Medicine For Heartburn - How Does Heartburn Medicine Work?

There are several different kinds of medicine for heartburn but they all basically work in the same way, they only cure the symptom of heartburn without solving the real problem of why you got it in the first place.

The typical approach we tend to do once we encounter certain health problems, is that we turn to modern medication for a quick fix, or worse ignore them when the pain is not so severe. But what we should keep in mind that if heartburn is left untreated it can lead serious problems including ulcers in the esophagus and cancer in the throat.

There are three different types of medication that are used to treat heartburn. But medication only treats the symptoms of heartburn and they are not a cure in themselves.

Here is a list of the three types of medicine for heartburn available:

Antacids - Antacids are a commonly used medicine used to treat heartburn. Antacids works by naturalizing the stomach acid. This gives relief from the heartburn by simply reducing the amount of acid in the stomach over a period of time. Antacids are taken by mouth and comes as lozenges, in liquid form and as well as in tablets. They are over the counter medicine but that doesn't mean that you should eat them as candy. If you need to take antacids on a regular basis it may be because you have some disease or other problems in your stomach.
Histamine Receptor Antagonists - Histamine Receptor Antagonists works by reducing the amount of acid the stomach produces. Using them will lower the amount of acid in the stomach and relieves the discomfort caused by heartburn. Histamine Receptor Antagonists are non-prescription medicines but can have some side effects, including constipation, dizziness and headache.
Proton Pump Inhibitors - This type of treatment for heartburn is prescribed by doctors. They decrease the amount of acid produced in the stomach and can give relief from heartburn.

What does all medicine for heartburn have in common?

A thing that all the heartburn treatments have in common is that they reduce acid in the stomach. But stomach acid is very important. Stomach acid is what digests the food you eat, not to mention it protects against bacterial infections in the stomach and helps in the absorption of calcium a very important mineral. Using medication to treat heartburn is not a good long term solution as it can cause a lot of other problems to your body.

Some people who suffer chronic heartburn may choose to have surgery. As with any kinds of surgery there can be complications and some people report long lasting post surgical problems. Needless to say surgery should only be done as a last resort.

If medicine and surgery are not what you are looking for there are many natural ways to treat heartburn. Change of lifestyle is probably the best way to reduce and cure heartburn. The main cause of heartburn is food; most people get heartburn because of what they eat.

Many types of food relaxes the LES (lower esophageal sphincter); the gate between the stomach and the esophagus. When the LES is relaxed it lets stomach acid into the esophagus causing heartburn.

What can you do to treat your heartburn without medicine?

I know it can be hard to accept that heartburn medications can cause your heartburn to become worse, but if you want to be naturally free from heartburn you'll need to learn more about how heartburn is caused, because this will help you cure your heartburn amazingly easy.

This information is simple to pick up and it doesn't take long to learn, you can read how to do it in my free report here: Acidity Symptoms.

Don't give up hope, it's NOT impossible to be free from heartburn. Learn more ways to cure heartburn Again by clicking the link.

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Easy Heartburn Remedy

If you've ever had a bout of heartburn... and it does burn, or live with acid reflux, you know first hand how uncomfortable it is. How the pain is worse when you bend over or lie down. So, how would you like an easy heartburn remedy?

Did you know that one in ten Americans (plus half of all pregnant women) have symptoms at least once a week? And while an occasional bout isn't anything to worry about, heartburn that is with you all the time can be a sign of something serious, or a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The initial treatment is often a heartburn (or GERD) diet that cuts out alcohol, caffeine and rich, fatty and spicy foods. Other foods you'll want to consider removing from your diet include citrus fruits, garlic, onions, chocolate, tomatoes and peppermint, as well as dishes high in fats or oils.

Patients also are advised not to smoke as this relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, the ring of muscle separating the stomach and esophagus and stimulates stomach acid, to sleep propped up on pillows, to wear loose, comfortable clothing, to avoid overeating and take medications when needed to ease the symptoms.

Stress is also known to cause an increase in acid production in the stomach, and should be managed and limited as much as possible.

Now experts are seeing that losing weight may be very helpful in terms of heartburn relief, especially if you're carrying more than your share of extra pounds.

Research has found that both people who gain some weight up their chances of suffering from heartburn, while losing weight seems to bring down the risk.

No one yet understands how this works, it's likely that extra pounds around the abdomen increases pressure on the stomach, and this causes a reflux of stomach contents back into the esophagus. The extra pressure causes the sphincter (known as the lower esophageal sphincter, LES for short) to relax and let the acidic contents of the stomach seep back into the esophagus. Hardly helping matters, being overweight also impacts how quickly the stomach empties.

