Adopt New Bedroom Habits
Do you have trouble sleeping at night due to heartburn? If so, try sleeping on your left side this position seems to help. Experts also recommend keeping your upper body elevated to make it harder for acids to flow up the esophagus. Raise the head of your bed or use a thick wedge-shaped body pillow when sleeping to keep heartburn at bay.7
References
* Onset of acid neutralization does not imply the onset of symptom relief.
Natural Ways To Combat Gerd And Acid Reflux
After speaking to and instructing a customer on some natural remedies for GERD, I realized that this is a question I get with some frequency. With the American diet full of processed foods, fats and oils, sodium, and sugars, its no wonder this has become an increasingly popular problem. GERD, or Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a digestive disorder that affects the lower esophageal sphincter . This sphincter opens up into the stomach, allowing food to pass through. Those dealing with GERD have a LES that is weak or reacts when it should not, allowing food to flow backward up from the stomach back into your esophagus. The pain felt from this malfunction is that of food and the acids of the stomach working their way back up.
Herbal teas can help alleviate symptoms of GERD and help with digestion as well. Ginger, Mint, Chickweed, and Marshmallow are just a few herbs that help to calm, soothe, and aid the digestive tract. Anti-inflammatory aids will also help with GERD and proper digestion. Many issues and symptoms, while not necessarily being caused by, will be negatively affected by inflammation. These herbal remedies are also available in supplement, pill or tablet form. However personally, I prefer herbal teas. Ive always been a tea drinker, and doing so for medicinal purposes allows to take a moment, relax and enjoy your medicine.
A Few Lifestyle Changes Are Worth Trying Before Resorting To Drugs For Controlling Gastroesophageal Reflux
If you are sounding a little hoarse and have a sore throat, you may be bracing for a cold or a bout of the flu. But if you’ve had these symptoms for a while, they might be caused not by a virus but by a valveyour lower esophageal sphincter. That’s the muscle that controls the passage between the esophagus and stomach, and when it doesn’t close completely, stomach acid and food flow back into the esophagus. The medical term for this process is gastroesophageal reflux the backward flow of acid is called acid reflux.
Acid reflux can cause sore throats and hoarseness and may literally leave a bad taste in your mouth. When acid reflux produces chronic symptoms, it is known as gastroesophageal reflux disorder, or GERD. The most common symptom of GERD is heartburnpain in the upper abdomen and chest.
Three conditionspoor clearance of food or acid from the esophagus, too much acid in the stomach, and delayed stomach emptyingcontribute to acid reflux, says Dr. Jacqueline Wolf, a gastroenterologist and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and author of A Woman’s Guide to a Healthy Stomach: Taking Control of Your Digestive Health.
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Home Remedies For Heartburn: 10 Ways To Get Rid Of Acid Reflux
Despite what its name implies, heartburn has nothing to do with your heart.
Rather, it’s a burning sensation in your chest that occurs when stomach acid backs up into your esophagus, the 10-inch tube connecting your mouth to your stomach.
When it hits, heartburn can last for just a few minutes or as long as several hours. Either way, it’s uncomfortable so it’s no surprise if you’re looking for a way to get rid of the sensation fast.
Avoid Foods That Cause Heartburn
While heartburn triggers vary from person to person, there are several foods and drinks that are known causes of heartburn, including:
- spicy foods: hot chili peppers
- acidic foods: citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate
- acidic drinks, such as caffeine, alcohol, coffee, wine and carbonated beverages.
Pay attention to the foods and beverages that trigger heartburn for you and eliminate them from your diet.
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Baking Soda For Heartburn
One of the original home remedies for indigestion is baking soda mixed in water. The reason it has stood the test of time? It works! Baking soda is a base that offsets the acidity in your esophagus and your gut, says , a dietician at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. For fast relief, try mixing a half to one teaspoon of baking soda in eight ounces of water.
Dont overdo it, though: Too much baking soda can have negative health effects, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If you are pregnant or have a chronic condition like heart disease, high blood pressure or kidney disease, speak with your doctor before trying this home remedy.
Related: Simple Diet Changes That Can Ease Heartburn and GERD
Start Your Day On A Positive Note
Having a morning routine is good, but making sure you’re starting your day on a positive note is important, too. Showing gratitude, whether it’s towards yourself, someone else or something else, can improve your mental health and emotional well-being.
Instead of firing up your social media apps as soon as you wake up, take some time to give yourself a compliment or to acknowledge something or someone you’re grateful for. Or do both! Promoting feelings of self-worth can have a powerful effect on your mood, and keeping a journal of the things or people you’re grateful for can help fill you with joy and happiness.
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What To Do If Heartburn Is Severe Or Frequent
For mild, occasional heartburn, over-the-counter medications such as antacids and histamine blockers can help relieve symptoms. Always read the product label before taking an antacid or histamine blocker and never take a larger dose or take doses more frequently than directed.
If you’re experiencing heartburn frequently, consult your doctor before taking heartburn medications regularly since these drugs can interfere with many other medications and affect underlying health conditions you may have.
