Heartburn Remedies To Consider
Since heartburn is a common condition that afflicts millions of people worldwide, over the course of time, many heartburn remedies have been developed. The searing pain that starts from the chest and right up into the throat is caused by the acid reflux from the stomach. For the sufferer, every meal may end with heartburn and disrupts all of one's subsequent activities - including sleep. After dismissing the first few episodes of heartburn, all sufferers will consider the various heartburn remedies available. These can range from simple lifestyle and dietary changes to natural remedies to advanced pharmaceutical options. Information about these options can help one make the appropriate choices to get prompt relief. Simple Heartburn Remedies For the occasional heartburn episode, simple remedies will suffice. Understanding what triggers and why heartburns occur is the first step. The simple treatment plan for heartburn remedies involves a lot of common sense. Since acid reflux is the main issue, attempts to dilute the acids should be taken first. This can be as simple as drinking a glass of water. Another simple thing to do is to chew gum. Chewing gum stimulates the generation of saliva which helps to neutralize the gastric acids. The next most important step is to avoid foods and drinks that trigger heartburn. The common foods and drinks to avoid include the following: 1. Spicy dishes like those found in Indian and Mexican diets 2. Tomato rich dishes like those found in Italian pastas and pizzas 3. Chocolates, Donuts, Creamy desserts 4. Citrus based fruits and desserts; containing oranges and lemons 5. Certain forms of potatoes: mashed potatoes and French fries 6. Raw Onions 7. Caffeinated drinks, Alcoholic beverages 8. Some dairy products: sour cream, ice cream and cottage cheese This is a common option to consider amongst the various heartburn remedies. The pain of heartburn is usually at its worst when a sufferer lies down to sleep. The acid reflux unimpeded by gravity since the body is prone, regurgitates more caustic acids from the stomach thereby burning the esophagus and possibly the throat. The first thing to note is to avoid eating just before bedtime. As part of the common heartburn remedies to consider, have a reasonable sized meal avoiding the aforementioned foods and drinks at least two hours before bedtime. Next sleep with the head and upper torso raised - use additional pillows or raise the headboard. These two suggestions should help the heartburn sufferer get a more restful night's sleep. Heartburn Remedies: The Pharmaceutical Options In certain cases, simple heartburn remedies may be insufficient for relief of the painful and uncomfortable symptoms. In these cases several pharmaceutical options can be considered. The most common are over the counter antacids or syrups that help to dilute the regurgitated acids to quickly bring about relief. The downside of taking antacids is that they tend to cause constipation or diarrhea. An alternative would be to use an antacid that has both hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide. The former causes diarrhea and the latter constipation; so they counteract each other. If antacids do not seem to quell heartburn and the symptoms are experienced more than two times a week, it becomes essential to seek medical help. Doctors will have heartburn remedies that involve prescriptive medications. Although there are various heartburn remedies that can be considered to bring about relief form the searing pain, the simpler and commonsensical options should be tried before resorting to the pharmaceutical methods.
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