First, what is heartburn? We are going to explain that because some people experience the symptoms but don’t even know what they are experiencing are symptomatic of heartburn. It is a burning sensation that comes in your chest, just behind your breastbone. The pain is often aggravated when lying down or bending over. Does this sound familiar?
Often, people get heartburn occasionally and can get rid of it with some drugs as prescribed by the doctor but there are severe cases of heartburn which are symptoms of another more serious condition. When this is what you have you need to seek medical care.
What are the causes and symptoms of heartburn?
The simple cause of heartburn is a lower esophageal sphincter, also referred to as LES. When it does not tighten as it should, there is a problem. It only opens when food wants to enter the stomach or when we want to belch. When it is not tightly closed, food can come back into the mouth. Too much food in the stomach (overeating) or too much pressure on the stomach, often as a result of obesity, pregnancy, or constipation. See how to get rid of Constipation easily!
Heartburn is simply acid reflux — It happens when stomach acid comes back up into your esophagus. If left untreated, this reflux can damage the esophagus over time. Pregnancy, some types of foods, alcohol, and some medications can also bring on heartburn. You just need to know what triggers your own heartburn — observation could be key.
However, if you are having heartburn for two or more than two times in a week, you need to see your doctor as soon as you can.
What are the remedies I can use at home?
Home remedies to get rid of heartburn very fast!
Depending on the cause and how frequent your occurrence of heartburn is, there are solutions you can make yourself at home to get rid of it fast.
Chewing gum can help you get rid of your heartburn: A small study from the Journal of Dental Research showed that people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms experienced heartburn relief when they chewed a piece of sugar-free gum for 30 minutes after a meal. You can also give that a shot.
Baking Soda: Dr. Jacqueline Wolf, the author of A Woman’s Guide to a Healthy Stomach, recommends mixing between 1/2 and 1 teaspoon of baking soda with a glass of water. Baking soda is high in salt content so you should not make this your home remedy anytime you have heartburn. If you have heartburn often, the best thing is to see a doctor. So, now you know that baking soda does more than baking and whitening of teeth.
Other home remedies for heartburn include Aloe vera juice reduces any inflammation that is in the esophagus as well as the stomach; avoiding eating too much food too could help prevent this acid reflux.
If you have too much occurrence of these symptoms, you should consult a medical practitioner because some symptoms of a heart attack may mimic that of heartburn.
COMING SOON: Foods That Contribute Largely To Heartburn.