Heartburn is a condition where a person feels a burning sensation in the chest or beneath the breastbone area. This is caused by the reflux of stomach acids, sometimes called gastric juices, into the esophagus. The Lower Esophageal Sphincter or the LES is the one responsible in giving protection to the esophagus as it is incapable of containing gastric juices, unlike the stomach. In times where the LES is weakened, the gastric juices rise up to the esophagus and, thus, heartburn occurs. Reasons why this may happen to the LES may be due to excessive intake of foods that promote acid build-up, wearing of tight clothes around the abdomen and the occurrence of a hiatus hernia around the abdominal area.
There are, of course, ways on how to prevent and counteract heartburn. Heartburn remedies are always readily available to patients. Since heartburn is a very discomforting burning sensation in the chest area, it is best to know the quick heartburn treatments that you can administer at once for outright relief. Did you know that common household items can help cure heartburn? Yes, it was found that sodium bicarbonate or also known as your common baking soda can help alleviate the uneasiness caused by heartburn. Just mix baking soda with water and drink an ample amount to quickly neutralize the acid formation and build-up in your body. Another quick and easy heartburn relief is through the use of antacids. It also quickly neutralizes the acid build-up in the stomach, however, gives relief only for a short period of time. Aliginates is another way to quickly ease the pain of heartburn. It forms a barrier that lines the stomach and prevents acid from regurgitating to the esophagus. Aliginates are made from brown seaweeds and are all natural that it poses no side effects to the human body.
There are other ways to prevent heartburn rather than just quickly neutralize the symptoms of the condition. Examples of these are H2 Blockers, Proton Pump Inhibitors or PPIs, and/or laparoscopic surgery of the esophagus. These remedies are not fast acting but are guaranteed to give longer lasting relief and cure heartburn. Heartburn is caused by human activities and food intakes, therefore, the use of these treatments do not guarantee that heartburn will come back after some period of time. Proper maintenance of diet and human activities are still a must to fully erase heartburn from a person’s life.