In fact, researchers who examined 10,000 female subjects taking part in a large study saw that a weight gain of between 10 - 20 pounds was linked with three times more heartburn. When someone who is overweight becomes obese, this can cause more problems, upping the chances they'll develop GERD as well as heartburn.

And get this; dropping the weight can lower a woman's chance of heartburn by around 40%.

If you decide to make some changes, a heart friendly diet is the best way to go, for heartburn and weight loss. The good news is that it doesn't matter if your eating plan is high fat, high carb or low protein, a recent study found little difference between four popular diet plans in terms of weight lost.

You need to set a daily calorie goal that's appropriate for your age, level of activity, weight loss goals and gender - somewhere between 1,200 and 2,400 calories each day - and stick with that.

Being active each day can help with your weight loss, and keep stress under control too. You should aim for half an hour of activity each day. Things like working in the garden, cleaning the house, walking the dog, all of them count.

You're aiming for a weight loss of a slow but steady one to two pounds each week. Not glamorous, and calling for both patience and sustained effort, this is the type of weight loss, and heartburn remedy that has lasting results.

FREE Bonus Secret Health Reports - For a limited time you can grab 5 FREE essential health reports from the Daily Health Bulletin. Click through now to discover other heartburn remedy options that can ease the discomfort of reflux.

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Why Do Foods I Like Best Cause Heartburn?

When it comes to eating, it seems that all of the foods that taste the best are prone to causing heartburn. Some of these tasty culprits include chocolate and anything else with caffeine, citrus fruits, fried and fatty foods, tomatoes, and alcoholic beverages. When you read a list like this, it may feel like the world isn't fair. Not only does this cut some of your favorite foods from your diet, but you don't even know why this is the case. You wonder why it is that certain foods are more likely to cause you to suffer from heartburn than others are.

The reason all starts with the esophagus. The lower esophageal sphincter, a valve that operates to close off the passage between the stomach and the esophagus is located at the lower end of this tube. Certain ingredients in foods affect how this valve works which leads to heartburn. Chocolate, and other foods and beverages containing caffeine, cause the valve to relax and not function in the way it was intended by allowing stomach acid to back up into and irritate the esophagus. Tomatoes and citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruit, are acidic which can adversely affect the valve. Foods that are fried or fatty aren't digested as quickly, so they remain in the stomach where they can cause problems much longer.

You'll be glad to know, however, that these foods alone may not be the cause of your problems. Overeating is another major reason for heartburn. It only makes sense. When you overeat, your stomach becomes too full, and excess acid is pushed back into the esophagus. In addition, a too-full stomach can put a lot of pressure on the valve and cause it to malfunction. It may well be that if you eat the foods you love in moderation, even if they are known triggers of heartburn, you may not have any problem.

Another practice that will cause heartburn is to eat a meal and then immediately lie down. Once again, this will allow stomach acid back into your esophagus. Instead of lying down, plan on taking a walk or getting some other type of exercise following meals. Exercise will help your food to digest more quickly which will ease the pressure on the valve.

With any luck, taking these precautions will allow you to be able to eat some of your favorite foods, such as pizza and chocolate candy. As long as you eat in moderation, you may be able to consume whatever you please and still not trigger a bout with heartburn.

Want more information on how to stop heartburn? Get more information, tips and resources here: How to get rid of heartburn fast.

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Easing Acid Reflux - Safe Foods for Heartburn

Your heartburn problem tends to be aggravated or ameliorated depending upon the foods you eat. Some foods are high in fat content that flare up the problem, but these may not necessarily cause heartburn in all the healthy persons. However, eating such foods as a matter of routine may impair their digestion and give rise to such a problem after some time. As a first step to ease your heartburn, you need to select a different range of foodstuffs and plan your diet accordingly. You should choose the acid reflux safe foods based on your experience. If you take salad with you food, you may change its contents by substituting one thing for the other, like raw onions for raw carrots and broccoli. Likewise, you may cut down on the regular intake of sodas and other fizzy drinks. In the same way, taking decaffeinated coffee as a substitute for regular one will improve your condition. Gradually, you will be able to make a final choice for the acid reflux safe foods that you need for relieving your heartburn. However, the following kinds of foods are antacid in nature, and these may lessen your heartburn:

· Porridge: This is a healthy food that does not cause heartburn because it is full of fiber. Porridge made of edible seeds of the plants meant for livestock especially absorbs the excess of stomach acid and is easily digestible.

