December 4th, 2008
Stop Heartburn and Heartburn - Another 6 Useful Tips
Stop Heartburn and Heartburn - Another 6 Useful Tips
Accurate heartburn information is not always easy to find on the Internet.
I struggled to find a reliable source myself, so I decided to collate some tips for you, along with other relevant stop heartburn information.
I hope that you find them both useful and interesting. I certainly found it fun trying to track all that Heartburn research down!
Tip #1
While only 10% of gastroesophageal reflux disease sufferers are also afflicted with Barrett’s Esophagus, it is worth treating due to the possibility of cancer being present. The presence of extreme amounts of heartburn in the esophagus is thought to be a cause of Barrett’s Esophagus and cancer in general. It is suggested that the individual suffering from GERD take periodic examinations to ensure that the esophagus is free of cancer.
Tip #2
There are three different types of antacids with magnesium, calcium, and aluminum based products. Generally, doctors will tell you that calcium based antacids like Tums or Rolaids are not good for heartburn because they release gastrin, a chemical that can assist the release of acid. If you are having side effects like constipation or diarrhea it is probably due to a reaction from magnesium (causes diarrhea) or aluminum (causes constipation). Some individuals will rotate the use of these two to alleviate this problem.
Tip #3
If your acid reflux and heartburn is worse at night, try raising the head of the bed. That way your esophagus is higher up than your stomach and less acid would trickle back up the wrong way. But before you start chopping off two legs of the bed, or put bricks under two others, adding another pillow or two could do the trick too.
Tip #4
Try avoiding the chocolate, cola drinks, peppermints, and alcohol as they tend to irritate the lower sphincter and cause acid reflux. Fatty foods and smoking can also cause the problem, which can humorously be alleviated at times by chewing gum. Since the gum creates more saliva to offset the acid in the esophagus you are effectively battling the acid that is trying to travel back up your system.
Tip #5
One of the biggest mistakes people with acid reflux make is eating late in the evening. In fact, doctors suggest that those who suffer with night time acid reflux or indigestion should not eat up to three hours before they plan to go bed.
Tip #6
Keep a food diary to track everything you eat and drink if you suffer from acid reflux as diet plays a part in generating stomach acid, and if the acid levels are managed and kept low then you are less likely to experience the reflux.
I hope that you’ve found these 6 tips useful as it’s not always easy to find good, quality, information on stop heartburn.
We searched high and low, but I’m sure you’ll agree that the effort to find out more about Heartburn is always worth it!