Cure for Heartburn

Conditions such as heartburn are a common scenario among most people, especially adults. As the name suggests, it refers to an unpleasant sensation that seems to originate from the chest. This sensation gives you a feeling as if your chest is on fire from the inside. However, it has nothing to do with the heart. People who have occasional attacks of heartburn, need not worry much. However, frequent occurrences, most of the time, have something grave to tell.

Causes of Heartburn

The part where the esophagus connects to the stomach has, what is known as, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This muscular structure serves as a valve that relaxes to allow food and liquid to make it to the stomach, and sometimes to allow belching. Once it is done with it, it closes again. Now, under certain circumstances, if this particular valve relaxes too much or is weakened, then it may open up too often, or may not shut itself tight enough. And this very response would allow the stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus, and give rise to a burning sensation we known as heartburn. The reflux, or the back flow of the acid, may become worse while the affected person is lying down or bending over. So basically, when the LES becomes under active in its operation, it gives rise to this condition. Now there are some contributing factors to this problem. They might include:

• Overeating
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Fatty or oily foods
• Stress
• Smoking
• Foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits, garlic, onions, coffee, which cause the LES to relax

Symptoms aren't many except the burning feeling in the chest, and worsening pain while lying down.

Heartburn Treatment Plan

OTC Medicines

If we speak about the best cure for heartburn, then it is a surgical procedure that would repair the malfunctioning lower esophageal sphincter. However, it is always wise to try out conservative treatment methods, and keep surgery as the last option. So, ruling out surgery, taking the right medication and following a healthy lifestyle are the ones that would provide the cure for this problem.

Most people recover with over-the-counter medications such as antacid for neutralizing acids, drugs that reduce the production of stomach acid, medicines known as proton pump inhibitors, which affect the acid production and help in healing the damaged tissue of the LES.

Natural Remedies for Heartburn

• It is important to eat slowly and chew every morsel of food. Most experts advice that while eating it should be you and your food, and nothing else.
• As aforementioned, stress happens to be one of the contributing factors in causing heartburn. So try taking up activities which would help you to cope or reduce the stress factor in your life. Meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, are activities which have been designed for this purpose.
• Do away with smoking. Even alcohol when consumed in a moderate amount does good for the body. But there is no way smoking does anything good for the body. So if you are suffering from the condition of heartburn, then your first step should be to quit smoking. It won't take much time for you to feel the improvement in the symptoms and your overall health.
• Don't go off to bed immediately after your meal. This is one of the unhealthy habits that worsens the digestion process. After you have had your meal, give yourself at least an hour before you hit the sack. Sitting on your bed or the couch in a kneeling down position, helps in digestion.
• Enjoy a few pieces of papaya before eating. The enzymes in this fruit help improve digestion thus, preventing the acid reflux and heart burn. However, for pregnant women, this might not be a good option to choose.
• Avoid drinking alcohol completely. It would be of no use if you take medication to relieve the symptoms, and then start drinking again.
• During pregnancy it is advisable to consult a doctor, before going for any kind of remedies and drugs. This should be done to prevent any unseen complications from developing in the fetus.

If the use of OTC drugs, or any home remedy does not provide relief from heartburn, then your doctor would help you with prescription-strength medicines. And even if these do not work out, then surgery, as said, would be the last option.