· Fruits: All the fresh fruits like pears, guava, and papaya peeled and cut into pieces are perfect as acid reflux safe foods. However, fruits like oranges, grapefruits and pineapples may be avoided as these are acidic in nature. Fruits lose their mass easily in the stomach and mix with the acid instantly to avoid reflux.

· Raw vegetables: These are good to be taken as salads with your regular meals. The raw vegetables readily mix with the solid food to increase their mass through fermentation in the stomach. The level of acid goes down, and there is no reflux.

In the beginning, you may be bored with these acid reflux safe foods in your daily diet. As these foods are highly digestible, you may feel hungry at frequent intervals. However, introducing these foods as a side dish with your meals will surely satisfy your craving for foods, which are bad for your stomach. You will slowly develop a taste for other foods that may relieve your heartburn in the long run.

RAM T JOSHI has a Master's Degree in English and is an online researcher on health issues, besides being a homeopath and a naturopath.

If you need more information on foods that are good to manage your acid reflux and to cure your heartburn naturally, you may visit the following link:

http://acidrefluxfoods.org/

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3 Simple Home Remedies for Heartburn

Natural home remedies can be an effective way of getting rid of heartburn. Essentially, there are three easy home remedies that I recommend: sleep well, eat properly and quit smoking. These are really simple solutions to heartburn which you can implement in your daily life right away! If you adhere to the tips in this article, you can rid yourself of heartburn quickly and easily.

Sleep Well

Whether or not you are suffering from heartburn, proper rest is essential to your health. Studies have shown that the human body requires an adequate amount of rest daily. 6-8 hours of sleep every night will enable your body to function optimally, thus lowering the risk of contracting illnesses and also allowing the body to repair itself overnight.

Whenever you suffer from heartburn, a fast way to alleviate the symptoms is to stop and rest for a moment. If the pain is really overwhelming, lie down but keep your head up. This helps you to relax and get rid of the pain.

Eat Properly

In order to get rid of heartburn, a proper eating habits are very important. You should avoid consuming food within three hours of hitting the sack at all costs. Doing this may result in stomach acid entering the esophagus, resulting in symptoms of heartburn. You should also avoid eating really large meals. Instead, break down your meals into smaller ones throughout the day. This will in turn cause less acid in your stomach to be produced. This is an effective way to lose weight and also helps with digestion, which is important if you are a heartburn or acid reflux sufferer.

Quit Smoking

Although this isn't exactly a home remedy per se, it is an important tip to get rid of heartburn. If you are a smoker who is suffering from heartburn, the best advice would be to stop smoking! In the first place, smoking is bad for your health regardless of whether you have heartburn or not. Nicotine which is found in cigars and cigarettes cause the valve of your stomach (the sphincter) to relax. This causes food and acid in your stomach to go back into your esophagus, leading to symptoms of heartburn. Furthermore, it is a known fact that cigarettes increase stomach acids and hinder your body's production of saliva which is essential for the neutralization of stomach acid. This will also cause heartburn symptoms. Once again, smoking is bad for you, especially if you frequently experience heartburn symptoms.

To conclude, implementing these simple home remedies in your everyday life will help to curb heartburn symptoms. It's important to keep in mind that sleeping well, eating properly and not smoking are important for quick relief of heartburn.

Does heartburn cause you pain frequently? You don't have to go through each day suffering. Find out how you can get rid of heartburn forever.

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Heartburn - Foods That Help With The Fire Burning In Your Chest

Acid reflux disease that is commonly referred to as heartburn is a condition that commonly affects both men and women of any age. There are many drugs that are available on the market and as is common with many drugs, they only treat the symptoms and not the root cause which means that this often excruciatingly painful condition will return again and again. To not only treat the symptoms of heartburn but also the root cause, here are some home remedies for acid reflux.

Anyone who has experienced heartburn knows that although you know that your heart is not burning, it certainly feels like it. Some people may even rush to the nearest hospital mistakenly thinking that they are having a heart attack because the pain in the chest can be that intense.

What Causes Heartburn?

Between the mouth and the stomach is a long tube known as the esophagus by which food travels from the mouth to the stomach. At the bottom of the esophagus, there is a tight little muscle known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) that ensures that food and liquids that reach the stomach and mix with the strong stomach acids does not return to the esophagus.

The stomach acids that help to digest food are so strong that they are meant to remain in the stomach because the lining of the stomach is adequate to prevent damage to the stomach by these acids. When the LES relaxes at the wrong times, these stomach acids splash back (reflux) into the esophagus scotching the tender tissues in the esophagus which causes the burning feeling associated with heartburn.

