Six must-know preventive, curative options for tackling heartburn

If you have ever experienced a burning pain in the upper or mid section of your chest that lasted a few minutes or hours, then you might have had your fair share of heartburn.

Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux which typically occurs when stomach acids move backward into the esophagus due to an irregular relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter.

While heartburn can be triggered for many reasons ranging from consuming spicy foods and lying down after meals to smoking and binge eating, a number of not-too-demanding remedies exist to rid you of the fiery feeling.

Although remedies might work differently for every individual depending on what each person’s trigger might be, the following preventive and curative options are available in event of heartburn.

Adjust your diet

There are plenty of foods that can offset heartburn and they’re not exactly the same for everyone. It could be chocolate, alcohol, acidic fruits like cherry or even fibrous meals like beans.

Whichever it is for you, shying away from these meals while reducing the portion consumed at once would go a long way in tackling heartburn, since excessive food in the stomach could mean a recurrence.

Watch your weight

Excess weight increases abdominal pressure, making stomach acid reflux more likely and  also aggravating symptoms of heartburn. Your outfits might also become a bit tight-fitted, worsening the said pressure.

In fact, research has it that a weight gain of 10 to 20 pounds is associated with a threefold increase in heartburn symptoms. Weight loss could hence be a long-term treatment for some people.

Consider natural remedies

While you should only consume aloe vera juice specially prepared for internal use, the herb alongside other natural medicinals have a long history of use in quelling heartburn.

Chewing a clove or two of garlic or cooking your meal with ginger helps address the agony of heartburn. Turmeric also helps stimulate proper digestion, preventing acid reflux.

Do fruits and juice

Taking almonds half an hour after meal could help tackle  heartburn since the oval-shaped fruit’s oily content neutralizes stomach acid. Bananas and apples are also natural antacid ideal for fighting heartburn.

You could also take a glass of pineapple or vegetable after meal to forestall an imminent influx of pain-causing acids into the esophagus. These options are relatively effective in tackling hyper-acidity and heartburn.

Chew gum, drink water

Chewing gum has been shown to neutralize the effect of stomach acid and reduce heartburn by increasing saliva production and clearing esophageal acids much more quickly.

Alternatively, you could also drink a glass of water mixed with one tablespoon of baking soda. This helps mitigate episodes of heartburn.

Medication

Checking with your pharmacy would provide you with curative drugs ranging from antacids and acid reducers to acid blockers.

Although these over-the-counter drugs help in quelling heartburn, it is only ideal that they are used after having  consulted a doctor for proper diagnosis and advise.