Many have experienced burning sensations in the esophagus and stomach. In such a situation, it is important to have a drug on hand that will help you quickly deal with an unpleasant symptom. Now there is a huge amount of remedies for heartburn: improvised, folk and medications. Which to use is everyone’s business, but you need to know the pros and cons of each method of getting rid of heartburn.
What is heartburn
This is a condition in which a discharge of gastric juice into the esophagus occurs, which leads to a burning sensation and discomfort. Most often this happens after eating. A completely healthy person has such a symptomatology - a rarity. Usually, those who have problems in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract complain of heartburn.
Causes
Any remedies against heartburn are not able to eliminate the root cause of the problem, they only remove the symptoms. In order to permanently get rid of the pathology, it is important to find out the provoking factors. And these are most often:
- Peptic ulcer of the stomach.
- Gastrointestinal reflux.
- Diaphragmatic hernia.
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Gastritis.
- Malignant tumors in the stomach.
- Alcohol abuse and smoking.
- The increased acidity of gastric juice.
The available remedies for heartburn may also be necessary for a completely healthy person, if you abuse too fatty, fried foods. Slopes and increased physical activity immediately after eating can also provoke this unpleasant symptom.
Folk remedies for treating heartburn
Not always to eliminate this unpleasant symptom, you should run to the pharmacy for medicines. Folk remedies for heartburn at home are quite effective. You can use the following recipes:
- Chew a small piece of calamus root and, if necessary, drink water.
- Take a teaspoon of chopped ginger or calamus root and mix with 4 dessert spoons of honey. Dissolve a dessert spoon of the mixture in 50-70 ml of warm water and take it half an hour before meals three times in knocking.
- Baking soda. This home remedy for heartburn will quickly help get rid of, but you should not abuse it. It is necessary to extinguish soda in the amount of half a teaspoon in a glass of warm boiled water and drink in small sips.
- The bark of white birch. Take the crushed product in half a teaspoon when there is heartburn and drink it with water.
- Mineral water or milk will also help eliminate an unpleasant burning sensation in the esophagus.
- A good way to get rid of heartburn, which torments for a long time - is a tincture of yellow gentian. For preparation it is necessary: 20 grams of raw material to fill in with 200 ml of water and leave to infuse for 2 hours. After straining, drink 3 times a day in a tablespoon 30 minutes before eating.
- Fry well buckwheat in a pan until dark brown and chop into flour. Take several times a day at the tip of a knife.
The advantages of such treatment include the absence of contraindications, so almost everyone can take the indicated funds.
Recipes of our ancestors
You can get rid of heartburn and other digestive problems by observing the nutritional rules that our ancestors adhered to. In the diet, fruit drinks, fermented foods were present in large quantities, and the use of fried and smoked was limited.
It’s easy to follow the advice of ancestors, given that some products can cope with gastrointestinal tract disorders just as well as with medications. Eating sauerkraut before eating will have a beneficial effect on the entire digestion process. Our ancestors also had their own recipes for fighting heartburn:
- Before eating, a drunk glass of milk with honey will provide a protective film in the stomach, which will prevent the negative effects of hydrochloric acid and heartburn.
- Pour three tablespoons of chamomile with 250 ml of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. Take 3-5 times a day.
- Eaten in a small amount of pumpkin seeds will eliminate the onset of heartburn.
- Flax seeds will protect the mucous membrane and eliminate burning sensation in the esophagus.
These improvised remedies for heartburn are present in almost every home, so you can use them if there are no medications at hand.
What folk methods are not recommended?
Despite the effectiveness and relative safety, doctors do not recommend using the following means:
- Dog-rose fruit.
- Sea buckthorn.
- Chicory.
- Apple vinegar.
- Sagebrush.
- Honey.
The recommendation is explained by the fact that these funds lead to increased production of gastric juice and production of hydrochloric acid, which becomes the culprit of the appearance of a burning sensation.
To eliminate heartburn, you do not need to take infusions or decoctions of mint or lemon balm. These herbs cope well with nausea and cramping, which leads to relaxation of the sphincter, and the contents of the stomach are even easier to get into the esophagus.
Heartburn Medication
Burning in the esophagus and a taste of bitterness in the mouth cause a lot of inconvenience, so these symptoms require medical attention to determine the causes. It is not worth taking drugs without the appointment of a specialist, since each has its own purpose and therapeutic properties.
All drugs are divided into several groups:
- Antacid. Their purpose is to neutralize hydrochloric acid.
- Antisecretory. Slow down the production of acid by the glands of the stomach.
- Gastrointestinal tract stimulants. They help restore the disturbed digestive system.
Antacid therapy
Drugs from this group can treat heartburn. Means relieve symptoms due to the following properties:
- Absorb harmful substances.
- Envelop the surface of the intestine.
- Contribute to the synthesis of bicarbonate, which enhances the process of mucus secretion.
- Reduce acid production.
It should also be borne in mind that drugs of this group have contraindications. This may include:
- Under 14 years of age for most medicines in this group.
- Period of pregnancy.
When taking it, you must remember that therapy with their use is allowed for no more than 2 weeks, and these drugs can reduce the effectiveness of other drugs taken at the same time.
The composition of these medicines contains magnesium and aluminum hydroxide, which can cope with high acidity in a matter of minutes. To prevent the development of impaired bowel movements, it is better to take drugs in the form of aluminum hydroxide and magnesium.
The cost of drugs in this group is low, so most consumers can purchase them. Among the commonly used antacids are:
- "Maalox."
