stomach acid and temporarily alleviate heartburn caused by acid reflux.
Read More: Very Well Health
