How To Stop Heartburn Once And For All

Many people around the world strive to stop heartburn symptoms. It affects up to fifteen million Americans daily. While most people experience occasional episodes of heartburn, there are some who have a recurrent or chronic form of the ailment. Since the painful symptoms are felt around the chest area, many sufferers mistake them for the frightening signs of an impending heart attack.

The painful and discomforting symptoms of heartburn are very disruptive to a sufferer's life. This does not matter if heartburn is experienced occasionally or regularly. Since heartburn happens commonly around bedtime, people tend to have difficulties getting a good night's rest. The fatigue arising from the lack of sleep affects their professional and family activities the next day. This struggle with fatigue may raise stress levels aggravating heartburn symptoms. Sufferers need not cope with their conditions for long. There are many ways to stop heartburn once for all.

For less painful and occasional episodes of heartburn, a visit to the doctor may not be necessary. For all other cases, prompt medical attention is necessary to avoid the deterioration of the ailment. The occasional heartburn sufferer can take over the counter antacids or syrups to get quick relief form the symptoms. In order to minimize or put a stop to heartburn symptoms, there are several steps to take.

First, stop smoking. Smoking has been found to weaken the esophageal sphincter muscle that keeps a lid on the stomach's caustic contents. Smoking is a key risk factor that causes acid reflux.

The next thing to do to stop heartburn is to end the intake of rich and heavy meals close to one's bedtime. Alcoholic and caffeinated drinks aggravate the heartburn condition. Spicy foods found in Indian and Mexican dishes, tomato-based dishes, citruses, chocolate aggravate the acid reflux from the stomach. Heartburn may also be triggered by certain lifestyle choices and habits. People who lead very stressful lives or exercise vigorously right before meals tend to be prone to heartburn. In some cases, heartburn may just be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition like esophageal cancer

Food Choices To Stop Heartburn

Taking certain foods as part of one's diet will help to stop heartburn. These include fruits like bananas and apples. Other suitable food choices that are good for a heartburn sufferer's recovery are lean beef and chicken. Whole grains should be an important component of a diet as part of a cure to stop heartburn. If one must drink coffee and tea; then the suitable variety are the decaffeinated versions. Drinking adequate amounts of water also helps to dilute the caustic acids secreted by the stomach.

There are other remedies that can help to stop heartburn. Heartburn sufferers can take peppermint in forms like peppermint tea, which has properties that ameliorate heartburn symptoms. The menthol in peppermint has a soothing effect which reduces the sting of heartburn symptoms. Likewise, apple cider vinegar is another well known cure to stop heartburn. To increase its curative properties, mix apple cider vinegar with honey and distilled water before a meal to ease the pain and discomfort of heartburn. Other items to consider especially as snacks to be taken several times during the day include almonds, dried figs and papaya.

Other Steps To Take To Stop Heartburn

The first dietary step to stop heartburn is to control the amount of food consumed. The intake of fats in large meals is high. These remain in the bloated stomach for a long time to be digested. The stomach is unable to contain its acidic contents and some escape as acid reflux. This acid burns the sensitive inside walls of the esophagus resulting in the heartburn symptoms. Since these symptoms are felt in the chest area, many people are frightened that they may be feeling the onset of a heart attack. In summary, take smaller sized meals up to five times a day, rather than the traditional three larger ones.

If Simple Efforts To Stop Heartburn Have Not Worked Seek Medical Advice

If all previous attempts to stop heartburn have failed, then it is time to visit a doctor who would be the best person to determine from the symptoms if they are related to a severe form of heartburn. This may involve advanced diagnostic tests such as esophageal acid testing or another medical evaluation that can safely eliminate gastro esophageal reflux disease or GERD. Unfortunately, the severe form of heartburn may be precursor of more advanced medical complications like short bowel syndrome, hiatal hernia and stomach cancer.

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