How do I stop having heart burn?

Question

I have tried low fat diet, but I still suffer from heart burn. How do i stop it?

Answer 1

G'day Bu Ang,

Thanks for the question.

I would see your doctor.

The sensation of heartburn is caused by exposure of the lower esophagus to the acidic contents of the stomach. Normally, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) separating the stomach from the esophagus is supposed to contract to prevent this situation. If the sphincter relaxes for any reason (as normally occurs during swallowing), stomach contents, mixed with gastric acid, can return into the esophagus. This return is also known as reflux, and may progress to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) if it occurs frequently. Peristalsis, the rhythmic wave of muscular contraction in the esophagus, normally moves food down and past the LES and is responsible for ultimately clearing refluxed stomach contents. In addition, gastric acid can be neutralized by buffers present in saliva.

Foods that may cause problems with heartburn include:

* Alcohol
* Coffee, tea, cola, and other caffeinated and carbonated beverages
* Chocolate
* Citrus fruits and juices
* Tomatoes and tomato sauces (such as pizza and pasta sauce)
* Spicy foods and fatty foods (including full-fat dairy products)
* Peppermint and spearmint
* Dry foods such as peanuts
* Fatty foods such as ice cream

Stress can also be a factor.

Physicians typically diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) based on symptoms alone. When the clinical presentation is unclear, other tests can be performed to confirm the diagnosis or exclude other disorders.

If heartburn occurs when lying down, raising the head with pillows or sitting up frequently provides relief – although care must be taken to avoid placing continuous strain on the neck. Avoidance of certain foods shortly before bedtime is frequently advised to avoid future attacks.

Antacids, H2-receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors are used in that order to treat heartburn.

I would speak to your doctor and he can make further inquiries.

I have enclosed some references for your benefit.

Regards

Answer 2

Some people can pinpoint foods that cause heartburn, yet there are those who have what appear to be random and even stress related. It's a matter of control with long acting antacids and short acting ones. Your doctor may evaluate you for GERDS (gastro-esophageal reflux disease) which can be serious because as the esophagus erodes with time the cells can become susceptible to cancer. He may test you for H.Pylori which is a bacteria that might be responsible for the chronic nature of the disease. This can be done by a blood test or an actual biopsy of the esophagus or stomach area. If positive, can be treated with antibiotics and antacids.For now take over the counter Zantac 150mg twice a day or 300mg at bedtime and use Tums or Rolaids for any break through heartburn. Depending on your age, you may need an EKG to rule out heart disease which can feel like heart burn. I hope you feel better soon and take care of this problem as soon as possible.

Answer 3

I keep tums beside my bed.

Some causes:
FISH, and protein. Avoid any fish( tuna), particularly near bed time, and especially with any alcohol.
ALCOHOL, I get heartburn the day after drinking, so I carry tums.
COFFEE
( they say it is caffine, but I drink a lot of diet coke, and that doesnt bother me, but black old coffee gives me heartburn).

To get rid of heartburn, you must let the damage heal.
Buy some Tagamet, Zantac or Prilosec, and take one every day for at least two weeks. Do it for one month.
Acid reducers can be expensive, but these brands are relatively low cost. about $1 per dose, but it is worth it.

Take one pill before eating for best results.
These work very well, and you should feel better after the first day. Just dont stop taking it just because you feel better, you need to let your digestive system heal.

They reduce the amount of stomach acid that is produced.
Use it with Tums, to stop the symptoms. After a few weeks, you should be able to stop taking it.

If you dont notice any improvment within 1 week, see a doctor.
heartburn can be a symptom of more serious problems, and do damage if untreated.

H. pylori infection can cause your symptoms.
It is easily detected by a simple diagnostic test.
If this is the problem, it can be treated with special antibiotics.

Answer 4

take this frequently:

http://www.totalhealthnutrients.com/ph/catalog-product-detail;catalogproducts,23.html


!!!! NEW comment: also take Betaine HCI (Hydrocholoric Acid) Solgar is a good brand. It should cost about 8 dollars. Your body isn't producing 'enough' acid in order to break down your food, so its allowing the acids from your food to resurface into your esophagus. Might be a good idea to also take papain, bromelain and digestive enzyme tablets. If a full tablet of HCI is too much, take half.

You can get these at a local health store or have it shipped to you from: vitaminshoppe.com

Aloe Juice from Lilly of the Desert is also a maintenance thing to do - 1 to 2 oz several times a day.

For those rough spots, drinking tea of slippery elm, ginger, licorice and cinnamon.

Answer 5

1/2 teaspoon baking soda mixed in 2 ozs. water and drink. Best quick cure in the world. If you really want to buy something that works better than tums, mylanta or quickeze buy gaviscon. They use it at the hospital when people come in with bad heartburn that won't go away and charge a fortune for it. I am surprised Lady Lynn the Nurse didn't tell you about gaviscon.When I worked in the ER we called it the antacid cocktail. It was mint flavored then but now you can buy cherry flavor also. Alka Seltzers worked good for me too.

Answer 6

It will take some months, but consuming a teaspoon of lemon juice every morning will eventually help you stop having acid indigestion, heart burn.

Answer 7

try sitting up after you eat, or is there certain foods that cause heart burn...you may have to take medicine . also heart burn can cause serious complications if not treated see a Dr.

Answer 8

Probably something you eat or drink causes it. Someone here said lemon juice and another said vinegar. I have heard this also that acids cause the stomach to be less acid whereas different commercial antacids do the reverse.

Answer 9

Go to your Dr. Having heartburn all the time could be a sign of something more serious, and long-term heartburn can wear away at your esophogus and I've heard this can eventually cause cancer of the esophogus.

Answer 10

It may taste nasty but a teaspoon of White Vinegar does work wonders