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Heartburn Home Remedies
Information
Heartburn is caused by a number of things, but in most cases, it's acid reflux. That is, some of the digestive juices normally found in the stomach back up into the esophagus, the pipe between the stomach and mouth. These juices include hydrochloric acid, the corrosive substance used in industry to clean metal.
The stomach has a protective lining that shields it from the acid, but the esophagus has no such lining. That's why upwardly mobile stomach acid burns, sometimes so badly that you may think you're having a heart attack.
Overeating is the most common cause of heartburn. But it's not the only one. Some people get heartburn without overindulging. To squelch the fire, heed these tips from experts.
When to call a doctor
If you're experiencing heartburn regularly for no apparent reason, it's time to call your doctor, says Samuel Klein, M.D.
How regularly? As a rule of thumb, two or three times a week for more than 4 weeks, says Francis S. Kleckner, M.D. Although heartburn is most usually caused by simple acid reflux, he cautions that it can also be a sign of an ulcer.
See a physician right away if any of the following symptoms accompany your heartburn, says Dr. Klein. It could mean you're having a heart attack or other serious disorder.
• Difficulty or pain when swallowing
• Vomiting with blood
• Bloody or black stool
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Pain radiating into your neck and shoulder
In addition, know that heartburn caused by simple acid reflux is normally worse after meals. If your heartburn worsens before meals, it may be a sign of an ulcer.
Panel of Advisors
Larry I. Good, M.D., is a former member of the Long Island Gastrointestinal Disease Group in Merrick, New York. He also was an assistant professor of medicine at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Francis S. Kleckner, M.D., is a gastroenterologist in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Samuel Klein, M.D., is a William H. Danforth professor of medicine and nutritional science and director of the Center for Human Nutrition at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D., of Lehi, Utah, is a psychologist who specializes in psychopharmacology and who has been researching the use of herbs in medicine for 15 years. He also is president of American Phytotherapy Research Laboratory in Provo, Utah, and the author of Herbal Tonic Therapies.
Betty Shaver is an herbalist and a lecturer on herbal and other home remedies who is based in Grahamsville, New York.
Remedies
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Avoid fatty foods
Greasy, fried, and fatty foods tend to sit in the stomach for a long time and foster surplus acid production.
Don't overeat
Stomach acids can be forced up into the esophagus when there's too much food in your belly. Fill your belly more, and you'll force up more acid.
Take life a littler easier
"Stress," says Dr. Klein, "may cause an increase in acid production in the stomach.
Herbal heartburn helpers
Walk into your health food store, and chances are you'll find a number of herbs reputed to fight heartburn. Herb researcher Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D., studied the evidence thoroughly and concluded that some herbal remedies do relieve and prevent heartburn.
Leave the mints at the cash register
Mints are one of several foods that tend to relax your lower esophageal sphincter, the little valve that keeps acid in your stomach—and the little lid that can often protect you even when you do overindulge.
Loosen your belt
Think again of the toothpaste analogy, says Dr. Kleckner. "Many people can get relief from heartburn simply by wearing suspenders instead of a belt."
Don't lie flat
If you lie flat, you'll have gravity working against you. Stay upright and the acid in your stomach is more likely to stay in your stomach.
Swear off fizzy drinks
All those little bubbles can expand your stomach, producing the same effect on the sphincter as overeating, says Dr. Good.
Check your waistline
The stomach may be compared to a tube of toothpaste, says Dr. Kleckner. If you squeeze the tube in the middle, he says, something's going to come out of the top.
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