- Almagel.
- "Rennie."
- Gaviscon.
The disadvantage of drugs from this group is their short-term therapeutic effect. Using them, it is important to remember that they do not eliminate the cause of the pathology, so repeated attacks of heartburn can not be avoided.
Antisecretory drugs
If the causes of heartburn are known, and treatment with folk remedies did not help, then you can try hydrochloric acid production inhibitors. The advantages of these drugs include the following:
- Efficiency.
- You can take it once a day, as they retain their effect for 8 hours.
- Available in the form of a suspension for children.
- Low cost.
But do not forget about the shortcomings of antisecretory drugs:
- The therapeutic effect does not occur immediately after administration, about an hour should pass.
- You can not use women in position and during breastfeeding.
- Often, admission is accompanied by side effects such as upset stool, headache, depression, and an acid breakthrough at night.
An important minus is the addiction of the body with prolonged use, which subsequently complicates the selection of medications. Therefore, taking drugs from this group should be carried out only after consulting a doctor.
The most effective drugs are:
- Omez.
- Noflux.
- Omitox.
- "Gastrozole".
Gastrointestinal stimulants
How to get rid of heartburn with folk remedies is understandable, but they do not always give the desired and quick result. The most effective treatment for heartburn is to use antacids, proton pump blockers and prokinetics.
The preparations Domperidon, Motilak, Motilium do not directly affect the level of acidity, but their use contributes to:
- Increased tone of the esophagus sphincter, which prevents acid from penetrating from the stomach.
- Normalize contractions of the walls of the stomach and accelerate the transport of food to the intestines.
- Reduce nausea.
These drugs also have an antiemetic effect.
Heartburn during pregnancy
Most expectant mothers in the second half of pregnancy complain of frequent heartburn. This occurs for the following reasons:
- Increased production of progesterone, which relaxes the lower sphincter of the esophagus.
- The growing uterus puts pressure on the stomach, and part of what is eaten is pushed into the esophagus.
Not all medicines in this important period are allowed for a woman, so you can use folk remedies for heartburn during pregnancy.
Among the medicines allowed to use "Rennie." The drug does not penetrate the bloodstream, so it can not harm the fetus. But it must be borne in mind that it contains a lot of calcium, which can lead to early ossification of the baby's skull, and this is fraught with a complication of the birth process.
Future mothers should remember:
- Antacids contain magnesium and aluminum hydroxide.
- Magnesium is undesirable to use in large quantities in the last months of pregnancy. The drug causes an increase in uterine tone and can lead to premature birth.
- Aluminum can replace calcium, which is necessary for the proper formation of the skeletal system of the fetus.
- "Vicalin" contains bismuth nitrate, therefore it is strictly forbidden to receive in an interesting position.
- Omeprazole in the first half of pregnancy increases the risk of heart muscle defects.
It can be concluded that a pregnant woman should use heartburn medications only after consulting her gynecologist. Maalox, Rennie and Fosfalugel can be used, but only occasionally in acute need.
Alternative remedies for heartburn during pregnancy are also better to use carefully. Many can simply provoke an allergy, and some formulations contain substances that can cause premature birth or miscarriage in the early stages.
The expectant mother has no choice but to eat right in small portions, and also follow all the doctor's recommendations.
The consequences of heartburn for the body
If nothing is done, then frequent and prolonged exposure of the acid to the mucous membrane of the esophagus can lead to the following negative consequences:
- Inflammation of the esophagus.
- The formation of stomach ulcers.
- Structural changes in the tissues of the lower esophagus with subsequent degeneration into a malignant tumor.
These complications require compulsory treatment, as they can lead to death.
Heartburn Nutrition
The following principles should be the goal of a diet to get rid of heartburn:
- Exclude from the diet dishes that provoke the production of hydrochloric acid.
- Choose safe foods for a complete diet.
You can reduce the frequency of heartburn attacks or completely forget about it, if you follow the following recommendations:
- Eat often, but in small portions.
- To reduce the concentration of hydrochloric acid, exclude the "dry dryer".
- Drink about 2.5 liters of water per day.
To prevent the occurrence of heartburn, it is necessary to exclude from the diet:
- Spice.
- Sauces, ketchup and mayonnaise.
- Marinades and pickles.
- Fatty broths of fish and meat.
- Fried food.
- High fat dairy products.
- Alcoholic drinks.
- Strong tea and coffee.
- Butter baking.
- Bitter chocolate.
- Sour berries and fruits.
It is better to give preference to boiled and steam dishes, low-fat varieties of meat and fish, cereals, baked vegetables. It is better to eat bread dried, and to use milk of low fat content.
Heartburn Prevention
To cope with unpleasant symptoms and prevent the development of complications, you can follow these recommendations:
- Find out the cause of heartburn and eliminate it.
- Exclude provocative factors.
- Do not wear tight clothing that will squeeze the stomach.
- After eating, do not immediately engage in physical activity.
- Avoid constipation.
- Do not take Aspirin, carefully undergo therapy using Voltaren, Diclofenac, and anti-arthrosis drugs.
- You can chew gum for several minutes to reduce acid release after eating.
- If the doctor has prescribed medication, then do not stop the course of treatment after the relief of symptoms.
If you follow simple recommendations, then you will not need improvised remedies for heartburn or medications.
Many pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract are perfectly treated or corrected by a revision of the nutrition system. A little attention to your health and a proper diet - and then heartburn will never bother you.