Unpleasant sensations associated with the manifestation of heartburn are familiar to almost every person. In rare cases, the disease appears due to the harmless eating of not very he althy food. But quite often it is a harbinger of serious diseases that need to be treated urgently.
How to understand if the danger is great? And how serious is this? How to get rid of heartburn at home? All this will be discussed in the article.
What is heartburn
If a person feels that something is burning from the inside in the stomach (as it seems to him) or in the esophagus, then heartburn has begun. A he althy stomach is usually acidic, as it contains hydrochloric acid, which is the main component of gastric juice. However, the environment in the esophagus is not acidic, but rather neutral. The sphincter (circular muscle) does not allow the eaten food to rise back. But sometimes it weakens for various reasons. Then all the food that has already been treated with acid goes back into the esophagus. This phenomenon is called "reflux". The walls of the esophagus are not protectedfrom the influence of acid, as provided inside the stomach, because acidic juices corrode the walls of the organ. Simply put, the esophagus is exposed from the inside to a chemical burn. At the same time, a person feels how everything burns inside him, sometimes he may feel pain in the sternum.
Usually pathology makes itself felt twenty minutes after eating. Less often there are cases when the pain manifests itself at night. The number of people familiar with this condition is quite large - up to half of the population of developed countries experience it from time to time. Of these, up to twenty percent experience heartburn several times a week.
The disease not only causes trouble in everyday life, but is also one of the symptoms of serious he alth problems, and the consequences are quite severe.
What causes the disease?
The main reason why the body suffers such inconvenience is a weak sphincter, resulting in reflux. It is also important to increase the level of hydrochloric acid in the composition of gastric juice. Such phenomena are often found in the body due to various diseases and various other physiological conditions.
So what causes heartburn? The reasons may be as follows:
- GERD disease, manifested in insufficiency of the esophageal sphincter. At the same time, heartburn makes itself felt immediately after eating or about half an hour after eating it.
- Gastritis. If it is accompanied by an increase in acidity, then the patient feels heartburn after half an hour, but at the same time feels soreness inepigastric region.
- Ulcers. At the same time, after half an hour, a burning sensation is felt in the region of the sternum (rather, even behind it) or in the region of the duodenum after two hours. Localization of pain depends on the location of the lesion.
- Cholecystitis or cholelithiasis.
- Disrupted food system. Few people can afford to eat right, making a he althy diet for eating. However, all these disorders lead to disease. If you eat on the run, at long intervals, or overeat, you won't have to wait long for heartburn.
- Choosing the wrong diet. What causes heartburn? Everyone loves to eat delicious food, and often it is this kind of food that is most harmful to he alth. Everything that is fried, seasoned with hot spices, smoked, gives a fair portion of harm to the stomach and many other organs and systems. Baking, coffee, tea, a large amount of chocolate are also harmful. Even the stomach of a completely he althy person will not stand the test of a large amount of such food.
- Taking specific drugs. Some drugs themselves cause this condition in the stomach (antihypertensive drugs, NSAIDs).
- Bad habits - high doses of alcohol, smoking, being in prolonged stress.
- Pregnancy. A fairly common cause of heartburn. The woman's belly grows, the pressure inside the abdominal cavity changes, reflux begins.
- Overweight. With extra pounds, the same thing happens in the body as during pregnancy.
- Several external causes. Physical work involving heavy lifting, clothing that is too tightcan push even a he althy body to the appearance of heartburn.
So, how to get rid of heartburn at home? We will talk about this further. Just remember that self-medication can only aggravate the situation. It is better to get advice from a trusted specialist.
Herbs for heartburn
Not always a person can be treated for heartburn with medicines, as he may have a banal allergy to the drug. Then some herbs can come to the rescue.
Some herbs can alleviate the situation and even cure the disease. The most important thing is to know exactly what is better to take, and what you should not experiment with. For example, calendula, aloe and plantain can relieve heartburn, but chamomile, mint, lemon balm can not.
