{"id":17249,"date":"2021-02-17T11:14:58","date_gmt":"2021-02-17T11:14:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/opa.org.uk\/sample-page\/how-to-cure-heartburn-four-quick-fixes-and-long-term-recommendations-3\/"},"modified":"2021-03-18T17:53:31","modified_gmt":"2021-03-18T17:53:31","slug":"how-to-cure-heartburn-four-quick-fixes-and-long-term-recommendations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/opa-old.voidappsdev.uk\/?page_id=17249","title":{"rendered":"How to cure heartburn? Four quick fixes and long-term recommendations"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to cure heartburn you ask? Well, there\u2019s no easy answer to that question.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been struggling with acid reflux for any length of time, then you know there\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0a quick fix to this disease as a whole. GERD has many symptoms, one of which is heartburn. At the crux of this disease is the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES). Located at the junction of the oesophagus and the stomach, the LES can weaken and no longer function as an effective barrier, allowing the acidic contents of the stomach to back-flow up into the oesophagus. When this happens, heartburn often follows. This weakening of the LES is progressive, so the more often you reflux, the more frequent the episodes become.<\/p>\n

Learn more:\u00a0GERD explained: The role of the LES<\/a><\/p>\n

Medications can help relieve\u00a0a<\/a>cid\u00a0<\/a>reflux symptoms<\/a>\u00a0by making the contents of the stomach less acidic; however, they don\u2019t stop reflux from happening. That\u2019s why managing GERD requires commitment and diligence: Watching what and how you eat and making lifestyle choices aimed at minimizing reflux can reduce your symptoms AND help stop the progression of the condition.<\/p>\n

But sometimes, despite your best efforts to manage your GERD, heartburn strikes and you need relief (fast!). So though we can\u2019t provide a definite answer to \u201chow to cure heartburn?\u201d We can offer four quick fixes to help you cool the burn.<\/p>\n

Learn more:\u00a0The progressive stages of GERD<\/a><\/p>\n

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Four quick fixes to cure heartburn<\/h1>\n

1. Change your position.<\/h2>\n

When you recline at night or stretch out on your favourite lounger, it is easier for the contents of the stomach to flow up into the oesophagus. When heartburn strikes, make gravity work in your favour. Try standing or sitting up straight to help clear the oesophagus of the acidic contents of the stomach more quickly \u2013 which will help the heartburn pass more quickly, too.\u00a0 We also encourage a few sips of\u00a0alkaline water<\/a>\u00a0when you begin having those symptoms.<\/p>\n

But standing up sleeping isn\u2019t really an option.\u00a0 We think\u00a0elevation therapy<\/a>\u00a0is one of the best options to avoid heartburn symptoms at night.\u00a0 There are two elements that can make a big difference in the severity and duration of your GERD symptoms.<\/p>\n

First, raise the head of your bed by 7 inches, which allows any contents in the stomach to stay where they belong.\u00a0 Second, shift over and sleep on your left side.\u00a0 A portion of the stomach wraps under the left lung, and this move will cause any excess content in the stomach to settle into that area and away from the oesophagus.\u00a0 This is illustrated in an image provided by MedCline, as noted below.\u00a0 To learn more\u00a0 about our recommended options, we encourage you to visit our section on elevation therapy in\u00a0\u201cGet Symptom Relief Now!\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

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2. Chew gum.<\/h2>\n

Several studies have demonstrated that chewing gum can reduce heartburn symptoms. How? One theory is that chewing gum stimulates the production of saliva, which, when swallowed, helps neutralize stomach acid. Saliva is more alkaline than your body or stomach, and its thick, sticky nature coats the oesophagus, providing added protection.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re feeling the burn, try chewing gum for 30 minutes to an hour to see if it helps relieve your acid reflux symptoms. Just be sure to stick with sugar-free gum to prevent tooth decay, and avoid mint-flavored gums, since mint is a common heartburn trigger.<\/p>\n

3. Take a drink.<\/h2>\n

When you reflux, stomach acid makes its way up into the oesophagus, causing that telltale burn. Drinking a glass of water can flush the stomach acid from the esophagus and help relieve your symptoms.<\/p>\n

Better yet, try\u00a0alkaline water<\/a>.\u00a0 Your stomach has a very low pH, something in the range of 1.5 to 3.5, which is very acidic as you can see from the graph below:<\/p>\n

