The long New Year holidays are ahead, which means abundant feasts that can trigger heartburn. Fortunately, you can get rid of it, or at least suppress the symptoms, without drugs, with the help of products that everyone has at home.
In addition to diseases of the digestive system, heartburn can be caused by alcohol, smoking, fatty foods, chocolate, coffee, fruit juices, hot, sweet, sour, spicy foods, fresh baked goods, carbonated drinks. If an unpleasant burning sensation in the esophagus occurs no more than once or twice a month, there is most likely no reason for concern, but if at least twice a week or once a week, but for a year, then this is a reason to consult a doctor, KP said .RU gastroenterologist Marat Zinnatullin.
According to him, one of the simple and effective ways to get rid of heartburn is to drink alkaline mineral water.
— Among foods, ginger relieves heartburn. In extreme cases, you can use soda, but you should not abuse this method, the gastroenterologist explained.
It is better to make an infusion of ginger without sugar and consume it after meals. As for soda (a pinch dissolved in water), it will extinguish the acidity in the stomach for a short time, while gas will be released, which causes discomfort. Therefore, it should be considered only as an emergency remedy if nothing else is at hand. And the following products can help with heartburn, although not always:
What is heartburn and why does it happen?
The medical term “gastric heartburn” is a condition in which, after eating, a burning sensation occurs in the epigastric region, which extends from the stomach to the throat, along with abdominal pain, belching, and a sour or bitter taste. Why do we have such unpleasant symptoms? To understand this condition, you need to know how the digestive system works.
In a healthy person, the activity of the pharynx, esophagus and cardinal sphincter (the valve between the esophagus and stomach) is clearly coordinated. The function of the sphincter is to send food from the esophagus to the stomach without delay and to prevent stomach contents from flowing back into the esophagus, even if the person is on his head.
Proper functioning of the valve is very important because it prevents concentrated stomach acid from damaging the esophagus. If the function of the sphincter is impaired and the valve does not close tightly, aggressive gastric juice enters the esophagus, causing the characteristic symptoms of heartburn (burning).
When symptoms occur
Heartburn often indicates the following gastrointestinal diseases:
- Stomach ulcers, gastritis, gastroduodenitis, cholelithiasis - with these pathologies, reflux of food mixed with acid or bile is often observed.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a disease - leakage of contents occurs as a result of sphincter insufficiency. Patients often complain of coughing, which occurs due to the penetration of foreign particles into the respiratory tract.
- Chronic pancreatitis - with the disease, symptoms may include increased salivation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Also unpleasant symptoms may occur:
- after gastric surgery and cholecystectomy;
- in older people due to age-related changes;
- with long-term use of certain drugs (Citramon, Ibuprofen);
- against a background of stress;
- during pregnancy;
- as a result of bad habits.
Even in healthy people, unpleasant symptoms can be caused by eating foods such as tomatoes, sour fruits, chocolate, and strong coffee.
But, whatever the cause, in most cases heartburn appears suddenly. However, in various pathologies it can occur regularly and persist for a long time.
We figured out the cause of heartburn. Is it possible to get rid of heartburn using over-the-counter remedies and folk recipes is the next question that arises among patients.
Even in healthy people, unpleasant symptoms can be caused by eating foods such as tomatoes, sour fruits, chocolate, and strong coffee.
Types of heartburn
Doctors define two isolated types:
- “Acid” burns to the stomach;
- Heartburn that is bitter or alkaline.
The first type of heartburn occurs when stomach acid enters the esophagus, in which case a characteristic sour taste appears in the mouth along with a burning sensation. When “bitter” heartburn of the esophagus is caused by bile infiltration enzymes, and pancreatic enzymes, which have an alkaline reaction, cause a bitter, unpleasant taste.
Therefore, before starting treatment for heartburn, it is necessary to determine its type, since drugs in an alkaline or acidic environment have opposite properties. For example, if alkaline heartburn takes medications to reduce acidity, the result will be zero, and the unpleasant symptoms will only worsen.
Symptoms
Unpleasant excessive salivation, foul-smelling belches, loss of appetite, fatigue, irritability, sometimes accompanied by vomiting. If symptoms associated with gastric disease or lesions of the esophagus predominate, heartburn can be quite intense. There may be concomitant diseases - these are lung diseases complicated by a severe cough.
