What is Heartburn?
Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux that feels like a burning sensation in your chest. It could be triggered by certain foods, especially spicy, fatty, or acidic foods. Perhaps you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a chronic disease that has a variety of reasons.
Pregnancy increases the risk of heartburn. Heartburn is common after meals, but it can also wake individuals up. Heartburn can also occur as a result of certain foods or beverages consumed. Stomach acid backing up into the esophagus causes heartburn, a burning sensation in the chest (food pipe). Typically, the burning occurs in the center of the chest, slightly behind the sternum (breast bone). By lying flat or on your right side, the burning can get worse or begin.Â
Many people suffer from heartburn, which can be treated with a variety of over-the-counter drugs and home remedies. Unless your symptoms are frequent (more than once a week), severe, or worsening, you won’t need to consult a doctor.
Depending on the person’s body chemistry, heartburn can persist anywhere from a few minutes to many hours. It’s fairly frequent in expectant mothers. Heartburn isn’t a big deal if it only happens once in a while.
The majority of people who suffer from heartburn can alleviate their symptoms by making lifestyle choices and taking over-the-counter drugs. However, if it is a regular issue, it may interfere with your day-to-day functioning and cause anxiety. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is the medical term for recurrent heartburn (GERD). This can lead to several other further problems, including:
- Cough that doesn’t seem to be going away
- Oesophageal ulcers
- Barrett’s EsophagusÂ
- Oesophageal Cancer
What causes heartburn?
The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a tight band of muscles in the esophagus (the tube that links your mouth to your stomach) that closes after food reaches the stomach and prevents stomach contents from re-entering the esophagus. Stomach acid can back up into the esophagus if this sphincter weakens or relaxes at the incorrect time, causing heartburn and accompanying problems.
How to reduce Heartburn?
- Dress comfortably.
- Drink a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water. Because apple cider vinegar has an alkalizing impact on the body, it helps to neutralize excess acid.
- Take a sip of ginger tea. Heartburn is relieved with ginger. Add it to gravies and stir-fries to make it a part of your diet.
- Baking soda and water are a good combination since even baking soda has an alkalizing impact on the body. Acids in the stomach are neutralized, resulting in relaxation.
- Elevate your chest area to prevent acids from entering your esophagus. If you have heartburn, propping yourself up on a couple of pillows may not help. The body must be moved from the waist up.
- Chewing gum helps to lower stomach acidity by diluting the acids with saliva.
- If you are overweight, you should lose weight since the fat around your stomach exerts pressure on your stomach and causes stomach acids to be discharged.
- Â Antibiotics, mineral supplements, and pain relievers are among the medications that induce heartburn.
- Stop smoking. Many people have heartburn as a result of smoking.
- Heartburn is exacerbated by high-impact exercises. To get the issue under control, switch to lower-impact exercises.
- Drink cold milk to help neutralize the acids that cause heartburn. Ice cream is also beneficial. You could have ice cream if you are not vulnerable to cough and colds and the weather permits.
- The age-old cure of buttermilk to relieve heartburn is still effective. It lowers the amount of lactic acid in the stomach. Learn more about buttermilk’s health advantages.
- Almonds are another fantastic heartburn-relieving food. They work as a preventative strategy by neutralizing gastric acids.
- Another factor that contributes to intense heartburn is a lack of sleep.
- Bananas and apples contain natural antacids, which help to neutralize acidity. As soon as you start to feel heartburn coming on, eat a banana.
Conclusion
When heartburn starts, there are a variety of over-the-counter medications, home remedies, and lifestyle changes that can help. Changing your everyday habits can also help you avoid acquiring heartburn symptoms in the first place. For instance, consider the following:
- Avoid foods that cause heartburn, such as fatty and spicy foods.
- Eat at least three hours prior to going to bed.
- After eating, avoid lying down.
- keep a healthy body weight
- Consult your doctor if you have heartburn more than twice or three times a week. They may recommend drugs or other therapies in some circumstances.