Skip to main content

Treatment Tips for Chronic Heartburn

If you feel uncomfortable in the middle of your chest every time you finish a meal, you may have chronic heartburn. This is when the acid from your stomach leaks up into the tender tissue of your esophagus (food pipe), causing pain and burning. Making some changes to your lifestyle can go a long way toward easing the pain of heartburn. Say goodbye to cigarettes. Smoking causes your body to make less saliva, a liquid that helps stamp out stomach acid. That can lead to burning in your esophagus. Tobacco may also cause your stomach to make more acid and relax the muscles at the lower end of your esophagus that can shut down the opening between the stomach and the esophagus. Chewing gum and sucking on lozenges can help you make more saliva. Avoid trigger foods. For many people, these are spicy and high-fat foods, chocolate, peppermint and other mints, coffee, citrus fruits or juices, tomato products, carbonated drinks, and onions. Don’t lie down after you eat. If you need an afternoon siesta, snooze upright (or almost upright) in a chair. Eat dinner at least 2-3 hours before you go to bed, and don’t make the last meal of the day your biggest one. Raise the head of your bed. If the top of your bed is higher than the bottom, it’s harder for the acid to travel up. You can do this with a block of wood under the bed or a foam wedge under the mattress. Be careful what medications you use. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and other medications, such as some sedatives and blood pressure drugs, can trigger heartburn. Ask your doctor if any of your medications might be causing your symptoms. There may be something else you can take. If you have chronic severe heartburn, you may need medications. Both over-the-counter and prescription drugs are available. Antacids are usually the first type of drugs doctors recommend for chronic heartburn. You can get them over the counter. They work by stamping out the acid in your stomach. Antacids work right away, but they don’t last long. They also don’t help a damaged esophagus heal. Look for products that have both magnesium and aluminum salts. They’re less likely to cause diarrhea and constipation. H2 blockers are available over the counter and by prescription. Although they don’t kick in as quickly as antacids, they last longer. They work by slowing down how much acid your stomach makes. They include cimetidine (Tagamet) and famotidine (Pepcid, Zantac 360). Ranitidine was removed from the market in 2020 after it was found to contain a cancer causing agent. The goal of this treatment is the same as surgery. But instead, your doctor puts a thin tube called an endoscope down your throat and into your esophagus. They then use stitches or heat to create scar tissue to tighten the sphincter and stop stomach acid from leaking. Newer treatments involve using implants (such as the LINX system, which involves titanium beads linked together to form a retaining wall) to keep acid from seeping out of the stomach.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Does drinking lemon mixed with hot water cause weight loss?

The common drink that has been going on for years to reduce weight is drinking 'hot water mixed with lemon-honey'. Does drinking lemonade and honey really help you lose weight? What are its benefits? Does this method really work? . Lemon juice contains various antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins that boost brain and heart health.Lemon juice is an excellent source of Vitamin C. Studies have shown that Vitamin C is a vital nutrient in preventing many modern diseases. Vitamin C is essential in bone formation, connective tissue repair, and gum health. To make the drink as healthy as possible, use filtered water and organic lemons. Infuse more flavor or add a health boost to lemon water by adding: a few springs of mint. People adopt many methods to reduce weight. Which includes eating salad, exercising by going to the gym, drinking protein shake, doing yoga etc. But at the same time, one of the most common ways to lose weight is considered to be 'getting up in the morning ...
1 comment
Read more

Yogic Breathing: Types, Benefits, & Techniques

Yogic breathing, also called pranayama, is a practice of controlling the breath. Yogic breathing is one of the eight limbs or core practices of yoga. It is often timed with movement and yoga poses but can also be used as a motionless meditation or mindfulness tool. Research shows that yogic breathing can improve both mental and physical health. What Is Yogic Breathing? Pranayama is a means to control the breath, and can be used to focus the mind during yoga, or meditation. There are three parts to yogic breathing: inhalation, exhalation, and retention. Practicing pranayama is thought to elevate your life energy, resulting in improved mental and physical health. Pranayama is a Sanskrit word, where “prana” is “life force” and “yama” means to “gain control”. Yogic breathing techniques are used for: Mindfulness Progressive muscle relaxation Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) Hatha yoga Body scan meditations Breathwork classes 9 Yogic Breathing Techniques There are nine different...
Post a Comment
Read more

What Are Lupus Symptoms

If you Google “lupus symptoms,” it can be easy to fall down a rabbit hole. After all, this condition is notoriously difficult to diagnose and may include many symptoms that overlap with other autoimmune diseases. Lupus signs and symptoms can range from fatigue and fever to weight loss and achy joints. However, there are a few key clues that may point your doctor toward a lupus diagnosis. Being aware of these lupus indicators is important as you work with your provider to determine what’s causing your symptoms and advocate for a correct diagnosis. Here’s what you need to know about lupus symptoms that may overlap with other conditions, plus the symptoms that can distinguish it from other diseases. Lupus Symptoms That Are Similar to Other Autoimmune Diseases First, let’s start with the symptoms that make lupus so difficult to diagnose — those that are present in several other diseases as well, including other autoimmune diseases. “Constitutional symptoms [those that impact the entire...
Post a Comment
Read more