Here are a couple select videos to help you with heartburn. There are a number of causes, so what works for one person might not be the solution for the next. See if these videos are useful to your situation:
.
.
If you are looking for some simple steps to soothe the pain of heartburn, give this a look. >> Read More
Heartburn Relief for All – If you really need to get some help now, then try this Proven Holistic 5-Step System For Curing Acid Reflux and Heartburn: See The Cure
.
Drugs and Alternative Remedies for Heartburn
Heartburn is an uncomfortable burning sensation felt at the chest close to the heart. Contrary to it’s name heartburn is not a condition affecting the heart. The main cause of heartburn is the reflux of the gastric acid from the stomach travelling upwards to the esophagus. It’s normal to experience heartburn every once in a while. The following are the different remedies that you can try to help relieve heartburn.
Drugs and Treatments for Heartburn
Over the counter drugs are available to help relieve heartburn. The following are the commonly used drugs which provide immediate relief for heartburn:
- Antacids
The main cause of heartburn is the presence of a gastric acid reflux. Antacids are used to relieve heartburn by normalizing the acidic substance causing the burning sensation. It provides quick relief; however, it cannot treat the inflamed tissues of the esophagus damaged by the gastric acid. Frequent use of antacids may cause uncomfortable side effects such as constipation and diarrhea. Maalox and Tums are examples of antacids.
- H2 Receptor Blockers
H2 receptor blockers are drugs that cause reduction in the production of gastric acid. With reduced gastric acid production, reflux will not occur. H2 receptor blockers may not immediately provide relief in the same way as antacids, but they provide prolonged relief from heartburn. Ranitidine and famotidine are examples of h2 receptor blockers.
- Proton Pump Inhibitors
Proton pump inhibitors or PPI are drugs that block the production of gastric acid and at the same time, allow healing of the damaged esophageal tissues. Examples of PPIs include omeprazole and lansoprazole.
Alternative Remedies for Heartburn
Aside from the drugs, there are also other more affordable ways on treating heartburn. The following are easy to do and convenient remedies for heartburn that one can do without use of medications or other chemical substances:
- Walking, biking, or any other form of gentle exercise
Exercise helps on the return of gastric acid down to the stomach.
- Loosening tight clothing
The heartburn may be caused by tight fitting clothing. Loosening the clothes will help relieve heartburn as the gastric acid can flow easily right back down to the stomach.
- Eating smaller meals
Large meals can easily cause heartburn. This is due to the heavy workload that a large meal gives to the stomach. This makes the stomach stretch and widen, allowing gastric acid to reflux to the esophagus.
- Music therapy, massage, aromatherapy or other forms of relaxation therapy
Relaxation therapy provides pain relief in general and this includes the pain or discomfort caused by heartburn.
- Elevating the head, and avoiding lying down after a meal
Lying down after a meal can cause heartburn. After a meal, the food is in the process of being digested by the stomach. When a person lies down after a meal, the gravity will allow flow of the gastric acid towards the esophagus, therefore, heartburn occurs.
There may be a number of home and drug remedies for heartburn that you can easily provide for yourself; however, it is still important to consult a physician. A case of burning pain on the chest can be misinterpreted as heartburn, but in fact is an early sign of heart attack. However easy it may be to provide quick relief for the heartburn sensation, a consult to the doctor is also a highly recommended action.