Persistent heartburn can cause unwanted complications. For example, damage to the mucous membrane of the esophagus by aggressive body fluid (hydrochloric acid, concentrated bile), which causes the formation of peptic ulcers of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. In addition, regular entry of stomach contents into the esophagus can cause constant bleeding, caries, inflammation of the gums and mucous membranes of the mouth.
How to take medications correctly for hypersecretion of gastric juice
For hypersecretion of gastric juice, 2 groups of drugs are most often used: PPIs and H2RAs.
Proton pump inhibitors inhibit the enzyme H+K+-ATFase (acid pump), which stimulates food secretion, so drugs in this group are most effective when taken within 15-30 minutes before meals.
But they can only be suppressed by 70-80%. This is due to the fact that only a portion of the acid-secreting cells are activated by food intake. The remaining and newly formed pumps resume the secretion of gastric juice during fasting or until the next meal. It turns out that insufficient exposure to PPIs and lack of food at night contribute to the occurrence of night heartburn.
The pharmacological phenomenon of hypersecretion has been observed with the use of PPIs (omeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole and pantoprazole) in both healthy individuals and patients with GERD. The time for heartburn to appear depends on the drug taken.
- When introducing PPI 1 r. / day in the morning, before breakfast, heartburn appears in the evening, around 23:00.
- When administering PPI 2 times/day. before breakfast and dinner, hypersecretion occurs 6-7 hours after the last dose of the inhibitor from 13:00 to 16:00.
The nocturnal increase in gastric acidity is not explained by hypergastrinemia.
A clinical trial to study the effective inhibition of nocturnal hypersecretion was conducted in Philadelphia in 1998. Subjects received omeprazole 20 mg twice daily with an additional nightly dose of omeprazole 20 mg, or ranitidine 150 mg, or ranitidine 300 mg, or placebo. Gastric pH was monitored overnight. Groups of patients were compared with each other.
Ranitidine was found to significantly reduce nocturnal gastric hypersecretion regardless of dose. However, the third dose of omeprazole did not significantly reduce nocturnal hypersecretion. This supports the hypothesis that histamine is responsible for acid hypersecretion. Because PPI only blocks activated proton pumps in the secretory ducts, and activation is greatly reduced at rest, its effect on gastric acid hypersecretion is less than during the day.
When H2RA is administered at night, effective reduction of heartburn can be expected. H2RA blocks H2 receptors in the parietal cells of the stomach, thereby suppressing basal gastric acid secretion.
The literature is mixed, but it is suggested that in patients without complete remission of acid-related symptoms, overnight H2RA supplementation may be effective in reducing acid hypersecretion.
Adequate antisecretory treatment is selected depending on the severity of symptoms, esophageal involvement and concomitant diseases, medications used and the age of the patient. In case of mild symptoms, the dose of PPI is 1 dose over 15-30 minutes. before breakfast. If nocturnal symptoms occur, an additional dose of ranitidine may be administered at night before breakfast and dinner. After increasing a single dose of PPI in the morning, gastric acid secretion is not inhibited for any longer than with a lower dose, so increasing the single dose in the morning to reduce symptoms of hyperacidity does not make sense. The third dose of PPI is ineffective because there is no stimulation of gastric acid secretion.
Causes of heartburn
What factors contribute to bile entering the esophagus or stomach? The main reason is various pathologies of the digestive system, which are caused by disruption of the esophageal sphincter. Reasons for initiating the mechanism of action of the pathology:
- Wrong diet, mainly fatty, spicy, sweet foods, excessive consumption of carbonated drinks, strong coffee, spices and seasonings.
- Snack on the go, quick food without normal chewing, talking while eating.
- Chronic stress, bad habits (smoking, alcohol), eating in a horizontal position.
- Clothes that are too tight (eg skinny jeans, too tight a waistband). All this prevents normal blood circulation, puts pressure on the abdominal organs and complicates the digestive processes.
- Taking certain medications that irritate the esophagus (NSAIDs, antispasmodics, hormones, antihistamines).