If you have severe heartburn, as well as if it persists or worsens after taking steps to relieve it, consult your doctor. In some cases, heartburn can be a sign of an underlying condition, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease , or possibly a side effect of a medication you’re taking.
Worst Foods For Reflux
In general, anything that is fatty, acidic or highly caffeinated should be avoided. The worst foods for acid reflux list includes:
- Coffee and tea Caffeinated beverages aggravate acid reflux. Opt for teas without caffeine.
- Carbonated beverages The bubbles expand in your stomach, creating more pressure and pain. Choose plain water or decaf iced tea.
- Chocolate This treat has a trifecta of acid reflux problems: caffeine, fat and cocoa.
- Peppermint Dont be fooled by its reputation for soothing the tummy peppermint is an acid reflux trigger.
- Grapefruit and orange The high acidity of citrus fruits relaxes the esophagus sphincter and worsens symptoms.
- Tomatoes Also avoid marinara sauce, ketchup and tomato soup theyre all naturally high in acid.
- Alcohol This has a double whammy effect. Alcohol relaxes the sphincter valve but it also stimulates acid production in the stomach.
- Fried foods These are some of the worst foods for reflux. Skip the french fries, onion rings and fried chicken cook on the grill or in the oven at home.
- Late-night snacks Avoid eating anything in the two hours before you go to bed. Also, you can try eating four to five smaller meals throughout the day instead of two to three large meals.
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Spicy Food Can Cause Heartburn
Heartburn is a common problem that many people experience after eating spicy food. This is because spicy food can increase the production of acid in your stomach, reflux back into your oesophagus and cause a burning sensation.
If you experience regular heartburn, it is best to avoid eating spicy food before bed.
What Medications Do I Take To Manage The Symptoms Of Gerd
Many over-the-counter and prescription medications relieve GERD. Most of OTC drugs come in prescription strength too. Your provider will give you a prescription for these stronger drugs if youre not getting relief from the OTC formulas.
The most common GERD medications:
- Antacids include Tums®, Rolaids®, Mylanta®, Riopan® and Maalox®.
- H-2 receptor blockers include Tagamet®, Pepcid AC®, Axid AR® and Zantac®.
- Proton pump inhibitors include Prevacid®, Prilosec®, Zegerid®, Nexium®, Protonix®, AcipHex® and Dexilant®.
- Baclofen is a prescription drug used to reduce the relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter which allows acid backwash.
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Treatment For Heartburn And Acid Reflux From A Gp
If you have acid reflux, a GP may prescribe a medicine called a proton pump inhibitor that reduces how much acid your stomach makes.
PPIs include:
You’ll usually need to take this type of medicine for 4 or 8 weeks, depending on how serious your acid reflux is.
Go back to the GP if your symptoms return after stopping your medicine. You may need a long-term prescription.
Be Careful What You Drink
Alcohol, coffee, and whole milk can all lead to heartburn, as can peppermint tea. Sodas and carbonated drinks may relax the LES and make your stomach acid more acidic, increasing your risk of heartburn. Highly acidic citrus juices such as orange and grapefruit can also cause acid reflux and heartburn in some people.13
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Indigestion Remedies And Treatments
You can try some remedies for indigestion from home, while others require help from a doctor or specialist. A few flexible options will feature ways to accomplish them on your own and ways to include professional guidance from a health care professional.
Oral Medication
There are many different kinds of medicine that you can take to help relieve indigestion. Over-the-counter medications for indigestion include:
- Antacids to neutralize your stomach acid
- Proton pump inhibitors for frequent bouts of heartburn
Not all medications for indigestion are available over the counter. Some helpful drugs for more complicated instances of indigestion may require a prescription from your doctor. If you have indigestion due to a bacterial infection, your doctor will likely prescribe you antibiotics.
Because emotional stress can cause indigestion, getting mental health care may help ease your stomach pain. One type of psychological therapy that might prove beneficial is called talk therapy. In talk therapy, a therapist can help you find ways to deal with everyday stressors. You can set in-person appointments or use online services to try this route.
If you find that stress is causing your indigestion, meditation and other relaxation exercises might be worth trying, as well.
Adding Ginger to Your Diet
You can find both fresh ginger root and ginger supplements at most supermarkets and health food stores.
Drinking Water with Baking Soda
What Causes Heartburn And What Does It Feel Like Exactly
According to the American College of Gastroenterology, stomach acid is needed to break down the food you eat, something your stomach has no trouble handling. Your esophagus, on the other hand, is irritated by it.
To keep stomach acid in your stomach and out of your esophagus, a circular ring of muscle at the tube’s base, called the lower esophageal sphincter, acts as a valve. When this valve is relaxed, food you’ve consumed is allowed to pass through to your stomach. When contracted, this valve prevents this food and acid from backing up into your esophagus.
If this valve relaxes abnormally and stomach acid is allowed to travel back into your esophagus, acid reflux occurs. Heartburn is the most well-known and obvious symptom.
