Home Remedies: Home Remedy for Heartburn

Heartburn

Heartburn is actually a form of indigestion; the symptoms are:

A burning sensation in the chest—below or behind the breastbone--caused by acid regurgitation in the esophagus.
It may be accompanied by a sour taste at the back of the throat
It may feel like you have food stuck in your throat

Other terms used to indicate heartburn are: indigestion, acid indigestion, dyspepsia, acid reflux and pyrosis. The pain usually rises up into your chest from the stomach and may spread to your neck and / or throat. Heartburn is most likely if you have a hiatal hernia—a condition that occurs when the top portion of the stomach protrudes into the chest cavity. Our bodies are made so that when food or liquid enters the stomach, a band of muscle at the end of the esophagus, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), closes off the esophagus. If this band does not do the job adequately food or stomach acid may back up into the esophagus, irritating it and causing heartburn.

Women often have heartburn during pregnancy, possibly due to the change in hormone levels that affect the digestive tract; also depending on how well various foods are tolerated while pregnant.

Numerous medications cause heartburn: some sea sickness meds; beta blockers for high blood pressure (HBP); calcium channel blockers for HBP; drugs similar to Dopamine; Progestin; sedatives for anxiety or insomnia; some asthma and lung disease meds and tricyclic antidepressants.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a digestive disorder affecting the ring of muscle between the esophagus and the stomach, often believed to be caused by a hiatal hernia; heartburn can be caused by GERD due to the food in the stomach returning to the esophagus. Some people may need medication or even surgery to correct the problem. The primary symptoms of GERD are usually heartburn (although some folks experience chest pain instead), and acid regurgitation leaving a sour taste in your mouth.

Other symptoms may include:

Difficulty swallowing
Dry cough
Hoarseness or sore throat
Sensation of a lump in the throat

Acid Reflux

Acid Reflux happens when stomach acid is regurgitated into the esophagus; reflux is the cause of the heartburn—heartburn is the resulting sensation. You can have acid reflux without heartburn, but you cannot have heartburn minus the acid reflux.

Acid Reflux Symptoms are:

Heartburn
Regurgitation
Dyspepsia--a general term used to imply stomach discomfort including burping, nausea, bloating and upper abdominal discomfort

Silent Reflux

Silent Reflux is acid reflux that does not cause heartburn or indigestion. You may not even be aware that you have it since it is often overlooked and misdiagnosed. It affects in excess of 50 million U.S. citizens. The backflow of stomach acid and digestive enzymes can cause major problems with your esophagus, ears, nose, throat, vocal cords, sinuses, mouth and lungs. ”Pepsin, in the presence of acid, digests protein and damages tissue.” When pepsin damages the airway and esophageal tissues, numerous problems may present themselves: hoarseness, chronic cough, throat clearing, post nasal drip, sinusitis, sore or burning throat, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, snoring, sleep apnea, bad breath, tooth decay, asthma and COPD.

Asthma is one of the common misdiagnoses; silent reflux mimics asthma. Think about your breathing problem—is it more difficult to breathe in or out? People with silent reflux have more trouble getting air into their lungs; people with asthma have more difficulty getting air out of their lungs. Many people who have been diagnosed with asthma may not really have it and when the correct diagnosis is made, proper anti-reflux treatment can cure this asthma-mimic breathing problem.

Heartburn Home Remedies

Heartburn Home Remedies can be something as simple as items in your kitchen cabinet or pocket!

A piece of gum chewed for 30 minutes may bring relief
One-half teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water
Licorice apparently has natural stomach healing properties; also available as a supplement (too much can cause high blood pressure)
Aloe Vera juice reduces inflammation in the esophagus and the stomach
Slippery Elm thickens the layer of mucous in the stomach creating a barrier against the acid
Avoid heartburn-triggering food—tomatoes, citrus fruits and juices
Do not lie down for within an hour after you eat
Eat smaller meals
Don’t eat for about three hours before bedtime
Don’t consume much dairy, caffeine, soda or alcohol
Do not smoke
Eat slowly and chew your food well
Don’t wear tight clothing
Think of ways to relax
Lose weight if necessary
Bend from your knees rather than from the waist (to keep your head above your stomach)
Elevate the head of your bed or make a gentle slope with pillows
Avoid bending or exercising, hard manual work, etc. immediately after eating

If you are pregnant the above home remedies apply as well as:

Avoid spicy , fried and rich foods
Drink less while you eat, since large amounts of liquid may increase the problems
Check with your doctor on over-the-counter (OTC) medications
Avoid being constipated

Interesting fact: Shredded wheat was first made by Mr. Henry Drushel Perky; it was invented to help dyspepsia (abdominal pain caused by difficult digestion). Mr. Perky discovered that running boiled wheat through a shredding machine gave threads of wheat which had a toasty flavor and were much easier to digest after baking.

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Sunday, January 12, 2014

Home Remedy for Heartburn

Heartburn

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Acid Reflux

Silent Reflux

Heartburn Home Remedies

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