How To Get Relief From Acid Reflux and Heartburn

In a recent estimate, more than 20 percent of adult men and women in the United States suffer from acid reflux at least once every 12 months. Anyone who has experienced acid reflux knows the intense, persistent discomfort it produces. If not taken care of right at its onset with the right acid reflux remedies, this condition can become quite serious and lead to a number of health complications, including gastroesophageal reflux disease and possibly esophageal cancer. There are three main types of acid reflux remedies: over the counter, prescription strength and natural remedies.

Acid Reflux Remedies – Over the Counter (OTC)

For most people, acid reflux is not very persistent and the symptoms can be easily and effectively relieved using a number of over the counter medications.

One of the best known over the counter acid reflux remedies are antacids. They are most widely used because of their quick availability without a prescription. Antacids work to neutralize the gastric juices acting up in the stomach and making its way past the lower esophageal sphincter and into the esophagus, causing pain and discomfort. Antacids are not only used for acid reflux, but also for indigestion and upset stomach relief.

Antacids can provide great short term relief of common symptoms associated with acid reflux, including heartburn, difficulty swallowing ( dysphagia ), regurgitation, hoarseness and chest pain. Even though most antacids can be purchased without a prescription from the doctor, it is extremely important to follow to instructions to get the most out of the medication and not cause any harmful side effects.

Another common over the counter remedy for acid reflux are acid blockers. As the name of this type of remedy suggests, it blocks acid. This over the counter medication reduces the stomach’s ability to produce acids. Like antacids, aside from helping with acid reflux, they prove to be an effective remedy for indigestion and upset stomach. However, it is essential to keep in mind that acid blockers are much more potent than antacids. Because of this, they do have a number of side effects that individuals need to remain cautious of, including fatigue, irregular heartbeat, fever, sore throat, a tightening sensation in the chest, physical weakness and confusion.

Acid Reflux Remedies – Prescription Strength Medications

For individuals who have persistent acid reflux, whereby over the counter acid reflux remedies do not work, they can visit their primary care physician and inquire about prescription strength remedies.

H2 blockers are known as stomach acid inhibitors. These medications slow down the overall production of stomach acid. They are able to do that by blocking “histamine2” an important acid producer in the stomach. Unlike antacids, H2 blockers do not neutralize the acid that is currently in the stomach. Because of the possibility of it affecting other medications, H2 blockers have to be prescribed by a physician. However, some individuals prefer not to use H2 blockers because it can take upwards of 90 minutes before the acid reflux medication begins to work.

There are also a number of side effects associated with H2 blockers that people should be aware of, including rashes, dizziness, diarrhea and headache. Less common symptoms associated with H2 blockers include bradycardia (the slowing down of one’s heart rate), decrease in the production of white blood cells, and damage to the liver. Clinical studies have reported that the long term utilization of H2 blockers for persistent acid reflux may cause dementia and mental decline much later in life.

Another well known prescription strength acid reflux medication is proton pump inhibitors. Proton pump inhibitors, also known as PPIs, shut down all the molecules in the stomach which secrete acid. Because proton inhibitor pumps block the secretion of acid by the gastric acid pumps, they tend to have a long delay before they begin to work. Some people do not want to wait that long for a medication to take effect, as anyone who has had acid reflux knows the pain can be quite debilitating and can prevent them from going on with ones daily routine.

Side effects associated with proton pump inhibitors include itching, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, and headaches. Long term use of proton pump inhibitor medications have been linked to a reduction of calcium concentration in the bones, making the bones much more brittle and more apt to fracture or break.

Acid Reflux Remedies – Natural Remedies and Lifestyle Changes

With all the research and publications coming out about the harmful effects of medications with synthetic chemicals, many patients  are turning toward more natural acid reflux remedies. Natural remedies usually have few, if any, side effects and because there are so many, individuals can try each one until they find a remedy that works just right for them. The only word of advice is to speak to a medical professional first before trying some of them, especially if the person is taking other prescription or over the counter medications, in order to avoid any negative interactions.

Chamomile tea, baking soda and apple cider vinegar are three of the most well known and most utilized natural reflux remedies. A cup of lukewarm chamomile tea dilutes all the acidic contents in a person’s stomach and the lukewarm temperature is soothing and provides a feeling of relaxation.

Baking soda is a popular remedy mainly because it is a common item found in numerous households. A half teaspoon mixed with approximately three ounces of water will assist in coating the esophagus, relieving the pain and discomfort associated with acid reflux. Apple cider vinegar also stops the production of gastric acid when mixed with equal parts water.

Another popular remedy that not too many people are aware of is chewing gum. Chewing a piece of sugarless gum for 30 minutes will assist in creating saliva. The saliva is known to cool down the effects of stomach acid and will soothe the esophagus. This is a common reason why many people carry round a pack of gum – it is not only to make their breath smell nicer.

When it comes to natural heartburn remedies, sometimes the best thing people can do is to make changes to their current dietary and lifestyle habits. Often times, acid reflux is brought about by a condition people have or something that people habitually do or eat. If someone cuts those items out, then the chances of suffering from acid reflux are considerably less.

For example, smoking is heavily associated with acid reflux as nicotine has been linked in numerous clinical studies with increasing the production of stomach acid. Overweight and obese individuals are more likely to suffer from acid reflux because the additional body weight puts pressure on their stomach, causing stomach contents, including gastric acid, to flow up the lower esophageal sphincter and into the actual esophagus, damaging the lining and causing severe pain and inflammation. Tight fitting clothes can cause the same occurrence as just mentioned above.

Finally, there are some easy and effective acid reflux remedies that people can use on their own to soothe their stomach. These include:

•    Avoiding fatty, fried, spicy and acidic foods
•    Drinking more water and milk
•    Eating numerous smaller meals throughout the day rather than three big meals so the stomach has more time to digest a smaller amount of food
•    Avoiding alcoholic and carbonated beverages