It can feel differently depending on its severity, but heartburn symptoms include:
- A burning sensation in your chest, behind your breastbone
- Burning pain that rises up toward your throat
- Having a bitter or sour taste in your mouth
Acid reflux and heartburn are sometimes caused by an underlying medical condition, or even a medication you’re taking in some cases. But, more often than not, they’re triggered by things like your diet and lifestyle choices making the occasional bout of heartburn fairly common.
Common triggers of heartburn include:
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Take An Acid Neutralizer
When heartburn hits and you need relief, try an antacid like Tums, Rolaids, or Maalox. These medications act quickly to neutralize the acid in the stomach, which can reduce your symptoms. Dont have any on hand? Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in eight ounces of water and drink to neutralize the acid in your stomach. Just use caution with this home remedy since its high in sodium and shouldnt be used by people on a sodium-restricted diet.
Learn more: Treating GERD with medications: What you need to know
We also like H-2 blockers, also known as Histamine H2-receptor antagonists. These include such brand names a Pepcid, Pepcid AC, Tagamet, and Zantac. These medications dont work as quickly as acid neutralizers, but they are still very fast. H2 blockers should be taken about 30 minutes before you eat or when you typically experience symptoms.
The benefit of H2 blockers is that they work longer than antacids, but they dont have the same medical risks associated with proton pump inhibitors. As is true with all medications we highly recommend that you discuss use with your doctor before you begin any drug treatment, prescription or over-the-counter.
And remember that while these quick fixes may help relieve your GERD symptoms, they dont address the underlying cause of those symptoms. Your goal should be to stop reflux from happening in the first place, which is why we recommend several long-term solutions to cure heartburn.
Ginger Can Help Heartburn
If your mother gave you flat ginger ale when you had an upset stomach as a kid, it may have seemed like a treat but there was a good reason behind it. Ginger has long been known to help calm stomach troubles, including stomach bloating and acid reflux. Carbonation and added sugar aggravate the stomach though, so youre better off drinking ginger tea.
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Home Remedies For Heartburn
Tags: Digestive Health & Disorders ,
That unpleasant feeling of your last meal coming back into your throat. That uncomfortable, even painful, burning sensation in your chest. Heartburn has returned.
Heartburn, the feeling you get when the contents of your stomach back up into the esophagus toward the mouth, is common to experience from time to time. Heartburn is caused by acidic stomach content moving into the esophagus, or gullet. This results in irritation and damage to the lining of the esophagus.
Is Tracking Your Activity Really As Simple As Counting Your Steps
“These days, every activity tracker has its own set of metrics and goals it uses to help encourage you sit less and move more. When it comes to tracking my general activity level, I still opt for simplifying things by focusing on my step count,” says Holliday. “If I notice I’m way behind on steps, it’s motivation for me to get up and walk around. The goal is to be moving around throughout the day, and taking steps every hour is a great way to accomplish that.”
So while you probably don’t need 10,000 steps a day, Holliday says that choosing a step goal that’s realistic for you and keeping an eye on your step count throughout the day can help make sure that you’re moving around enough.
“The catch with tracking steps is that unless you’re getting a lot of them steps aren’t really the best way to make sure you’re getting enough exercise, which is the other half of the physical-activity equation,” says Holliday.
The added benefits of exercise include:
- Weight loss and weight maintenance
- Improved cardiovascular fitness
- Increased muscle
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Gum And Water For Reflux
Another way to get rid of reflux feelings is chewing gum and drinking water! These activities will not stop reflux, however, they will help you get rid of the burning in your chest and stomach fluid in your mouth.
Before you do anything about your health problems, you should ask your doctor first, however medical science may not have found a treatment for your problem.
In such cases, and when you want to get rid of your problems in natural ways, herbs will be a good option.
Hope you will have non-reflux days soon!
FAQs about herbal remedies for reflux
Antacids And Acid Reducers: Otc Relief For Heartburn And Acid Reflux
Last Updated August 2022 | This article was created by familydoctor.org editorial staff and reviewed by Leisa Bailey, MD
Over-the-counter medicines are drugs you can buy without a doctors prescription. There are 3 types of OTC medicines that treat heartburn and acid reflux.
- Antacids reduce the effects of acid in your stomach. They do this by neutralizing the acid. Antacids can provide fast, short-term relief. There are many different brands of antacids. They come in the forms of chewable tablets, dissolving tablets, and liquid.
- H2 blockers reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes. While they dont relieve symptoms as quick as antacids, they do last longer. H2 blockers usually start to work within an hour. An OTC example is famotidine .
- Proton pump inhibitors reduce your bodys production of acid. They work well for heartburn that isnt resolved by antacids or H2 blockers. It may take a little longer for a PPI to help your symptoms, but relief will last longer. Most forms start working in a few days. PPIs are most helpful for people who have chronic heartburn . Omeprazole and lansoprazole are examples of OTC PPIs.
Dont assume youre fine if something doesnt seem quite right. The earlier your family doctor can address health problems, the better the outcomes usually are! Read More
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