The unpleasant sensations associated with the manifestation of heartburn are familiar to almost every person. In rare cases, the ailment appears due to the harmless eating of not very healthy food. But quite often it is a harbinger of serious diseases that need to be treated urgently.
How to understand whether the danger is great? And how serious is all this? How to get rid of heartburn at home? All this will be discussed in the article.
What is heartburn
If a person feels that something is burning inside the stomach (as it seems to him) or in the esophagus, then heartburn has begun. A healthy stomach usually has an acidic environment, since it contains hydrochloric acid, which is the main component of gastric juice. However, the medium in the esophagus is not acidic, but rather neutral. Sphincter (circular muscle) does not allow the food eaten to rise back. But sometimes it weakens for various reasons. Then all the food that has already been treated with acid goes back into the esophagus. This phenomenon is called "reflux". In the esophagus, the walls are not protected from the influence of acid, as provided for inside the stomach, because acidic juices corrode the walls of the organ. Simply put, the esophagus is exposed to a chemical burn from the inside. At the same time, a person feels that everything inside him is burning, sometimes he can feel pain in the sternum.
Usually, pathology makes itself felt twenty minutes after a meal. Less commonly, there are cases when the pain manifests itself at night. The number of people familiar with this condition is quite large - up to half of the population of developed countries from time to time encounter this. Of these, up to twenty percent feel heartburn several times a week.
The disease not only causes trouble in everyday life, but also is one of the symptoms of serious health problems, and the consequences are quite serious.
What causes the ailment?
The main reason that the body suffers such inconvenience is a weak sphincter, as a result of which reflux occurs. It is also important to increase the level of hydrochloric acid in the composition of gastric juice. Such phenomena are often found in the body due to various diseases and various other physiological conditions.
So what causes heartburn? The reasons may be the following:
- GERD disease, manifested in cases of esophageal sphincter insufficiency. In this case, heartburn makes itself felt immediately after a meal or about half an hour after its intake.
- Gastritis. If it is accompanied by an increase in acidity, then the patient feels heartburn in half an hour, but at the same time he feels soreness in the epigastric region.
- Ulcers. In this case, after half an hour, a burning sensation is felt in the sternum (rather, even behind it) or in the area of the duodenum after two hours. The localization of pain depends on the location of the lesion.
- Cholecystitis or gallstone disease.
- Broken power system. Few people can afford to eat properly, having a healthy diet. However, all these disorders lead to the disease. If you eat on the run, with long periods of time or overeat, then you will not have to wait for heartburn for a long time.
- Choosing the wrong diet. What causes heartburn? Anyone loves to eat deliciously, and often it is such a meal that is most harmful to health. Everything that is fried, seasoned with hot spices, smoked, gives a fair amount of harm to the stomach and many other organs and systems. Baking, coffee, tea, and a large amount of chocolate are also harmful. Even the stomach of an absolutely healthy person will not stand the test of a large amount of such food.
- Taking specific drugs. Some drugs themselves cause this condition in the stomach (antihypertensive drugs, NSAIDs).
- Bad habits - high doses of alcohol, smoking, staying in prolonged stress.
- Pregnancy. A fairly common cause of heartburn. The woman’s stomach is growing, the pressure inside the abdominal cavity is changing, reflux begins.
- Overweight. With extra pounds, the same thing happens in the body as during pregnancy.
- Several external reasons. Physical work associated with lifting heavy things, too tight clothes can push even a healthy body to the appearance of heartburn.
So, how to get rid of heartburn at home? We will discuss this later. Just remember that self-medication can only exacerbate the situation. It is better to get the advice of a trusted specialist.
Heartburn Herbs
Not always a person can be treated for heartburn with medications, as he may have a banal allergy to the drug. Then some herbs may come to the rescue.
Some herbs can alleviate the situation and even cure the disease. The most important thing is to know exactly what is best to take, and what you should not experiment with. For example, calendula, aloe and plantain can get rid of heartburn, but chamomile, mint, lemon balm - no.
