How to get rid of heartburn in adults at home

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Most people experience heartburn occasionally, but if it occurs two or more times a week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a term used to describe chronic heartburn. Heartburn is caused by stomach acid that backs up into the esophagus. This is called acid reflux, when the valve separating the esophagus and stomach opens at the wrong time. In everyday speech it is also called acid reflux . This valve dysfunction can be caused by certain foods (such as onions or mint), overeating, smoking and alcohol. A burning sensation in the chest and a sour taste in the mouth are the main symptoms of acid reflux. But some people can have GERD without heartburn. In these cases, symptoms such as chest pain, chronic cough, hoarseness and a feeling that something is stuck in the throat may be signs of acid reflux. Depending on the severity of symptoms, it is treated with diet and lifestyle changes, over-the-counter or home remedies, medications, and/or surgery. It is important to treat GERD because the disease can progress and over time damage the esophageal mucosa, leading to serious complications and adverse events.

Ginger

In moderation, ginger is one of the best foods for acid reflux. It has been used since ancient times as an anti-inflammatory agent and also to treat gastrointestinal disorders. Ginger root can be easily peeled, cut into slices or cubes, and grated. You can use it in cooking, add it to smoothies, drink ginger tea, or snack on ginger gummies.

Popular questions and answers

Gastroenterologist Marat Zinnatullin answered popular questions about heartburn

Why is heartburn dangerous?

Heartburn is dangerous because the contents of the stomach or intestines are thrown into the esophagus and inflammation occurs. This can lead to the formation of erosions, ulcers and complicated forms - Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer.

Is it possible to get rid of heartburn using traditional methods?

One of the simple and effective ways to get rid of heartburn is to drink alkaline mineral water. Among foods, ginger relieves heartburn. In extreme cases, you can use soda, but you should not abuse this method.

Aloe vera

Aloe vera is known to be a natural healing agent and also fights acid reflux in addition. This remedy is available as a live plant, but sometimes the leaves and liquid form of Aloe Vera are sold separately in grocery and health food stores. Aloe vera is used in formulations as a thickener or as a means to set liquids.

Causes of heartburn

The manifestation of this symptom is not always observed as a consequence of gastrointestinal disease. In most cases , the causes of heartburn are disorders in the diet and behavior of people. Among the main factors that lead to heartburn :

• excessive consumption of food (if you constantly overeat, the stomach will begin to stretch and complete closure of the sphincter will be impaired);
• bad habits (regular smoking and coffee abuse);
• lying down immediately after eating;
• being overweight (increased pressure in the abdominal area does not allow the sphincter to relax);
• addiction to special foods (chocolate in large doses, fried and spicy foods; fresh baked goods);
• use of aggressive drugs (this applies to medications taken before meals);
• difficult pregnancy (increased abdominal pressure);
• wearing tight clothes (the abdominal cavity also suffers, food returns back to the organs of the esophagus).

With an increased frequency of symptoms (once every seven days or more), the causes of heartburn are gastrointestinal diseases, which require immediate diagnosis and treatment . Heartburn itself in this case has an unchanged mechanism, but is triggered by the following diseases:

• GERD – it is characterized by a chronically relaxed food sphincter;
• the development of gastritis with high acidity of the stomach, which is chronic and is often provoked by the action of Helicobacter pylori;
• stomach ulcer – the mucous membrane is covered with numerous ulcerative defects;
• the gallbladder functions with disturbances such as cholecystitis: the duodenum moves its contents to the stomach, after which the esophagus is filled with it - in this case, additional bitterness may be observed.

Taking symptomatic medications relieves discomfort for a short time, but does not completely eliminate heartburn .

Fennel

Fennel (pH 6.9) Anise-flavored dill, great food for acid reflux, actually improves stomach function. This crunchy vegetable has a unique taste - a mild licorice flavor. Sliced ​​thin (white bottom), it makes Arugula and Spinach Salad a healthy choice. It's also great for chicken dishes and appetizers, as long as you like that licorice (licorice root) flavor.

How does heartburn develop?

The main cause of heartburn is a malfunction of the stomach, since its contents irritate the esophageal mucosa.

During normal functioning, the stomach maintains an acidic environment, as it contains hydrochloric acid. This substance activates enzymes that break down food. Therefore, after eating, an increase in acid concentration is observed. The esophagus maintains a neutral environment, and the mucous membrane does not have a reliable protective shell. Filling of the intestines with substances from the digestive tract and heartburn are eliminated thanks to the sphincter (a ring-shaped muscle located between the organs), which does not interfere with the movement of food in only one direction.

For some reason , the sphincter muscles weaken, so hydrochloric acid passes into the stomach, combining with the contents of the tract. The mucous membrane becomes irritated and many chemical burns appear on it. At this point, the person begins to feel heartburn .

Rating of the top 10 inexpensive and effective tablets for heartburn according to KP

Considering the fact that antisecretory drugs have a number of contraindications, and they are not so active against heartburn that has already occurred, we will dwell in detail on antacids, which eliminate burning and pain the fastest, and we will analyze the most popular and recommended by experts.

Maalox

Maalox.
Photo: Pharmatis In addition to chewable tablets with fruit flavor (including sugar-free for diabetics), it is available in the form of bottles or individual sachets of suspension. Available without a prescription - it has a complex composition with two active ingredients - algeldrate and magnesium hydroxide.

Effectively eliminates heartburn almost immediately upon administration, having a neutralizing effect against excess hydrochloric acid. In addition, the drug helps to inhibit the re-production of hydrochloric acid by the stomach and exhibits an adsorbing effect. The drug works only locally, without being absorbed into the blood plasma.