Which definitely won't help
How to quickly get rid of heartburn? Every year, the Internet is replenished with more and more new recipes, thanks to which you can miraculously get rid of the disease. But you shouldn't believe everything "blindly". Before deciding to carry out therapy with one or another folk remedy, it is worth getting the advice of a specialist. So what are the most effective herbs for heartburn?
Air (root). The root of this plant allegedly softens all manifestations of the disease. It is enough to find out what effect calamus has to definitely not be treated with it. Calamus promotes the release of more gastric juice and acids, increasing appetite, stimulating the gastrointestinal tract
Melissa and mint. These herbs are known to many for their soothing properties. They remove spasms in the stomach and intestines, help withvomiting, nausea. Only with a burning sensation they can not fight. And if you drink too much mint tea, then more juice will be released in the stomach, and heartburn will increase
Artemisia leaves. Some types of wormwood are used as a prevention of stomach cancer, gastritis and to enhance the production of gastric juice. There is no information that the herb is able to envelop the walls of the stomach, esophagus in case of heartburn. But to increase the production of hydrochloric acid, which will worsen the patient's condition, it may well
Chamomile for heartburn (leaves and flowers). There is no doubt about the benefits of infusions from this plant. But in the fight against heartburn, chamomile decoction is useless and harmful, as it increases the release of fluid from the digestive glands
What really helps
Plantain. In order for this herb to help heal, you first need to understand which of its varieties is endowed with healing properties. That plantain, to which everyone is accustomed since childhood, will be of little help. Only flea plantain will be useful, or rather its seeds, which produce an enveloping effect. The recipe is the following. It is necessary to take two or three tablespoons of seeds, grind, brew with boiling water and leave for an hour. The warm infusion should be consumed three to five times after meals, depending on how severe the symptoms are. If you add a little St. John's wort and motherwort to the seeds, the protection effect will increase
Flaxseed. Those flax seeds that are harvested in a mature state, and then welldried, contain a lot of linseed oil and mucus. When brewing seeds, this is easy to verify, since all the liquid will turn out to be mucous. Such a liquid well envelops the walls of the digestive system, promotes the speedy healing of tissues, and prevents harmful substances from being absorbed in the stomach. You can insist the seeds even in cold water. The recipe is simple. One teaspoon of flax seed should be poured with 200 ml of water (cold) and infused for several hours. Then you can strain. It is necessary to drink this folk remedy for heartburn in 100-125 ml before meals
Calendula. This flower has a more popular name - marigolds. The plant has useful small flowers. They will help with inflammation, wound healing, and also for soothing. A folk remedy for heartburn based on calendula is prepared very simply. One tablespoon of flowers is poured into a glass of boiling water, cooled and filtered. A glass of infusion is drunk all day, in several sips
Aloe (juice). The juice of such a plant has many healing properties, including pain behind the sternum. They often treat wounds. It can enhance the effect of other remedies for heartburn. Before using a specific drink, you should make sure that there will be no allergies to it. The disadvantage of the method is that aloe juice is incredibly bitter, so it will be difficult to drink it for a long time
Heartburn soda
Many people use baking soda because it is cheap and can always be found in the kitchen. It acts quickly and seems to everyonea harmless substance that everyone uses.
Indeed, soda with water will help neutralize the acid in the stomach. If you remember the course of chemistry, you can understand that a standard neutralization reaction is taking place, as a result of which carbon dioxide, sodium s alt and water are obtained. All this is much more harmless than the increased acidity of the stomach. As a result, the burning sensation recedes. But for how long?
In order for heartburn to pass, it is necessary to observe the proportions and dosage of the use of soda. Soda powder should be tightly closed and dry, without lumps, always fresh before use. Water must be taken boiled and warm (preferably corresponding to body temperature).
