Heartburn has nothing to do with the heart, despite its name. Rather, it is a burning sensation in your chest caused by stomach acid backing up into your esophagus, the 10-inch tube linking your mouth and stomach.
When it occurs, heartburn stays there anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. In any case, the sensation is unpleasant, therefore it is not surprising that you are seeking a quick solution.
Symptoms
It often causes a burning sensation in the center of the chest, just behind the breastbone. When you have heartburn, you may also have the following symptoms:
- A feeling of burn in the chest that might continue from a few minutes to several hours.
- Bending over or lying down, you get chest pain.
- A burning sensation in the throat.
- Back of the throat sensation of heat, sourness, acidity, or saltiness.
- Problems in swallowing
Treatment Options
Many factors, such as spicy foods, coffee, and genetics, can cause heartburn, making it difficult to predict what will produce acid reflux. You may get relief without resorting to over-the-counter or prescription medicine. Here are some natural and easy ways to alleviate the burning sensation:
1. Milk
Applying milk to relieve heartburn really does seem like a smart thing naturally. Milk is alkaline and might be calming to consume. And while it’s true that milk can temporarily relieve discomfort, the fat and protein it contains can worsen heartburn once digestion begins.
Milk with less fat may be easier to tolerate during episodes of heartburn. Try a calcium-based OTC therapy, which has the benefits of calcium in milk without the disadvantages. Avoid heartburn.
2. Help Lower Your Anxiety
While anxiety is not usually considered a source of heartburn or reflux, it can trigger symptoms in some people. But, severe mental or physical stress might create heartburn symptoms.
Access expert advice from medical professionals, including stress management practices such as meditation and progressive muscle relaxation in your daily routine may be beneficial.
3. Chew a Ripe Banana
Because of its high potassium content, a banana may be able to counteract the stomach acid that is irritating your esophageal lining. Unripe bananas, on the other hand, have lower alkalinity, and higher starch content, and might cause acid reflux in some people. Ripe bananas are best. Alkaline foods such as melon, cauliflower, fennel, and almonds may help ease heartburn.
4. Chewing Gum
A tiny study indicated that eating sugar-free gum for 30 minutes after lunch or dinner can lower acid levels in the esophagus. Nonetheless, peppermint gum can increase the effects for some people.
There is no disadvantage to chewing gum after a meal to determine if it alleviates acid reflux.
5. Adjust Your Back
Also, your position may cause stomach upset. Try standing up if you are sitting or lying down. Try to stand more uprightly if you are already standing.
A more upright position reduces pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). It is a muscular tight circle that keeps stomach acid from entering the esophagus.
If you frequently get heartburn at night or while trying to sleep, raise the head of your bed. If this is not possible, place a wedge between your mattress and box spring to elevate your upper body. Often, elevating your head with additional cushions is ineffective.
6. Ginger Root
Ginger has several advantages for stomach aches and nausea, and it may also prevent acid reflux. Although ginger has been used for a very long time to treat a variety of gastrointestinal illnesses, it is not quite known how it helps relieve heartburn. One research concluded that it may lower the digestion process in the stomach, but additional research is needed. moderation is required.
7. Keep a Food Journal
As previously stated, certain meals and drinks can cause acid reflux and heartburn. By keeping a food and symptom journal, you can determine which foods are most likely to cause you discomfort. Once identified, you should avoid certain meals and beverages whenever feasible.
8. Eat Cooked Onions
Raw onions are popular acid reflux and heartburn trigger.
In previous research on persons with acid reflux. A meal including raw onion dramatically increased heartburn, acid reflux, and burping in comparison to a meal without onions.
9. Try Probiotics
An imbalance of healthy gut bacteria might cause heartburn symptoms. Some individuals can enhance their gut health by incorporating prebiotics and probiotics into their diet.
Probiotics are not for everyone and have not been clinically shown to alleviate acid reflux. Consult your doctor before taking probiotics and nutritional supplements.
10. Have a Combination of Water and Baking Soda
Baking soda can counteract gastric acid. So, an immediate remedy may be in your kitchen. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with one teaspoon of water and consume the concoction gently.
11. Keep an Eye on Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol consumption may exacerbate acid reflux and heartburn.
In fact, some research has connected increasing alcohol use to increased acid reflux symptoms. Alcohol exacerbates symptoms by raising stomach acid, relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter, and reducing the esophagus’ ability to remove the acid.
Conclusion
Consult a general physician if you have severe heartburn or if it continues or worsens despite taking measures to alleviate it. Heartburn can be a symptom of an underlying ailment, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or a side effect of a medicine.
FAQs
1. What can I drink to cure acidity?
You can try the following drinks for immediate relief:
- Lemon juice
- Coconut water
- Vegetable juice
- Cold milk Low-fat chilled milk provides fast heartburn relief
- Probiotics.
- Lemon ginger juice
- Smoothies
2. How to identify if my heartburn is serious?
You should seek immediate medical attention if you have significant chest pain or pressure, especially if it is accompanied by additional symptoms such as the arm or jaw pain or difficulty breathing. Heart attack symptoms may include chest pain.
3. Is it typical to get daily heartburn?
Generally speaking, heartburn is not a serious condition. An occasional episode of heartburn indicates that the individual consumed items that produced too much stomach acid. Chronic or daily heartburn may indicate gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.