What definitely won’t help
How to quickly get rid of heartburn? Every year the Internet is replenished with more and more new recipes, thanks to which it is miraculously possible to get rid of the disease. But you shouldn’t believe everything “blindly”. Before deciding to conduct therapy with one or another folk remedy, it is worth getting a specialist consultation. So, what are the most effective herbs for heartburn?
- Air (root). The root of this plant supposedly softens all manifestations of the disease. It is enough to find out what effect calamus has so that it is definitely not treated. Air promotes the release of more gastric juice and acids, increasing appetite, stimulating the gastrointestinal tract.
- Melissa and mint. These herbs are known to many for their soothing properties. They remove cramps in the stomach and intestines, help with vomiting, nausea. Only with a burning sensation they can not fight. And if you drink too much tea with mint, then more juice will stand out in the stomach, and heartburn will intensify.
- Leaves of wormwood. Some types of wormwood are used as a prophylaxis of cancer of the stomach, with gastritis and to enhance the production of gastric juice. There is no information that the grass is able to envelop the walls of the stomach, esophagus in case of heartburn. But to increase the production of hydrochloric acid, which will worsen the condition of the patient, it may well.
- Chamomile for heartburn (leaves and flowers). There is no doubt in the benefits of infusions from this plant. But in the fight against heartburn, chamomile broth is useless and harmful, as it enhances the release of fluid from the digestive glands.
What really helps
- Plantain. In order for this herb to be cured, you first need to understand which of its varieties is endowed with healing properties. That plantain, which everyone is used to since childhood, will provide little help. Only flea plantain, or rather its seeds, which produces an enveloping effect, will be useful . The recipe is as follows. It is necessary to take two or three tablespoons of seeds, chop, boil with boiling water and leave for an hour. The infusion in a warm form should be consumed three to five times after a meal, depending on how severe the symptoms are. If you add a little St. John's wort and motherwort to the seeds, the protection effect will intensify.
- Flax-seed. Those flax seeds that were collected in a mature state, and then dried well, contain a lot of linseed oil and mucus. When brewing seeds, this is easy to see, since all the liquid will turn out to be mucous. Such a liquid well envelops the walls of the digestive system, promotes the speedy healing of tissues, does not allow harmful substances to be absorbed in the stomach. You can insist the seeds even in cold water. The recipe is simple. One teaspoon of flax seed must be filled with 200 ml of water (cold) and infused for several hours. Then you can strain. To drink this folk remedy for heartburn, you need 100-125 ml before a meal.
- Calendula. This flower has a more popular name - marigolds. The plant is considered useful small flowers. They will help with inflammation, wound healing, as well as to soothe. The folk remedy for heartburn based on calendula is prepared very simply. One tablespoon of flowers is poured into a glass of boiling water, cooled and filtered. Drink a glass of infusion all day, in several sips.
- Aloe (juice). The juice of such a plant has many healing properties, including for pain behind the sternum. Often they treat wounds. He is able to enhance the effect of other remedies for heartburn. Before using a specific drink, make sure that there is no allergy to it. The disadvantage of this method is that aloe juice is incredibly bitter, therefore it will be difficult to drink it for a long time.
Heartburn Soda
Many people use such a tool as soda, because it is cheap, it can always be found in the kitchen. It acts quickly and seems to be all harmless substance that everyone uses.
Indeed, soda with water will help neutralize the effects of acid in the stomach. If we recall the course of chemistry, then we can understand that there is a standard neutralization reaction, which results in carbon dioxide, sodium salt and water. All this is much harmless than the increased acidity of the stomach. As a result, the burning sensation recedes. But for how long?
In order for the heartburn to pass, it is necessary to observe the proportions and dosage of the use of soda. Soda powder must be tightly closed and dry before use, without lumps, always fresh. Water should be taken boiled and warm (preferably appropriate to body temperature).