In addition, metabolic disorders, obesity, or pregnancy may cause indigestion. Among the concomitant diseases associated with heartburn, esophageal hernia, acute forms of gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers are identified.
How to get rid of stomach burns forever if you want to do it at home? If heartburn is a persistent problem, it is best to consult a doctor and get tested, because this symptom may indicate a serious gastrointestinal disease. In other cases, when there is sporadic heartburn associated with a diet disorder, it is possible to treat it yourself.
How to quickly and effectively get rid of heartburn at home?
What happens if you often experience heartburn in your stomach after eating? What steps do you need to take to avoid feeling like a dragon spitting fire that can burn in one breath? The comfort of home is soothing, you can use simple and affordable methods.
First aid for heartburn
The easiest way to get rid of heartburn is to drink a glass of water.
For heartburn, you can use the following home remedies:
- Regular drinking water for heartburn caused by gastric reflux will help reduce the acidity of gastric juice and reduce the burning sensation in the esophagus. It is enough to enjoy a glass of hot boiled water to feel faster relief.
- Drink standing drinking water, do not rush to go to bed quickly after eating. It is better to walk around, either do homework or provide a pleasant walk in the fresh air.
- Activated carbon. This drug is found in any home. If you experience heartburn, take safe activated carbon tablets at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight. It is better to first crush the required number of tablets and drink a mixture of powder with water or milk. Activated carbon is a strong neutralizer of poisons - when passing through the esophagus, it absorbs excess acid and quickly eliminates the burning sensation.
- Baking soda. The use of sodium bicarbonate is recommended only for rare cases of heartburn. If the characteristic symptoms recur regularly, constant sodium intake may worsen the situation and cause adverse effects on the body. To quickly remove an acid reflux attack, simply dissolve half a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate in a glass of warm water and drink in small sips. The use of soda to relieve heartburn is prohibited during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as in the presence of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, hypertension.
Helicobacter pylor and night heartburn
Scientists have identified a connection between nocturnal hypersecretion of gastric juice and the presence of Helicobacter pylor (H. pylori) bacteria. Interestingly, antisecretory therapy without H. pylori treatment has been found to provide better control of gastric acid secretion. This may be due to nitrogen produced by H. pylori. This is one reason why the benefits and harms of eradicating this bacterium in patients with GERD are still so widely debated.
Advice from a gastroenterologist
If you experience regular heartburn, consult your doctor as soon as possible and look for possible causes. If concomitant diseases are not detected, follow simple recommendations that will help eliminate the symptoms of unpleasant discomfort:
- Change your diet, refrain from eating fatty, spicy foods, pickles, spices and seasonings, strong coffee, alcohol, and soft drinks. Try not to overeat because overeating increases the likelihood of reflux (lowering of stomach contents into the esophagus).
- The last meal should take place 3 to 4 hours before bedtime. Do not go to bed immediately after a large dinner or after a day's meal, do not do work that involves bending (mopping, for example). While eating, chew your food thoroughly, do not rush to smoke or drink water.
Maintain the normal balance of water needed by the body. You should drink at least 1.5 - 2 liters of liquid per day. Remember that the more water gets into the stomach, the sooner the concentration of hydrochloric acid and the likelihood of heartburn will decrease. During meals, it is recommended to drink hot mineral water without gas.
You should practice oral hygiene that maintains your teeth and prevents gum disease. Visit your dentist's office for regular checkups once every six months. This is an important condition for good health, since heartburn can damage the lining of the esophagus and oral cavity, as a result of which pathogenic microflora can accumulate in the gum pockets, causing inflammation and damage to tooth enamel (caries).
Preventing heartburn
To prevent heartburn from bothering you, follow some rules.
Change your lifestyle:
- do not bend over after eating;
- do not lie down immediately after eating (you need to wait 1.5-2 hours);
- sleep on two pillows;
- do not wear tight clothes, tight belts, bandages or corsets;
- do not lift heavy things;
- give up cigarettes;
- think about losing weight if you are overweight.