On a glass of water should take no more than a teaspoon of powder. It should be poured out slowly and at the same time stir constantly. The solution will be light and cloudy. It is not worth drinking it in one gulp, it is better in small sips and always warm. A cold solution will not bring any benefit. After applying the product, it is better to lie down or rest in a half-sitting position for at least ten minutes. At this time, improvement will already begin.
But before using soda for heartburn, you first need to find out how it affects the body as a whole. After taking the soda solution, carbon dioxide begins to be released. It can also irritate the walls of the intestines and stomach, thereby again causing more hydrochloric acid to be released. Therefore, relief comes, but after it the condition worsens even more. In addition, with too much soda, an acid-base imbalance can occur, leading to swelling and increased pressure.
Because baking soda is only a one-time remedy for rare cases of heartburn, and only if there are no drugs in the house. If bouts of burning and pain are frequent, then you should go to the doctor for a diagnosis.
Pregnant women often suffer from heartburn for physiological reasons. But they are also not recommended to use soda, as the effect will quickly change into a complication of the condition and increased edema.
Soda and vinegar: an effective remedy for unpleasant symptoms
How to quickly get rid of heartburn? Soda and vinegar can relieve a person of all the symptoms of the disease very quickly. But this method is only suitable for one-time use. If you experience frequent burning sensations, you should go to the doctor as soon as possible.
When heartburn appears in the esophagus after eating too much food or drinking too much alcohol, a fizzy drink is the perfect solution. The recipe for heartburn is very simple: for 1 glass of water at room temperature, you need to take 1 teaspoon of soda and 1 teaspoon of vinegar. If desired, lemon juice or acid works well in place of vinegar, but you can't mix them together (just one).
If you don't like the taste of baking soda and vinegar heartburn pop, you can even sweeten it with sugar. Someone likes it on its own, like a drink, but we must remember that it should not be abused in any case, as it can damage tooth enamel, irritate the gastric mucosa even more, and cause gastritisand more serious pathologies of the digestive system.
Mineral water for heartburn
Before you start drinking mineral water for medicinal purposes, it must be heated to a temperature slightly higher than its own temperature. If you need to drink it during the day, then it is better to store it inside a thermos. At the same time, carbonated mineral water cannot be chosen, since the disease will progress from this. To get rid of unnecessary bubbles, you can simply hold the bottle open.
Normally, mineral water should be drunk 50-60 ml after each meal. You should not drink in one gulp - it is better to take small sips slowly (wait a five-minute pause between sips). If the water is medicinal, then it is taken half an hour after a meal, before it is impossible. Then there will be no heartburn. It is especially important to follow this recommendation if the stomach is acidic.
Which mineral water helps with heartburn? Table water contains the least amount of s alts, approximately 500 mg/l. You can drink it as much as you want, there is no harm in it. But it also has no medicinal properties. The only thing it can do with its regular consumption is to normalize metabolism, remove toxins from toxins, improve the condition of the stomach and intestines.
Medicinal mineral water contains much more s alts - from 500 to 1000 mg/l. Therefore, it is impossible to drink it in unlimited quantities in any case. If you drink it more than recommended, you can break the ratio of s alt in the body. Chronic diseases in this case can go intomore acute phase.
Healing mineral water contains at least 1000 mg/l of s alts. Therefore, the doctor usually prescribes the amount of its use.
Water can easily and without consequences relieve heartburn. You can take it without the advice of a doctor - there will be no harm from it. But consultation will not be superfluous.
Mineral water is often advised for the prevention of many diseases, as it has a very rich composition. If you drink it regularly, then the likelihood of pathologies will decrease to zero. Mineral water, standing on the shelves of stores, can be different and contain various minerals. Therefore, not everyone is suitable for the treatment of heartburn specifically. Hydrocarbonate water will be considered especially harmful. Therefore, before choosing a mineral water, it is necessary to study its composition in detail.