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Drinking normal tap water with a pH of 7.0 to 7.3 will certainly reduce the acid in the stomach.\u00a0 However, alkaline water, with a pH of 9.5, is 100 times more alkaline than tap water, so it will do a much better and faster job of neutralizing your stomach acid!<\/p>\n

4. Take an acid neutralizer.<\/h2>\n

When heartburn hits and you need relief, try an antacid like Tums, Rolaids, or Maalox. These medications act quickly to neutralize the acid in the stomach, which can reduce your symptoms. Don\u2019t have any on hand? Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in eight ounces of water and drink to neutralize the acid in your stomach. Just use caution with this home remedy since it\u2019s high in sodium and shouldn\u2019t be used by people on a sodium-restricted diet.<\/p>\n

Learn more:\u00a0Treating GERD with medications: What you need to know<\/a><\/p>\n

We also like H-2 blockers, also known as\u00a0Histamine H2-receptor antagonists.\u00a0 These include such brand names a Pepcid, Pepcid AC, Tagamet, and Zantac.\u00a0 These medications don\u2019t work as quickly as acid neutralizers, but they are still very fast.\u00a0 H2 blockers should be taken about 30 minutes before you eat or when you typically experience symptoms.<\/p>\n

The benefit of H2 blockers is that they work longer than antacids, but they don\u2019t have the same\u00a0medical risks associated with proton pump inhibitors<\/a>.\u00a0 As is true with all medications we highly recommend that you discuss use with your doctor before you begin any drug treatment, prescription or over-the-counter.<\/p>\n

And remember that while these quick fixes may help relieve your GERD symptoms, they don\u2019t address the underlying cause of those symptoms. Your goal should be to stop reflux from happening in the first place, which is why we recommend several long-term solutions to cure heartburn.<\/p>\n

Long-term recommendations to cure heartburn<\/h1>\n

We all wish there was a \u201csilver bullet\u201d that we could all take to cure heartburn.\u00a0 Unfortunately, that simply does not exist.\u00a0 However, there are proven actions most adults can take to reduce or eliminate heartburn symptoms.<\/p>\n

A. Maintain a healthy body weight<\/h2>\n

Do you know your body mass index (BMI)?\u00a0 If not, start now by entering your weight and height into a BMI calculator \u2013\u00a0CLICK HERE<\/a>\u00a0to use the NIH calculator and find your current BMI.<\/p>\n

A healthy BMI is between 19 and 25, but anyone with a compromised LES should not be at the high end of normal.\u00a0 We recommend a BMI of 24 or less.\u00a0 Why is this important?\u00a0 We wrote a cornerstone article titled\u00a0How is your excess weight destroying your LES (and driving your symptoms)<\/a>, which we highly recommend you read if you have a BMI greater than 24.<\/p>\n

This excess weight does two things that will increase your GERD symptoms.\u00a0 First, it distends the stomach, pulling down on the LES and stretching it out.\u00a0 Over a long-term, this will reduce the effectiveness of the LES to act as an effective barrier between the stomach and the oesophagus.<\/p>\n

Second, it puts added\u00a0pressure on the diaphragm, potentially pushing stomach content into the esophagus.\u00a0 Many research studies have proven that a reduction in BMI will reduce GERD symptoms.\u00a0 In an\u00a0NIH published paper<\/a>\u00a0researchers concluded the following:<\/p>\n

\u201cIn summary, our findings suggest that, beyond being overweight or obese, the risk of GERD symptoms rises progressively with increasing BMI, even among normal weight individuals. This appears true for all degrees of symptom severity and duration, as well as for nocturnal symptoms. Notably, weight loss was associated with a decreased risk of symptoms.\u201d<\/p>\n

B. Adopt a GERD-friendly diet<\/h2>\n

All GERD experts recommend identifying your trigger foods and changing your diet to cure heartburn.\u00a0 It is easy to find your trigger foods, just begin logging what you eat and your GERD symptoms into a food diary.\u00a0 Within a few weeks, you will know what triggers your symptoms and what does not.<\/p>\n

However, changing your diet is not so easy.\u00a0 That is why we wrote\u00a05 steps to an effective GERD diet<\/a>.\u00a0 We hope you will take a few moments and learn more about this very important topic.\u00a0 This is a very detailed discussion about all the diet-related factors that you should know to begin your new diet.<\/p>\n

C. Make all the necessary lifestyle changes<\/h2>\n

There are many things you can do besides maintaining a healthy BMI and following a GERD friendly diet.\u00a0 Here is a short list of recommendations you should consider:<\/p>\n