Change your diet:
- don't overeat;
- do not eat very hot or too cold food;
- do not overeat at night (dinner should be 3 hours before bedtime);
- try not to eat fatty, fried, pickled, spicy foods, as well as citrus fruits, onions, garlic, sour fruits and chocolate;
- try not to drink alcohol, coffee, strong tea, sour juices and fruit drinks.
Medicines to treat heartburn
Popular pharmaceutical drugs - antacid agents:
- Almagel (antacid) - quickly relieves heartburn. Such products have a protective effect and help neutralize the acidity of gastric juice.
- Maalox is produced in the form of chewable tablets, suspension and gel, so you can choose the most optimal and convenient option for yourself.
- Phosphalugel
- The drugs well protect the wall of the stomach and esophagus from harmful factors and eliminate discomfort, relieve heartburn quickly in 10 minutes. Fosfalyugel and Almagel are available in sachets and have a pleasant taste. Take according to instructions, usually after meals or during an attack of heartburn.
In addition, your doctor may recommend the following remedies to relieve heartburn:
- Chewable tablets Rennie and Gastal
- Gaviscon
- Fulling clay
Heartburn with gastritis: which doctor should I contact?
A gastroenterologist specializes in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. If additional research is necessary, other specialized specialists may be involved. For consultation, examination and treatment, please call +7 (495) 775-73-60 or leave a request for feedback on the website with your contact details. The clinic is located at: Moscow, 2nd Tverskoy-Yamskoy lane, building 10, Mayakovskaya metro station. The following stations are also within walking distance: Belorusskaya, Tverskaya, Novoslobodskaya and Chekhovskaya.
How to get rid of heartburn during pregnancy?
Heartburn during pregnancy occurs in every second woman and is considered a physiological norm. In the initial stages, the appearance of a burning sensation is possible after an increase in weight against the background of hormonal changes in the body, and at the end of pregnancy, heartburn occurs due to fetal pressure of the fetus on the internal organs (stomach, liver).
Everyone knows that taking medications while conceiving a child is not recommended, especially since you cannot take medications without a prescription while self-medicating. Therefore, a pregnant woman will have to adapt her diet and eliminate foods that irritate the esophagus and can cause a burning sensation.
Food should be consumed frequently (every 3 hours), but in small portions; the calorie content should be complete, but at the same time light. You need to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and drink low-fat dairy drinks.
Pork fat and lamb meat should be replaced with dietary meat (calf, chicken, rabbit). Low-fat fish and seafood are encouraged. Of course, don't forget about proper fluid intake. You can and should drink still mineral water, juices, fruit drinks, green and herbal teas. A glass of water acidified with lemon perfectly eliminates heartburn. Just squeeze a piece of lemon into a glass of boiled hot water, add a little honey and take the ideal remedy to neutralize discomfort!
You can use milk to combat heartburn. To solve the problem of heartburn, it is recommended to drink hot milk. This product has beneficial properties to neutralize acidity.
You can also use popular heartburn remedies, but only after consulting your doctor. The fact is that many herbs and herbal teas that are used to relieve unpleasant symptoms can increase the tone of the uterus, which poses a threat to a safe pregnancy. Therefore, during pregnancy, in order to use any means, even seemingly completely harmless ones, it is necessary to be under medical supervision.
Folk remedies for heartburn
At home, getting rid of the irritating effects of heartburn can be simple and time-tested remedies. These are vegetable and fruit juices, mineral water, herbal teas, honey or regular pumpkin and sunflower seeds.
Potato juice
This is one of the simplest and most effective ways to combat heartburn. Raw potato starch has the same properties as many advertisements for expensive heartburn medications. Therefore, during an attack, do not rush to run to the pharmacy to purchase Maalox or Almagel; try to reduce the discomfort by using potato juice.
Take a large potato, pass through a meat grinder, squeeze out the juice through multi-layer sterile gauze. Drink the resulting juice immediately after preparation. To eliminate an attack, 200 ml of this juice is enough.
To prevent possible heartburn in the future, it is recommended to drink a glass of potato juice every morning before breakfast. Starch substances protect the mucous membrane of the esophagus and stomach from hydrochloric acid and help neutralize burning and other associated symptoms.
