What is heartburn and how to get rid of it? Home remedies for heartburn.
If you often suffer from heartburn, but you did not know how to get rid of it, then read this article to the end and you will definitely find here simple home remedies that will help you.
- What is heartburn? Symptoms, causes
- Heartburn remedy at home
- Folk remedies for heartburn
- How to get rid of heartburn with home remedies?
The first symptoms of heartburn are mild hiccups and discomfort, followed by a burning sensation in the chest and throat. Heartburn is a very common and annoying symptom. People feel as if someone lights a small fire in their chest, and it rises along the way to the neck.
Frequent, recurring episodes of heartburn can lead to long-term problems. For example, such as inflammation of the esophagus or stomach ulcers. In rare cases, it can even cause cancer. But timely cured heartburn, as a rule, prevents complications in the future and helps to get rid of many problems. There are many home and folk remedies for this disease, but first things first.
What is heartburn? Symptoms and Causes
Heartburn is a condition where the contents of the stomach back up into the esophagus towards the mouth. This leads to irritation and damage to the lining of the esophagus.
Symptoms of heartburn are uncomfortable sensations that occur from time to time after eating, a feeling as if food is approaching the throat, and an unpleasant burning sensation in the abdomen that radiates to the chest.
The causes of heartburn can be different, but let’s look at the main and most common
- Improper diet: fatty, fried and spicy foods, overeating.
- Wrong lifestyle: bad household habits, lack of movement, overweight
- Disease of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum
- Disease of the liver, gallbladder and pancreas
- Pregnancy
Heartburn remedy at home
If heartburn bothers you infrequently and the duration of its course is not long, then try to get rid of it with the help of simple folk remedies that are available even at home.
Loose clothing
Tight clothing puts extra pressure on the abdomen. If you often wear tight clothing, then be aware that this can be a cause of heartburn, because. the stomach is in a compressed, not free position. In this case, loosen the belt of your trousers, untie your dress or other clothes so that nothing embarrasses you.
Straight posture will help get rid of heartburn
Poor posture also contributes to heartburn. If you often sit or lie down, try getting up and walking around. Also pay attention to your body position, it should be even.
In an upright position, there is less pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES is a ring of muscle that prevents stomach acid from entering the esophagus.
Upper body lift
Prolonged lying aggravates the symptoms of heartburn. Therefore, before going to bed, adjust the position of the bed by lifting the top of it.
Raising your head, substituting additional pillows, you will achieve an insignificant result. Instead, lift your body above your waist.
With an adjustable bed, it will be easy for you to set it at the right angle for an elevated body position. In case your bed is not adjustable, change the angle of the sleeping surface by using large pillows and bedspreads or wooden blocks under the bed.
How to get rid of heartburn with home remedies?
There are various home remedies for heartburn that people use to relieve themselves of this “torment”. But are these safe?
If you have been examined by a doctor and your esophagus is not damaged, then try to go without drugs, use home remedies for heartburn. But remember that the effectiveness of various folk remedies for heartburn varies from person to person. What works for one may aggravate the disease for others. This is important to consider!
Eat Right
It is necessary to get rid of certain foods that provoke heartburn. Avoid peppermint, caffeine, sodas, chocolate, citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and high-fat foods for a while.
Adding more fiber to your diet will improve the normal functioning of your digestive tract. Limit and reduce portion sizes. Eat five or even six small meals a day. Avoid overfilling the stomach, which can cause heartburn. All this is very easy to observe at home, but, unfortunately, at work it is not always possible.
Avoid late meals
Refuse to eat at least two to three hours before bedtime, this will give your stomach a chance to empty before you lie down.
Eat slowly
It is important to eat slowly, in small pieces, chewing all food thoroughly.
Start a diary
Try to write down everything you eat throughout the day, and when heartburn symptoms appear, it will be easier for you to figure out which foods provoked an attack so that you can get rid of them later.
Normalize your weight
Excess fat can press on the stomach, pushing acids up the esophagus. Therefore, it is important to eat a healthy diet and exercise to lose weight. To do this, you don’t even need to visit expensive gyms – you can always do a lot of really useful exercises for your health at home.
Folk remedies for heartburn
Baking soda as a folk remedy
Many have heartburn relief in their kitchen, but may not even know it. Baking soda is often used as a home remedy for heartburn. it neutralizes stomach acid. If you need to quickly get rid of such discomfort, take one teaspoon of baking soda, dissolve it in a glass of warm water and drink it slowly. Be sure to do this procedure slowly so that less air enters your stomach.
Ginger
Ginger has been used for centuries as a folk remedy for heartburn. Ginger has properties that alleviate nausea, so it is believed that it can be tried for heartburn as well. Try adding grated or diced ginger root to your favorite dishes. You can also make ginger tea. To do this, brew raw or dried ginger root, ginger tea bags are also suitable.Liquorice root
Among the many folk remedies for heartburn, licorice root can be distinguished, which is also used to treat this disease. This home remedy is believed to increase the lining of the esophagus, which may protect the esophagus from damage caused by stomach acid.
Do not consume too much licorice, as this can increase blood pressure and decrease potassium levels in the blood.
Apple vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is another home remedy that some people use for heartburn symptoms, believing it can neutralize stomach acid.
Consume diluted apple cider vinegar after meals to help relieve heartburn symptoms.
Bananas
Bananas are soft fruits with low acidity and are considered gentle on the digestive system. The vitamins in bananas help stop gastrointestinal spasms. Therefore, check if bananas help with heartburn. Such a simple folk remedy certainly does not hurt.
Milk
Milk is often used to treat heartburn at home. It temporarily extinguishes stomach acid. But you should also know that milk is high in calories and contains many nutrients, in particular fat, which, on the contrary, stimulate the stomach to produce even more acid. Therefore, if you use this folk method as a way to get rid of heartburn, then buy low-fat homemade milk and use it between meals, because. Full stomach can increase heartburn.
Chewing gum
There was one study that found that chewing gum after meals also helped relieve heartburn. However, avoid mint-flavored chewing gums. they have the opposite effect.
Chewing gum stimulates saliva production and swallowing. This dilutes and removes stomach acid from the esophagus, relieving pain symptoms.
To give up smoking
Smoking can reduce the effectiveness of the muscles that hold acids in the stomach. Everyone knows that smoking is bad for health. But it is also important to know that smoking contributes to heartburn. Therefore, if you smoke, but suffer from heartburn, then you should quickly get rid of this bad habit to improve your health.
Over-the-counter heartburn medications
There are many over-the-counter heartburn medications you can try. These can be: antacids, H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors, probiotics. Blockers are used to reduce the amount of acid produced by the stomach, thereby preventing and reducing heartburn. Antacids are used to neutralize stomach acid. Probiotics sometimes help with various gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, bloating, and gas. Therefore, it is worth trying them as an additional tool to improve the health of your stomach.
Other home methods
There are other, at first glance, minor ways to get rid of heartburn, but in some cases they also help a lot. Let’s look at them in more detail.
Start by adjusting your daily habits.
For example, here are some of them: avoid fatty and spicy foods, eat at least three hours before bed, do not lie down immediately after eating, maintain a healthy body weight.
If you experience heartburn more than three times a week, be sure to talk to your doctor. He may prescribe medications or other more effective treatments for you.
Always check with your doctor before using any folk remedies!
P.S.
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