When people hear the term heartburn, their immediate response is to start worrying because it sounds like a synonym for the deadly heart attack. You don’t have to panic when you hear about this. Also known as pyrosis, heartburn is identified as a burning and painful sensation just below the breastbone, in the esophagus area. It doesn’t have anything to do with the heart. Heartburn is associated with the regurgitation of gastric acid or “acid reflux”, and it rises in the chest, radiates to the throat, neck or the angle of the jaw.

Although it’s not dangerous or alarming, heartburn can still cause other health problems like chronic cough. Not only that, the pain can become very unbearable and disturbing. It’s not an attack, but it can feel as if you’re having one. Sometimes a heartburn is also a sign of a more dangerous illness. Instead of burdening yourself with this condition, why not get rid of it once and for all?

Burn Baby, Burn

Many people experience heartburn, but they don’t know what makes it happen. Before you can totally eliminate this problem, it’s best for you to know first what causes it. Heartburn occurs because of:

• Food and drink intake – Fatty and acidic food and drinks, and carbonated beverages stimulate the secretion of stomach acid.
• Medications – Some prescription medications also increase stomach acid secretion.
• Smoking – It affects and relaxes LES, or lower esophageal sphincter function, causing acid to reflux to the esophagus.
• Hiatal hernia – This happens when a part of the stomach that’s suppose to be in the abdomen lies in the chest instead. It also affects the way LES works.
• Obesity – Excess weight and fat causes increased pressure in the abdomen.
• Pregnancy – It also causes abdominal pressure, affecting acid reflux.
• Diseases – Some illnesses associated with the esophagus, like sarcoidosis and scleroderma have heartburn as a symptom.

One or more of these cause your heartburn dilemma. Now that you know the risk factors, you can now proceed to eliminating the painful sensation.

Watch What You Eat

It’s in the stomach where heartburn starts, so it’s very important to watch what you put into this part of the body. Avoid acidic food and drinks, like carbonated sodas. Caffeine-rich drinks, like coffee, and those with high alcohol-content must be taken in moderation too. Citrus fruits like grapefruit, pineapples and oranges and tomato products are great, but if you always experience heartburn, then you must stay away from them. Fatty foods, chocolates and onions in large amounts are also a no-no.

It’s not just what you eat, but also how, and how much you eat. Eat moderately, to allow your system to properly process your meals. Don’t rush when you eat, but don’t be too slow and sluggish. It’s also advisable to eat five small meals than three large ones.

Say No To Smoking

You often hear the many negative effects of smoking, and heartburn is one of them. Smoking causes the stomach to secrete more acid than usual, and it affects LES function, making it relax, allowing acid reflux to the esophagus. If you always smoke, try to lessen or even break the habit. Controlling this vice will not only lessen the painful sensation, but will also help you curb from worse health dilemmas, like stomach or lung cancer.

Relax

Maybe it’s not just what you eat that’s causing the heartburn dilemma, but it’s also because of your lifestyle itself. Evaluate your daily routines and look at your life: are you always stressed out because of work, school or personal issues? When was the last time you had a real vacation? If the body becomes too stressed too often, it reacts by increasing adrenaline and hormone production, including stomach acids. It then leads to acid reflux.

Don’t stress yourself too much. Relax your mind and body every now and then. Loosen your belt and remove the pressure from your abdomen. Get enough rest and sleep. The more comfy and stress-free your body is, the less heartburn occurrences you can have.

Lose Weight

Obesity and heartburn always come hand in hand. It’s because too much fat accumulation in the abdomen area causes an unavoidable pressure, leading to acid reflux. If you’re overweight, chances are you often experience the unpleasant heartburn sensation. In that case, you should try and lose some weight. Cut down on fatty and acidic foods, or lessen your food quantity. Eating frequent, but small meals is also more advisable than three large and filling ones.

Another effective way to lower your weight is by exercising. Exercising helps build up your body, leading to lower abdominal fat. Not only that, exercise is also good for the heart. Ask your physician which exercise routines are advisable for you. Soon, your heartburn will be a problem no more.

Take Medications

If the heartburn is too much to take already, then it might be time for you to turn to medications. There are some prescription medications out in the market that can help alleviate the pain or totally decrease heartburn occurrence. These include:

• H2-receptor antagonists - These are also called as H2 blockers. They work by lowering the acid amount the body puts in the stomach. H2-receptors are systemic, requiring bloodstream absorption before they can work. It often takes 30 minutes or more for them to start working, so they are taken to prevent the dilemma, rather than relieving the symptoms.
• Antacids – They provide quick relief for symptoms, although their effect lasts for only 20 to 60 minutes. Antacids work by neutralizing excessive stomach acid, meaning that even if acid does go to the esophagus, it becomes neutralized, diminishing heartburn symptoms.
• Alginates – These work differently than the two medications, because instead of combating the acid, they create a protective barrier in the stomach, which then prevents the acid to reflux back to the esophagus. They give quicker relief and is more long-lasting. Alginates are naturally taken from brown seaweed and is non-systemic.
• Proton-pump inhibitors - For people who don’t react to acid blockers or antacids, these are more effective. Proton-pump inhibitors are systemic, directly blocking acid production in the stomach cells. They work by disabling the proteins that control the stomach’s pH, letting the body digest them. Although these are short-term medications only, they provide long-lasting relief.

Turn To Natural Remedies

When these modern medicines fail or if you don’t have them at reach, maybe you can try other remedies to get rid of heartburn. Surprisingly enough, there are natural products that can immediately take away the annoying and unpleasant sensation. Here are some examples:

• Peppermint – Experiencing heartburn after eating too much tomato products? Here’s one solution you can try: suck on a peppermint candy. Make sure it contains actual peppermint oil, though. Peppermint oil is often used for anti-gas and antacids, making it effective for heartburn symptoms.



• Baking soda – A solution of baking soda or sodium bicarbonate and water can help reduce heartburn problems. Baking soda can neutralize the acid that causes reflux, but don’t take too much of it because it can cause other health dilemmas and raise high blood pressure.
• Apple cider vinegar and honey - Mix two teaspoons of unfiltered honey with a teaspoon of organic apple cider vinegar. Put this in a cup of warm water and drink it before going to bed.
• Fennel - If you always eat at Indian restaurants, you’re probably familiar with this. It’s the plant they hand out after you’ve eaten too much curry dish. Fennel is a flavorful and aromatic herb, and it naturally works to cure heartburn and improve digestion.

Time To Consult Your Doctor

Heartburn isn’t dangerous, but in some cases, it can turn out to be serious. If you feel as if your ailment is becoming too frequent, or if the pain is starting to become unbearable, you should go to your doctor. He or she will prescribe you the right treatment. Your doctor can also detect if something more dangerous lurks behind your typical heartburn pain.

Experiencing heartburn not a real cause for alarm, but you shouldn’t just ignore it. When you feel that familiar searing pain overwhelming you, try these tips. Soon enough, the burning pain will go away and you’ll have nothing more to worry about.