In order for mineral water to be an effective remedy for burning in the esophagus, it is necessary to choose alkaline water. Such, for example, is Essentuki. It helps a lot with heartburn. It’s only advisable to take it not in stores, but in pharmacies, and in a glass bottle.
If there are exacerbations of diseases, you should not drink mineral water in any case. If heartburn appears with enviable regularity, then you need to consult a doctor.
Foods for heartburn
How to get rid of heartburn at home? With a non-serious course of the disease, but just a one-time occurrence of discomfort, you can get rid of the burning sensation even with the help of products that are consumed every day.
What to eat for heartburn? Neutralize herhelp:
- Honey due to the high amount of potassium in the composition.
- Bananas, which, like some antacid drugs, can put out the "fire" inside.
- Pineapple juice is not the cheapest, but it is effective.
- Milk with fermented milk products.
- Yellow mustard will reduce pain (one teaspoon is enough).
- Ginger (4 grams of ginger, grated, can quickly relieve the condition).
- Effective and applesauce.
- Potato juice with water and soda.
Dairy
What else to eat for heartburn? Helpers in deliverance will be only those products that have alkaline properties. Therefore, cream and cottage cheese are not useful, and everything else can be eaten every day, even for prevention. Grandmothers used to often advise drinking a glass of warm milk.
In this case, it is best to choose products with the lowest fat content. For the same reason, you should not eat hard cheeses, as well as cheddar and mozzarella. It is better to choose feta, tofu or goat cheese.
Vegetables
I'll help best of all carrots with beets, potatoes. They balance the content of acid and alkali in the body. In addition to vegetables, it is useful to drink juices obtained from them, but they must be drunk before eating. They are he althier to eat raw than cooked, even with gentle methods.
But garlic, onion, cabbage should stay away. Tomatoes are also better not to eat, as they contain acids that provoke burning.
Fruit
What fruits will helpfrom heartburn? Banana is best for heartburn, as its special structure will help protect the walls of the esophagus. It can be considered a tool as effective as a pharmacy.
It is highly undesirable to eat grapefruits, tangerines, oranges and all other citrus fruits during such a period. They will increase the discomfort.
Various cereals
The more viscous the porridge is, the better it will protect the walls of the stomach. They have a lot of useful substances that restore the mucous membrane. Oatmeal, rice and buckwheat porridge are best suited for such a problem. You can cook them even in milk (but with a minimum percentage of fat content), even in water.
And such products from cereals as freshly prepared bread, any pastries, flour products, sweets cannot be eaten. The best is stale bran or cereal bread baked a day or two ago.
Seeds
Some say seeds are high in protein, so they are good for heartburn. Others do not forget that they have a lot of fat, because for their processing the stomach needs to secrete a lot of acid, which will increase heartburn. Therefore, it is possible to eat fried seeds with heartburn, but in small quantities.
Soups
Soup can affect the stomach in the same way as porridge, so you should not refuse them. A mild soup is best. Products before cooking soup should not be fried. Vegetable broth will not work well, as it contains cabbage, onions, tomatoes, preventing healing.
Recommendations
How fastget rid of heartburn? There are several actionable recommendations:
- Do not fill the stomach completely. The best way to eat is to feel a slight feeling of hunger after eating.
- Servings should be small.
- Snacks should be more frequent and meals should be easily digestible.
- Don't eat before bed, at least two hours before bedtime.
- Don't lie down immediately after eating, otherwise the acid will start to move up.
- Eat slowly, chewing thoroughly.
Cigarette ash for heartburn
How to get rid of heartburn at home? Some even use cigarette ash to treat heartburn.
Does cigarette ash help with heartburn? It contains a lot of s alts and metal ions, which are really good at neutralizing the hydrochloric acid of the stomach. They easily interact, because the esophagus becomes protected from an aggressive environment. But it's not all that safe.
There are a lot of harmful and far from safe substances in the ashes that can cause pathologies of completely different organs. Therefore, it is better not to use this method at all.
