Menu
Here are Some Remedies to cure Heartburn at Home
Heartburn is a burning sensation in the throat and upper stomach area often accompanied by a sour taste in the mouth. It is caused by acid from the stomach rising into the esophagus and is more likely to occur after a large meal or when lying down. Almost 12% of the world’s population suffers from heartburn.
“Heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD,” reports Kevin M. Cronley, MD, a gastroenterologist from Gastro Health. “Heartburn can be a symptom of GERD but…you can have heartburn without having GERD.”
Table of Contents
Causes of Heartburn
The esophagus is the pipe the food travels through to reach the stomach. The sphincter that is located where the esophagus and stomach meet is usually closed, preventing food and stomach contents from rising into the esophagus. It opens to allow a mixture of food and saliva to enter, then closes again. If the sphincter is weakened or relaxed, stomach contents can enter back into the esophagus.
This is called reflux. Stomach fluids can irritate the esophagus lining causing a burning sensation, called heartburn. If the fluids remain, irritation will get worse causing inflammation, pain, and discomfort. Sometimes heartburn is worse during pregnancy because the hormone progesterone that is released during pregnancy causes the sphincter to relax leading to reflux and heartburn. Heartburn usually occurs after eating and can become worse from lying down or bending over.
Home Remedies for Heartburn
Heartburn prevention is the key to managing heartburn symptoms. But when heartburn hits, try these home remedies to reduce acid reflux fast.
Avoid Trigger Foods
Eating certain trigger foods causes acid reflux. Avoiding those foods will reduce the amount of acid in your stomach helping to reduce and prevent heartburn.
Eliminate trigger foods for 2 weeks to allow time for your stomach and esophagus to heal. Keep a food journal and take note of symptoms to help pinpoint exact foods that trigger your acid reflux.
You May Like Reading
Chew Gum
When it comes to heartburn, you likely will try almost anything to get rid of it. Turns out chewing gum helps treat acid reflux. Here is how. Chewing gum increases swallowing, which helps clear acid from the esophagus faster.
One study found that chewing sugar-free gum for half an hour after a meal reduces acid reflux. Plus, chewing gum increases saliva which can help neutralize the acid in your stomach making it easier on the esophagus if you were to have reflux. Remember to choose a gum that does not contain mint or citrus to avoid exacerbating reflux symptoms.
Avoid Alcohol
Drinking alcohol may cause an increase in acid production and can significantly increase acid reflux symptoms including heartburn. Though the actual relationship between reflux and alcohol consumption still needs more research, it is clear that alcohol can cause damage to the esophagus, which isn’t ideal for someone who already suffers from regular heartburn.
Like trigger foods, alcohol affects people differently. Keep a food journal of the drinks you consume and take note of heartburn symptoms. This will help you monitor what you’re taking in and learn what beverages you need to cut back on.
Avoid mixing alcohol with trigger beverages. For instance, orange juice and carbonated beverages are known to increase acid reflux and heartburn symptoms. Swap trigger beverages with less-acidic options like carrot juice, apple juice, or water.
Avoid drinking alcohol at least 2 hours before bedtime. Lying down directly after drinking alcohol may increase acid reflux and heartburn symptoms.
Elevate the Bed
Waking up in the middle of the night with heartburn is the worst. Lying flat on your back increases the risk of stomach fluids moving up into the esophagus. Consider elevating the head of the bed with a wedge pillow or a stack of books under the mattress. This will help keep acid in the stomach where it belongs.
It is also a good idea to conclude eating for the day at least 3 hours before going to bed. The less food in your stomach, the less chance you have of waking up with heartburn.
If home remedies just are not cutting it, over-the-counter products including antacids, H2 blockers (like famotidine), and proton pump inhibitors (like omeprazole) are your next best option. If you are not sure where to go from here, a healthcare provider can help you develop a plan.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
A burning sensation in your chest is remarkably similar to the symptoms of a heart attack and should not be overlooked. If you have persistent chest pain and over-the-counter treatments and at-home remedies are not helping, it may be time to speak to a healthcare provider.