A glass of water should take no more than a teaspoon of powder. It should be emptied slowly and at the same time constantly stir. The solution will be light and cloudy. It is not worth it to drink in one gulp, better in small sips and always warm. A cold solution will not bring any benefit. After using the product, it is better to lie down or rest in a half-sitting position for at least ten minutes. At this time, improvement will already begin.
But before applying soda for heartburn, you first need to find out how it affects the body as a whole. After taking a soda solution, carbon dioxide begins to be released. It can also irritate the walls of the intestines and stomach, thereby again causing hydrochloric acid to stand out more. Therefore, relief comes, but after it the condition worsens even more. In addition, with too much soda, an acid-base imbalance can occur, leading to edema and increased pressure.
Therefore, soda is a means only for single use in rare cases of heartburn, and only if there are no drugs in the house. If there are frequent bouts of burning and pain, then you should go to the doctor for a diagnosis.
Pregnant women often suffer from heartburn for physiological reasons. But they are also not recommended to use soda, since the effect will quickly be replaced by a complication of the condition and increased edema.
Soda and vinegar: an effective remedy for unpleasant symptoms
How to quickly get rid of heartburn? Soda and vinegar can save a person from all the symptoms of the disease very quickly. But this method is suitable only for single use. With frequent manifestations of burning, you should rather go to a doctor.
When heartburn appears in the esophagus after too much food eaten or excess alcohol, an effervescent drink is an ideal option to eliminate it. The recipe for heartburn is very simple: for 1 cup with water at room temperature, you need to take 1 teaspoon of soda and 1 teaspoon of vinegar. If desired, instead of vinegar, lemon juice or acid is perfect, but you can’t mix them together (just one thing).
If you don’t like the taste of pop from heartburn from soda and vinegar, you can even sweeten it with sugar. Someone likes it on its own, like a drink, but we must remember that you can not abuse it in any case, since it can damage the tooth enamel, irritate the gastric mucosa even more, cause gastritis and more serious digestive system pathologies.
Mineral water from heartburn
Before you start using mineral water for medicinal purposes, it must be heated to a temperature that will be slightly higher than its own temperature. If it is necessary to drink it during the day, it is better to store it inside a thermos. At the same time, carbonated mineral water cannot be chosen, since this will make the disease progress. To get rid of unnecessary bubbles, you can simply hold the bottle open.
Normally, a mineral water is worth drinking 50-60 ml after each meal. You should not drink in one gulp - it is better to take small sips slowly (wait a pause of five minutes between sips). If the water is medicinal, then it is taken half an hour after a meal, earlier it is impossible. Then the onset of heartburn will not be. It is especially important to follow this recommendation if the stomach has high acidity.
What mineral water helps with heartburn? In table water the least amount of salts, approximately 500 mg / l. You can drink it as much as you want, there is no harm in it. But she does not have a healing property either. The only thing that it can do with its regular consumption is to normalize the metabolism, remove toxins with toxins, and improve the condition of the stomach and intestines.
The medical-table mineral water contains a much larger amount of salts - from 500 to 1000 mg / l. Therefore, you can not drink it in unlimited quantities in any case. If you drink it more than recommended, then you can violate the ratio of salt in the body. Chronic diseases in this case can go into a more acute phase.
The healing mineral water contains at least 1000 mg / l of salts. Therefore, the doctor usually prescribes the amount of its use.
Water can relieve heartburn easily and without consequences. You can take it without the advice of a doctor - there will be no harm from it. But the consultation will not be superfluous.
Mineral water is often advised for the prevention of many diseases, since it has a very rich composition. If you drink it regularly, then the likelihood of pathologies will decrease to zero. Mineral water on store shelves can be different and contain various minerals. Therefore, not everyone is suitable for treating specifically heartburn. Especially harmful will be hydrocarbonate water. Therefore, before choosing a mineral water, it is necessary to study its composition in detail.
