Heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest area usually after heavy meals. It is a digestive problem, where the gastric juices tend to rise up to the esophagus and the Lower Esophageal Sphincter or LES, who is supposed to protect the esophagus from these stomach acids, has been weakened.
There are many ways for heartburn treatment available to the patient. One of the ways to treat heartburn is by the use of antacids. Antacids do not eliminate the acids in your stomach but simply neutralizes them to give relief to heartburn symptoms but only for a short period of time. A home remedy in the form of a baking soda or sodium bicarbonate can also be used to ease heartburn. Just mix it with water and make sure to have the right dosage because high doses of sodium bicarbonate can pose a great threat to health.
H2 Blockers can also alleviate heartburn but usually takes 30 minutes before it takes effect. It needs to be absorbed into the blood stream to work. Alginates are a much better solution than H2 Blockers and antacids. These are usually derived from seaweeds and do not require systemic and intravenous processes unlike H2 Blockers. It also gives a longer period of relief than antacids. There are also people who do not react to antacids and H2 blockers, therefore the need for PPIs or Proton-pump inhibitors. These PPIs are not for fast heartburn relief but they can ease the symptoms for a longer period of time. Like H2 blockers, these are also intravenously taken.
However, amidst all these medications, one of the surefire ways to ease heartburn is by having the proper heartburn diet. Avoid oily and fatty foods as these add up to the acids in your stomach. The intake of citric juices and drinks with caffeine are also a no-no when a person has heartburn. For a wide list of the foods to avoid, visit the internet or ask your doctor. Proper sleep is also a must to ease the discomforts of heartburn. The upper abdominal area needs to be elevated in order for the acids not to rise up to the esophagus. Sleeping right after meals is not a good practice and should be avoided during heartburn. In severe cases, surgery of the esophagus is sometimes done to cure heartburn.
There are a number of heartburn cures and remedies that are always readily available to the patient. Ask your doctor to know which remedy is best for you.