Chestnut honey
It has many therapeutic properties - soothes, eliminates inflammation, has an antiseptic and bactericidal effect. In case of digestive disorders accompanied by heartburn, to relieve symptoms, it is enough to dissolve 1 teaspoon in a glass of drinking or hot mineral water and drink the drink half an hour before meals.
In case of an acute attack of heartburn, it is recommended to take a mixture of honey and aloe juice. This product effectively eliminates heartburn in an alkaline stomach, accompanied by a feeling of bitterness in the mouth. The medicinal mixture is prepared by mixing 50 g of honey with the same volume of aloe juice and taking this remedy 30 minutes before meals.
Buckwheat
A very effective, affordable and safe agent that can be taken even during pregnancy. Buckwheat is boiled in a thick-bottomed saucepan until the mixture turns dark brown.
The buckwheat is then stored in the refrigerator and marshmallows are used to form a powder. To prevent heartburn, take buckwheat powder in very small doses with water before eating.
Herbal decoctions
Excellent remedies to eliminate heartburn; herbal teas prepared with medicinal herbs are recommended. For this purpose, chamomile, St. John's wort, and lemon balm are used. A decoction of mint, caraway or dill leaves has a beneficial effect. Pumpkin and sunflower seeds
Before use, sunflower or pumpkin seeds are slightly dried. Many patients prefer this method of dealing with unpleasant symptoms because they can always take a handful of seeds with them and eat them throughout the day at the first sign of heartburn. Knowing how to get rid of heartburn quickly at home, you can use other folk remedies, but before using them, be sure to consult your doctor. Be healthy!
Help with heartburn
According to WHO (World Health Organization) statistics, about 50% of the Russian population periodically experience heartburn, with 10-20% suffering from it several times a week. Heartburn usually occurs after eating, and can sometimes bother you between meals and at night.
Despite the fact that heartburn almost does not reduce the overall quality of life, it indicates serious problems in the body that can lead to serious consequences if left untreated. In addition, nighttime heartburn, which a person may not always feel, affects the quality of sleep and the feeling of fatigue during the day, not to mention the fact that the “hidden night threat” can damage the mucous membrane much faster than obvious heartburn.
In this article we will consider the following issues : the cause of heartburn ; standard therapy , positive and negative aspects of such treatment; non-drug treatment options
What is heartburn and how to treat it?
Causes of heartburn
Heartburn is a chemical burn of the esophagus , accompanied by a burning sensation, and sometimes even pain behind the sternum in the projection of the esophagus, sometimes simulating cardiac discomfort.
Most often, heartburn occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter does not close tightly, when the contents of the stomach are thrown into the esophagus. There are 3 types of reflux: acidic, alkaline and mixed. In some cases, the upper sphincter, which separates the esophagus from the pharynx, also enough , which further aggravates heartburn. The entry of gastric juice into the tissues of the esophagus leads to their damage, cell degeneration and, over time, can cause esophageal cancer ( adenocarcinoma ).
The leading causes of heartburn are:
- overweight, especially obesity of the central (apple or android) type - fat deposits on the abdomen. In recent decades, there has been a rapid increase in obesity, and its severe (morbid forms);
- smoking and drinking alcohol;
- taking certain medications that weaken the tone of the upper esophageal sphincter (cardiological, neurological, psychotherapeutic drugs, antispasmodics, etc.), which increases heartburn;
- Eating large volumes (portions) of food and then resting in a horizontal position after eating, as well as exercising shortly after eating, can also lead to the development of reflux.
Foods that trigger heartburn
An interesting fact is that it is not only acidic foods that are to blame for heartburn, as it might seem at first glance. Problems often arise when eating foods that require a long time to digest—fatty foods.
"The police are looking for them":
- semi-finished products;
- drinks that contain acids to improve taste and increase shelf life;
- products that are highly acidic or stimulate the release of hydrochloric acid (sour vegetables and fruits, spicy foods, chocolate, coffee, alcohol, carbonated drinks).
Heartburn medications
Television and Internet advertising imposes on us the idea that heartburn should be treated with folk remedies instead of starting to change your lifestyle and diet, understanding the peculiarities of the formation of the complaint.