Many foods that we consume and the times that we eat them are the common culprits that lead to acid reflux and since food is the common cause, it makes sense that food should also be able to treat this condition. Before you reach for an antacid which only treats the symptoms, here are some home remedies for acid reflux. Persistent heartburn can result in the development of scar tissue in the esophagus which can build up which can cause food to become stuck in the esophagus and require medical attention.

Home Remedies For Acid Reflux

1. Ginger

One of the most effective home remedies for acid reflux is ginger. Ginger contains properties that can increase the strength of the LES so that it has more holding power to prevent reflux of the stomach juices. Strengthening the LES will help to keep the stomach acids where they belong - in the stomach.

Ginger on its own is very spicy and a better way to consume it to help strengthen the LES is to add up to one teaspoon of freshly grated ginger or up to a half teaspoon of ground powdered ginger to one cup of hot water and steep for about 10 minutes. Strain out the ginger and then drink this concoction.

2. Complex Carbohydrates

Eating rice, pasta, breads potatoes, etc, that are high in complex carbohydrates is also one of the best home remedies for acid reflux. Processed rice, pasta, breads, etc, do not contain any complex carbohydrates therefore avoid all "white" food items. Choose brown rice, pasta, breads etc or those made with whole grains in order to get the benefits of complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are great at absorbing stomach acids.

3. Do Not Lie Down

Another of the great home remedies for acid reflux is to avoid lying down after a meal. A full stomach makes it easy for reflux to occur. Lying down ensures that gravity will work against you causing the acids to splash back into the esophagus. Make gravity work for you and keep food in a downward motion by staying upright by either standing or sitting up in a chair.

4. Bananas

When you are dealing with the burning sensation associated with acid reflux, you may want to reach for a banana instead of an antacid. Bananas act as a natural antacid as they contain properties that can quell the flames and provide needed relief.

These are only a few home remedies for acid reflux. For more remedies for heartburn as well as information on the foods to avoid with acid reflux, visit http://heartburnandacidrefluxrelief.blogspot.com/. Also find an effective resource to help you get rid of acid reflux for good using a 5 step system to cure this condition naturally in as little as two hours. Persistent heartburn will only lead to bigger health problems so take action to action to prevent this from happening.

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Natural And Effective Acid Reflux Remedies

Acid reflux is now quite common among the people today. Basically, acid reflux is the inflammation of the esophagus. This disease usually occurs when the acid of the stomach backs up into the esophagus. Heartburn is the most popular symptom of acid reflux. Frequent heartburn may be indication of a developing acid reflux. Besides, this disease has the potential become extremely painful as well as long lasting. However, there are natural and effective acidity remedies.

Patients of this disease will experience heartburn. Aside from experiencing heartburn, victims of this disease also experience symptoms which include regurgitation, belching as well as early satiety. The prescription medications or drugs by the doctors for treating this are not only the best solution. Medical professionals also ensure that there are also natural remedies for treating the disease. You can use natural remedies or products to not only address the annoying symptoms but also getting rid of them.

After the diagnosis of acidity, health professional often suggest various life style changes including a healthy diet as well as home remedies which will reduce the acidic build-up in the esophagus. Let's check out some of the natural acid reflux remedies right here.

Exercise - Exercise is an initial step, it also effective and will help with digestion. A regular exercise will also help you to lose your weight. You should always keep in mind that being overweight can increase the risk of developing disease. But, it is essential for you to contact your primary physician before you begin any exercise regimen.

Detoxification Diet - It is quite relevant as well as effective to detox your digestive symptom. One natural remedy for this disease is drinking lots of water every day. This helps in restoring normal stomach function. So, it is very important that you drink lots of water to keep your urine a light yellow shade. In acid reflux, you require drinking lots of water for diluting the acid as well as to normalize the acid in your stomach. This is one natural remedy for acid reflux.

Apple Cider Vinegar - One other natural remedy is to drink apple cider vinegar. This drink is highly concentrated with acid but it helps in improving the overall health. You can mix two teaspoon of the cider with water and drink three times a day.

Garlic - This is also one of the natural as well as effective remedy for acidity. This food has the ability to optimize bowel flora as well as kill pathogenic organisms. You can chewed fresh garlic or crushed it before chewing to get the full effect. It is also often recommended for daily digestion. Use these natural remedies for acid reflux and get rid of this disease.

To Know more about Acid Reflux Remedies.

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