How to Get Rid of Heartburn

Heartburn or pyrosis is a painful and burning feeling in the esophagus, immediately below the breastbone usually related with regurgitation of gastric acid. The pain often rises in the chest and can exude to the neck, throat, or angle of the jaw. It is the main symptom of gastro esophageal reflux, which is the movement of stomach acid into the esophagus. Heartburn is generally associated to meals and posture. On rare opportunity, it is due to gastritis (stomach lining inflammation). Heartburn occurs when the acid interior of the stomach pass backwards up into the food pipe (called the gullet or oesophagus).   The majority of the people have stomach acid reflux at some dot in their lives, either as heartburn or acid regurgitation. Treating heartburn is important because over time reflux can injure the esophagus. Over-the-counter medicines can help. If the heartburn continues, you can require prescription medicines or surgery.

Heartburn is also identified as one of the causes of chronic cough, and can even imitate asthma. Heartburn is a feeling of burning, heat, or pain, which often starts, in the higher abdomen just under the lesser breastbone (sternum). This discomfort can extend in the waves upward in your throat, and you can have a sour taste in your mouth. It usually occurs after consumption of a large meal or while lying down. The feeling can last for a few minutes or a few hours. Moreover, some of the cardiac diseases have similar symptoms like heartburn. A person suffers from heartburn when his stomach makes the acid flow back to the oesophagus. The medical community terms this disease like reflux disease. It mainly occurs in the elderly people. Particularly people who are fat, eats too much and smoke are more prone to this ailment. About 30% of adults experience occasional heartburn, whereas 10% experience heartburn every day. About 25% of pregnant women have heartburn or related symptoms.

Causes of Heartburn

Common causes and risk factors of Heartburn

1. Fatty Foods.
2. Chocolate.
3. Alcohol.
4. Citrus fruits and juices.

Symptoms of Heartburn

Common symptoms of a Heartburn include:

1. A burning pain in the chest that usually occurs after consumption and can occur at night.
2. Pain that worsens while lying down or bending over.
3. Mild nausea.
4. Higher abdominal fullness or heaviness.
5. Burning feeling behind breastbone.
6. Excessive gas or belching.

Treatment of Heartburn

1. Avoid aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) eg ibuprofen, except after discussion with your doctor.
2. Various drugs cause reduced acid secretion. Some of these are available above the counter and others only on prescription.
3. For severe cases, surgery.

Home Remedies for Heartburn

1. About 200-500ml of cold milk taken in sips during the day and at bedtime proves very salutary in controlling heartburn.
2. Banana fruit contains some ulcer curative properties thereby reducing heartburn. One to three bananas are to be taken along with a cup of milk. This provides a defensive cover by neutralizing the excessive acidity of gastric juice. However, the small yellow bananas are to be avoided.
3. Amlaki- botanically known as ‘Emblica officinalis’, Indian gooseberry is highly useful and the fresh juice extracted from the fruit along with some sugar, if consumed daily on empty stomach, works marvelously in this condition.
4. Add two teaspoons of anise seeds, fennel seeds, or dill seeds to one cup of ebullient water. Cover and steep during 5 to 10 minutes, then strain, allow the tea to cool, and drink a few teaspoons all few minutes.
5. For immediate help of heartburn, make yourself a cup of ginger tea. Put 1/2 teaspoon of shredded fresh ginger in a cup of ebullient water. Then leave the ginger steep for about 10 minutes, strain the tea so that no ginger remains, cool to a potable temperature, and drink.
6. Licorice is an alternative, but the use of a too high quantity of Licorice will increase headache, cause laziness, and a can cause a serious loss of potassium. Moreover, it can cause hypertension.
7. Add some shape of ginger to your diet. There are a number of different manners for you to take it, but it is often suggested that you mix it with some type of food or hot tea.