You can learn how to get rid of heartburn quickly below. Heartburn is a health condition characterized by a painful burning feeling in the chest behind the breastbone. Despite the name of the condition, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart. Also known as acid reflux or indigestion, heartburn typically occurs after eating and at night and can be accompanied by a sour or bitter taste in the mouth and throat. Lying down and bending over can worsen symptoms. An estimated 40% of Americans experience heartburn once a month. Women who are pregnant, people who smoke and those who are overweight are at higher risk of having symptoms.
Causes
When you eat, food passes through the esophagus into the stomach. When the opening between the esophagus and stomach does not fully close, acid can back up into the esophagus and cause pain and burning. Another cause of acid reflux and indigestion is a hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia occurs when a portion of the stomach pushes upward through the diaphragm, which is a muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen. Eating chocolate, fried and fatty foods, spicy foods, acidic foods like citrus fruits, vinegar and tomato sauce and drinking alcohol, carbonated beverages, coffee and orange juice can trigger symptoms.
How to Get Rid of Heartburn Quickly
Taking an over the counter antacid, such as Rolaids, Tums, Maalox or Mylanta can provide quick relief. Avoiding foods that trigger your acid reflux can immediately reduce attacks. Because laying down after meals can cause acid to back up into the esophagus, staying active after meals, or at least sitting upright, can prevent an episode from occurring. Also, check with your doctor before starting new medications. Certain drugs, including sedatives, aspirin, ibuprofen and medications used for lowering blood pressure, have been linked to causing gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, which is a more serious form of the condition.
Prevention Tips
Avoid lying down for two to three hours after meals. Prevent overeating. Instead consuming three large meals a day, eat five or six smaller, low fat meals. Wear loose clothing and be sure your belts are not too restrictive. If you experience symptoms at night, try propping your legs up over your abdomen with a stack of pillows when you go to bed.
Warnings
If you experience acid reflux or indigestion twice a week or more and over the counter medications, diet changes and other lifestyle adjustments do not minimize or eliminate your symptoms, you should see your doctor. Severe acid reflux and indigestion along with low blood count and weight loss could cause GERD.
Long Terms Treatments
In some cases, you may need something stronger than antacids to treat your condition. H2 receptor blockers, such as Tagamet, Pepcid AC and Zantac 75, are over the counter medications that reduce acid production. While it can take as long as 24 hours before you start to feel relief, H2 receptor antagonists are longer lasting than antacids. Proton pump inhibitors are available as a prescription as well as over the counter. Proton pump inhibitors, such as Prevacid, Nexium and Prilosec, control stomach acid, block acid production and heal damage in the esophagus. They’re available as pill or liquid and are taken once or twice a day and work best when taken at least 30 minutes before your first meal. Hope you enjoy how to get rid of heartburn quickly article here.