You also should see a healthcare provider if you experience difficulty swallowing, unintentional weight loss, or vomiting of blood, Dr. Cronley says. Typically, symptoms of heartburn occur after eating or when lying down. Other symptoms can include:
- Burning sensation in the chest moving up toward the mouth
- Lump in the throat or feeling of fullness
- Acid regurgitation, sometimes accompanied by food
- Sour taste in the mouth, especially when lying down
- Cough or hoarse voice
- Nausea, vomiting, and burping
Seek immediate medical attention for chest pain that does not go away or changes from its usual pattern. Do not ignore the pain or hope it goes away, as it may be a sign of a heart attack. Acting fast can save your life.
Share Article
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp
LinkedIn
Email
The Wellness Mantra
Learn the art of Living a Healthy (Physical, Mental, and Social Well Being) and Joyful life at any age. We at Wellness Mantra strive to create content that inspires you to live a constructive & purpose-driven healthy life.
Our Featured Blogs
Fitness Tips & Guide
10 Best Cardio Workouts that Actually Helps in Weight Loss
Cardiovascular or cardio exercises are considered the most reliable way to speed up your weight loss journey and get in shape quickly. Cardio increases your heart rate, which eventually helps you build muscles and lose those excess pounds.
14 Easy Stretches You Can Do Before Workouts
Stretching is definitely not the most exciting part of working out but if you want to improve your flexibility and at the same time have a well-rounded fitness routine full of strength and cardio work, you should definitely not skip
5 Snacks & Their Recipe To Fuel Your Workout
Workout is a must-to-do thing for our bodies. But food plays a crucial role in this entire process. Have you ever thought about why it is always said to eat healthy food every time, especially during a workout? It’s because
7 Ways To Stick To Your Workout Routine
Most people start working out with full-on enthusiasm, but slowly, with time, they lose interest, or it gets too monotonous for them to stick to. If you also feel the same but want to keep yourself motivated to continue your
More Information on Diseases
Guide to Gestational Diabetes – Causes Risks Prevention & Food to Eat & Avoid
Gestational diabetes or pregnancy diabetes is diagnosed during pregnancy. It usually occurs in the second trimester and goes away as
12 Effective Ways to Improve Cardiovascular Health
Your heart provides oxygen and nutrients to all the tissues in your body. And keeping it healthy is the key
5 Common Mental Health Disorders In Teens
In an unstable world, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic sparked mass uncertainty and uneasiness across the globe, nearly everyone was
5 Factors That Cause Breast Pain And How To Manage Them
Also known as mastalgia, breast pain is a common medical complaint among those assigned female at birth (AFAB). It affects approximately two-thirds
5 Healthy Eating Tips & Advice for People with Diabetes
There are numerous types of diabetes and no two diabetics are the same. Therefore it is usually pretty hard to
28 Most Frequently Asked Questions about Acne around the World
Acne is a very common disease. People who have it tend to have similar kinds of questions about it and
Best Health & Wellness Products
Some of the highest rated products that can aid you in overall well being. Curated by The Wellness Mantra Team.
About Us
Learn the art of Living a Healthy (Physical, Mental, and Social Well Being) and Joyful life at any age. We at Wellness Mantra strive to create content that inspires you to live a constructive & purpose-driven healthy life.
Let’s become more than being free from illness…
Subscribe to Wellness Newsletter
By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Follow Us
*Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. The Wellness Mantra does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
The various photographs published on this website have been collected from various copyright free sources and we have tried to publish the credits wherever required. Please note that the copyright of all the photos is reserved to its original publisher only. If you are the owner of any of the photographs published on the website, you can ask us to display the due credits to you or ask for removal of such photos from the website.
© 2022-23 Copyright | The Wellness Mantra | All Rights Reserved.