Heartburn Remedies Can Ease Your Agony

By Keira Adams

Heartburn affects many individuals. An attack can be a day to day occurrence or take place simply from time to time. The official name for this condition is gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD). It is also called acid reflux. The good news is, there's more than one heartburn remedy available to ease the discomfort that is associated with this condition.

Some of the most normal symptoms include chest pain, especially when laying down, sour taste in the mouth, hoarseness, sore throat, coughing, wheezing and regurgitation of liquids or food. Essentially it takes place when the acid of the stomach flows back up the esophagus and irritates the lining.

Before experimenting with any heartburn remedy you ought to have your health care provider look into the problem. If you don't use the right kind of treatment then you can cause ulcers, esophageal bleeding, esophagitis and worse to develop. Your health care provider will be able to determine the best type of treatment.

For most folks, particular foods will cause heartburn. These specific foods are called triggers and once you establish which foods cause your symptoms then you ought to avoid those products. Some of the foods that are typically associated with heartburn include citrus fruits, tomatoes, spearmint, fatty foods, spicy foods, alcohol, chocolate, peppermint, raw onions, garlic, black pepper and coffee.

Many folks will get heartburn when they lay down after eating. This should be avoided and you should try to eat no later than 2 to 3 hours before you go to bed. This allows your body to digest your food which can decrease heartburn. Eating smaller portions of food in the evening is also another option as less food in the stomach keeps your stomach pressure down.

Stress is a known cause of heartburn and more than half of those who suffer from this condition live a very nerve-racking and hectic life. Many times work related stress simply exasperates their symptoms. It should be noted that researchers have not been able to find a direct link between stress and acid reflux. But stress is known to slow down your stomach's digestion.

Some ways in which you can minimize your stress as a heartburn remedy include meditation, exercise, breathing, aromatherapy and more. Smoking is also linked to the problem as nicotine weakens the sphincter that leads to acid reflux. Quitting smoking will strengthen this sphincter and help your condition.

A natural heartburn remedy you might wish to try is deglycyrrhizinated licorice which has been found to reduce inflammation and help with ulcers. Aloe vera juice also is very soothing to the esophagus. These two natural remedies are very soothing however do not have the backup of clinical trials required in order to be recommended by the medical community. - 32390

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