So that the mineral water turns out to be an effective remedy for burning in the esophagus, it is necessary to choose alkaline water. Such, for example, is the "Essentuki". From heartburn, it helps a lot. It is only advisable to take it not in stores, but in pharmacies, and in a glass bottle.
If there are exacerbations of diseases, you should not drink mineral water in any case. If heartburn appears with enviable regularity, then you need to consult a doctor.
Heartburn Products
How to get rid of heartburn at home? With a non-serious course of the disease, but just a single occurrence of unpleasant sensations, you can get rid of burning even with the help of foods that are consumed every day.
What to eat from heartburn? To help neutralize it:
- Honey due to the large amount of potassium in the composition.
- Bananas, which can, like some antacid drugs, put out a “fire” inside.
- Pineapple juice is not the cheapest, but effective.
- Milk with fermented milk products.
- Yellow mustard will reduce pain (just one teaspoon is enough).
- Ginger (4 grams of ginger, grated, can quickly alleviate the condition).
- Effectively and applesauce.
- Potato juice with water and soda.
Dairy
What else to eat from heartburn? Assistants in disposal will be only those products that have alkaline properties. Because cream and cottage cheese are not useful, and everything else can be eaten every day, even for prevention. Grandmothers used to often advise drinking a glass of warm milk.
In this case, it is best to choose foods with the lowest fat content. For the same reason, do not eat hard cheeses, as well as cheddar and mozzarella. It is better to choose feta cheese, tofu or goat.
Vegetables
The best help is carrots with beets, potatoes. They balance the content of acid and alkali in the body. In addition to vegetables, it is useful to drink the juices obtained from them, but they must be drunk before eating food. In raw form, eating them is more beneficial than in cooked, even sparing methods.
But garlic, onions, cabbage should stay away. Tomatoes are also better not to eat, as they have acids that provoke a burning sensation.
Fruit
What fruits will help with heartburn? A banana is best suited for heartburn, as its special structure will help protect the walls of the esophagus. It can be considered a tool as effective as a pharmacy.
It is extremely undesirable to eat grapefruits, tangerines, oranges and all other citrus fruits in this period. From them, unpleasant sensations will intensify.
Various cereals
The more viscous the porridge will be, the better it will protect the walls of the stomach.They have many useful substances that restore the mucous membrane. Oat, rice and buckwheat cereals are best suited for such a problem. You can cook them even in milk (but with a minimum percentage of fat content), even in water.
But such cereal products as freshly prepared bread, any pastries, flour products, sweets can not be eaten. Best of all - stale bran or cereal bread baked one or two days ago.
Sunflower seeds
Some say that seeds contain a lot of protein, because they are useful for heartburn. Others do not forget that they have a lot of fat, therefore, for their processing, the stomach needs to secrete a lot of acid, because of which heartburn will intensify. Therefore, it is possible to eat fried seeds with heartburn, but in small quantities.
Soups
Soup can act on the stomach in the same way as porridge, therefore you should not refuse them. Soft mashed soup is best. Products should not be fried before cooking soup. Vegetable broth will not work well, as it contains cabbage, onions, and tomatoes that prevent healing.
Recommendations
How to quickly get rid of heartburn? There are several effective recommendations:
- Do not fill the stomach completely. It is best to eat so that after eating a slight feeling of hunger.
- Servings should be small.
- Snacks should be more often, and food should be easily digestible.
- You can’t eat before bedtime, at least two hours before it.
- You can not go to bed immediately after eating, otherwise the acid will begin to move up.
- Eating is necessary slowly, chewing thoroughly.
Cigarette Ash From Heartburn
How to get rid of heartburn at home? Some even use cigarette ash in the fight against heartburn.
Does cigarette ash help with heartburn? It contains many salts and metal ions, which really neutralize the hydrochloric acid of the stomach. They easily interact, because the esophagus becomes protected from the aggressive environment. But all this is not so safe.
In ashes there are many harmful and far from safe substances that can cause pathologies of completely different organs. Therefore, it is better not to use this method at all.