The most effective drugs are considered to be drugs from the group of so-called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), intended not only to eliminate this symptom, but also to treat the disease - gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). But, like any drug, these medications have side effects, which if self-medicated can lead to negative consequences. Please note that many medications, if taken incorrectly (incorrect dose selection, frequency and time of administration, etc.), in addition to the therapeutic effect, can also exhibit dangerous properties.
The most commonly used symptom-stopping agents, including for self-medication, are antacids . Just like the previous group, with constant use they can lead to side effects. One of them is the absorption of aluminum, especially with frequent or prolonged use, even though modern antacids (Almagel, Maalox, phosphalugel, Gastal) are considered non-absorbable. In some cases, H2-histamine receptor blockers are used in the treatment of heartburn, which, if used incorrectly, can also provoke serious undesirable consequences , and the “old generation” is even contraindicated for use.
You can avoid falling into the trap of self-medication with side effects by fighting heartburn not with medications, but by optimizing your diet and adjusting your lifestyle. This approach will reduce unpleasant symptoms and help restore damaged areas of the digestive tract , and sometimes even help you “get away” from medications.
Remember that if medicine for heartburn is prescribed to you by your doctor, you DO NOT voluntarily, without approval , cancel the medication and rely only on diet and lifestyle adjustments.
Only a specialist doctor can prescribe, adjust dosages, determine the duration of therapy
How to say goodbye to heartburn without medications
The most physiological, but difficult way to get rid of heartburn is:
- weight loss
- smoking cessation
- drinking alcohol only in small quantities
- avoiding unnatural carbonated drinks
- 3-4 meals a day instead of previously 5-6
- last meal at least 3 hours before bedtime
- raised head of the bed by about 15-20 cm
- exclusion or restriction of heartburn-provoking foods in the diet.
Here are the just published clinical recommendations of the RGA (Russian Gastroenterological Association) on GERD:
«Diet therapy and lifestyle changes
- All patients with GERD are recommended to make lifestyle changes (loss of excess body weight, cessation of smoking, avoidance of situations that increase intra-abdominal pressure) and diet therapy.
Lifestyle changes should be considered a prerequisite for effective antireflux treatment in patients with GERD. First of all, it is necessary to reduce body weight, if it is excessive, and stop smoking. Patients should avoid overeating; they should stop eating two hours before bedtime.
At the same time, you should not increase the number of meals: you must eat three or four meals a day and carefully avoid so-called “snacks.” Recommendations for frequent split meals are not justified.
It is important to avoid as much as possible situations that increase intra-abdominal pressure (wearing tight belts, corsets and bandages, lifting weights of more than 8-10 kg on both arms, work involving bending the body forward, physical exercises associated with overstraining the abdominal muscles). Elevating the head of the bed is necessary for patients who experience heartburn or regurgitation when lying down.
Dietary recommendations should be strictly individualized, taking into account a thorough analysis of the patient's medical history. It is advisable to avoid consuming tomatoes in any form, sour fruit juices, foods that increase gas formation, as well as fatty foods, chocolate, and coffee. It is necessary to limit the consumption of alcohol, very hot or cold food and carbonated drinks as much as possible.
Patients should be warned about the side effects of drugs that reduce the tone of the LES (nitrates, calcium antagonists of the nifedipine group, theophylline, progesterone, antidepressants), and can also cause inflammation themselves (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, doxycycline, quinidine).”
Nutrition tips
Avoid
Convenience foods, carbonated drinks, sour vegetables and fruits, alcohol, chocolate, coffee.
Try to diversify your diet
Whole grains, legumes, lean meats and seafood, and non-acidic vegetables and fruits are useful for preventing heartburn.
Whole plant foods contain a lot of fiber, which helps fight heartburn, improve digestion, reduce pressure on the lower digestive sphincter, and help normalize weight. It is useful to consume 400–500 grams of vegetables daily, half of which should preferably be eaten raw, and also 200–300 grams of fresh fruit into your diet daily .
Low-fat dairy products are considered “food antacids”, so if they are tolerated, you can and should also consume them.
Conclusion
Most of the above dietary tips can be followed on your own, but for long-term complaints and serious problems, as well as for weight loss, adjusting your diet and lifestyle without harm to your health, we recommend that you consult a specialist doctor.
