NATURAL REMEDIES FOR HEARTBURN RELIEF

By DailyHealthPost 

“Heartburn” is a term given to a feeling you get in your upper abdomen and chest, usually after eating. It gets its name from the fact that it can make you feel like your heart is on fire. The condition is caused by a variety of factors. The one common denominator: when it hits, you’ll want heartburn relief—and fast.

What Causes Heartburn?

Heartburn occurs when acids from the stomach pop up through the esophageal sphincter (the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus) and enter the esophagus, burning the lining. Heartburn can be caused by something as simple as eating a big spicy meal. It typically passes as the food digests and as you swallow the acid back into your stomach.

Other causes of heartburn can be digestive or related to other health issues, including:

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) – also called “acid reflux”, this is a condition in which stomach acid regularly enters the esophagus. A weak or diseased lower esophageal sphincter (LES) cannot keep the opening with the stomach properly closed.

• Medications –aspirin, ibuprofen, pharmaceuticals
• Alcohol – stimulates the production of stomach acids but the effects vary by person (1)
• Smoking – nicotine can relax the LES and other muscles of the esophagus, and stimulate the production of stomach acid. In addition, routine coughing that accompanies regular smoking puts pressure on the LES, eventually weakening it. (2)
• Hiatal hernia – when a part of the stomach enters the upper abdomen, it can put pressure on the LES, causing acid reflux
• Pregnancy – pressure on the lower abdomen can cause indigestion and heartburn
• Scleroderma – a chronic disease of the body’s connective tissue
• Sarcoidosis – inflammation of lung, lymph, or other organ tissues
• Heart attack
• Cancer
• Obesity
• Stress
• Too much or too little stomach acid

What Does Heartburn Feel Like?

Symptoms of heartburn can feel like a hot irritation in the stomach, chest, or throat. It can also be felt as a spasm or shooting pain. If it becomes chronic, disorders of the esophagus can occur due to deterioration of the oesophageal lining. This condition can contribute to esophageal cancer.  However it feels to you and regardless of how often it may occur, you’ll need to know how to stop heartburn. Before you rush over to the pharmacy for antacids, try the remedies below.

Here are 8 ways to keep your stomach acid where it should be: in your stomach!

1.   Don’t Overeat

 

The muscle at the bottom of your esophagus controls the entry of food into the stomach. In a case of acid reflux, this muscle may be weakened, allowing contents of the stomach to go up into the esophagus. If there’s pressure on the muscle from an over-indulged stomach, it’s more likely that stomach acid will push its way up, causing heartburn.

2.   Manage Your Weight

Obesity has been definitively linked to acid reflux. Part of the problem is excess pressure (due to surrounding fat) on the abdomen and part is the food that is consumed. Problems with the digestive system caused by carrying excess weight include diseases of the esophagus as well.

3.   Apple Cider Vinegar for Heartburn

It may seem counterintuitive as a heartburn remedy, as vinegar is itself an acid, but organic, raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar alkalinizes the body. It also stimulates the release of the necessary stomach acids. Additionally, the cloudy “mother” sediment found in raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar contains enzymes, fiber, and proteins that ease acid reflux. (5) Taken with a teaspoon of honey in a cup of warm water, it is soothing and nourishing.

4.   Avoid Foods That Cause Heartburn

Some foods are known to over-stimulate stomach acid. Taken in excess, these can lead to acid rebounding up into the esophagus. These include:

• Alcohol (especially red wine) – relaxes LES and reduces esophagus function (6)
• Milk chocolate – cocoa, fat, and caffeine can all promote heartburn (7)
• Coffee – caffeine can be an irritant and coffee is very acidic
• Fatty or fried foods
• Garlic – garlic affects some people but not all. If you have heartburn or reflux after eating food with a lot of garlic, you’ll know it’s one of the ingredients to cut.
• Raw onions – people who frequently suffer from heartburn are likely to find onions a trigger food. 

5.   Chew Gum

Chewing natural gum (not sweetened with aspartame) increases saliva and reduces acid in the esophagus. Avoid peppermint and spearmint flavors, as these can relax the LES and worsen your condition. (11)

6.   Stay Away From Soft Drinks

All carbonated beverages have bubbles that explode in your esophagus and stomach, putting pressure on the LES. Almost all commercial sodas are acidic as well. Replace your cola habit with fresh fruit and vegetable juices or warm digestion-boosting tea instead.

7.   Modify Your Sleeping Position

The position of your stomach and pressure on your esophagus have a lot to do with experiencing heartburn at night. In fact, many people with GERD have trouble sleeping.

8.   Sleep on an Empty Stomach

Lying down soon after eating increases the risk of heartburn, as the stomach acids are churning away as they digest. In fact, a 2005 study found that people who go to sleep within 3 hours of eating are significantly more likely to suffer from GERD.