Is there any relief from heartburn?

Heartburn or acid reflux is a very unpleasant feeling when some of the content of the stomach (which is acid) comes up into the food pipe. Heartburn normally includes a burning sensation in the chest area, some food regurgitation and an acid taste in the mouth. It is a fairly common condition although for most people it will happen occasionally and only after a large meal or the consumption of alcohol. A minority will suffer from it very regularly even on a daily basis. Some people suffer from night heartburn which can severely disrupt sleep patterns. Heartburn is not a dangerous condition but when serious if left untreated can, in some cases, lead to oesophageal ulcers, most commonly though the damage caused by acid can lead to sensitive teeth, tooth decay and bad breath.

Most doctors would say that the causes of heartburn are eating too much and all at once, having a greasy and fat diet and drinking too much alcohol. These factors probably go hand in hand with obesity which is supposed to be one of the main causes of heartburn. Smoking and drinking a lot of coffee on a daily basis will aggravate the condition. Physically it also means that the muscle that sits at the top of the stomach and acts as a valve closing and opening the stomach as needed does not work properly. Therefore the acid can leak out of the stomach. Some medicine and other medical conditions can cause heartburn. It is also important to establish that the chest pain is not caused by heart problems. 

Many people self-treat heartburn quite successfully as in many cases it happens just after a large meal or a dinner party therefore the cause is quite obvious. If you suffer from night heartburn try an extra pillow so that gravity will help to avoid the acids from leaking out. If you suffer from If someone is obese or overweight losing weight will help in the longer term as it will help to improve their general health. The diet can be improved to avoid very fat and acid food. Avoiding dairy products, fried food, alcohol, coffee citrus fruit. tomatoes and fatty meat should help a lot. Most grains, apples, bananas, most vegetables and lean meat should help to reduce the acid reflux.

There are also some remedies that can be bought over the counter and should help in most cases. Antacids work by neutralizing the acid, they might not be suitable for people who take other drugs. H2 antagonists actually prevent the stomach cells from producing too much acid. They should only be taken for a short period of time and are not suitable for people with kidney and liver problems. Gaviscon or similar drugs contain sodium alginates which forms a substance that blocks the top of the stomach stopping any content from leaking out. When taking over the counter remedies always consult your doctor especially when you have other conditions and take other medicines.