Used for heartburn that occurs:

• as a symptom of GERD, gastritis and peptic ulcer;
• against the background of poor nutrition, overeating, consumption of sour, spicy, irritating foods;
• as a side effect when treated with certain medications (for example, hormones);
• during pregnancy.

It is acceptable to take it during the day or at night, strictly according to the instructions.

It is prohibited for use in children under 15 years of age; it should not be taken by people with an allergy to fructose or with kidney damage.

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Gaviscon

Gaviscon.
Photo: Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (UK) Limited In addition to chewable flavored tablets, dual-action tablets, it comes in the form of a suspension, including in individual dosed sachets. Dispensed from pharmacies without a prescription, it has a combined composition of three active ingredients - calcium carbonate, sodium alginate with sodium bicarbonate.

When it enters the stomach and binds with hydrochloric acid, it forms a neutral gel that suppresses irritation of the mucous membrane and covers it with a thin enveloping film. Prevents contents from being thrown from the stomach into the esophagus. Heartburn begins to go away within 5 - 6 minutes after taking the dose, but the tablets act somewhat slower than the suspension. On average, the effect lasts up to 4 - 5 hours.

The drug is used:

• with the development of GERD with frequent heartburn;
• during pregnancy in any trimester;
• against the background of overeating and eating irritating foods.

The tablet must be chewed thoroughly before swallowing; more than 4 doses should not be taken per day.

When taken frequently, especially in pregnant women, it can sometimes cause constipation. It is prohibited for use in children, people on a salt-free diet, those with kidney problems or phenylketonuria.

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Summary

Let us remind you once again that the pharmacist’s task is not only to select the most effective and safe drug (which our article will help with), but also to motivate the buyer to see a doctor for a detailed examination.

Sources

1. Vakil N., van Zanten SV, Kahrilas P., Dent J., Jones R; Global Consensus Group. The Montreal definition and classification of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a global evidence-based consensus. Am J Gastroenterol. 2006 Aug.
2. Maev I.V., Samsonov A.A., Bely P.A., Lebedeva E.G. GERD is the leader of acid-dependent pathology of the gastrointestinal tract // Appendix Consilium Medicum. Gastroenterology. No. 1. 2012. pp. 18–24.
3. Minushkin O. N., Elizavetina G. A. Antacids in modern therapy of acid-related diseases // Gastroenterology of St. Petersburg. — 2010. — No. 2–3
4. Yanova O. Modern understanding of the pathophysiological aspects of GERD and approaches to its pharmacotherapy // Doctor. 2013. No. 3.
5. Bordin D.S., Masharova A.A., Kozhurina T.S. Treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease with alginates // Treating Doctor. 2008.
6. Lazebnik L. B., Masharova A. A., Bordin D. S. et al. Results of the multicenter study “Epidemiology of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Russia” (“MEGRE”). Therapeutic archive. 2011.
7. Isakov V. A. Analysis of the prevalence of heartburn: a national epidemiological study of the adult urban population (ARIADNA). Experimental clinical gastroenterology. 20089. Global Consensus Group. The Montreal definition and classification of gastroesophageal reflux disease. 2006.

Fully or partially limited products

• Seasonings, spices, hot sauces, vinegar, mayonnaise, horseradish, mustard, ketchup, tomato paste, lemon juice (even as a seasoning for dishes).
• Pickled vegetables, mushrooms in any form.
• Fried foods, tomato sauces, mushroom decoctions and mushroom sauces, stewed meat and fish, as they contain a large amount of extractives. Broths made from bouillon cubes, dishes with mayonnaise.
• Fatty and coarse meat, canned food, smoked meats, fatty duck and goose meat, meat and fish broths, pickled fruits and vegetables.
• Sour berries and fruits, raw vegetables during an exacerbation period, nuts, avoid eating raw fruits.
• Puff pastry and yeast dough, fresh bread.
• Tomatoes in any form, onions, garlic, radishes, white cabbage, sorrel, radishes, legumes, cucumbers.
• Chocolate, halva, large amounts of sweet preserves, jams and other sweets - they contribute to heartburn, in addition, simple carbohydrates can cause increased gas formation, which in turn increases reflux into the esophagus.
• Pasta, millet, pearl barley and barley cereals are coarse and difficult to digest, and millet cereals can additionally cause heartburn.
• Fermented milk products with high acidity.
• Sour juices (citrus, tomato, pomegranate, currant), carbonated drinks, all alcoholic drinks and beer, coffee, strong tea, mint tea.

Table of prohibited products

Authorized Products

A diet for heartburn should include:

• Dried white bread - 150-200 g per day.
• Soups with vegetable broth. Cereals and vegetables are well boiled and kneaded. Ready-made soups are seasoned with an egg-milk mixture; frying them is not allowed.
• All meat dishes (beef, lamb, turkey, chicken, lean pork) are prepared chopped and steamed (cutlets, soufflés and quenelles). It is possible to bake without a crust with the addition of sour cream or a milk-egg mixture.
• Fish dishes are consumed in the form of cutlets; you can also eat lump fish.
• Porridges with water or milk are cooked from semolina, buckwheat or rice. Buckwheat and rice porridge are well boiled, kneaded (wipe in the presence of diseases of the esophagus and stomach) and brought to a semi-viscous state with water or milk.
• Milk, non-acidic kefir, low-fat cream (in dishes), you can make milk jelly and milk cream. It is better to choose cottage cheese of medium fat content and eat it in its natural form (you can mash it and dilute it a little with milk). Cottage cheese can be used to make any baked or steamed dish.
• Butter and refined sunflower oil should be added to prepared dishes.
• Vegetables (potatoes, beets, cauliflower, pumpkin, carrots) have a small amount of fiber and are therefore considered lean. They are consumed boiled and prepared into purees or puddings.
• It is allowed to drink weak tea with milk, fruit and herbal tea (mint tea is excluded), and juices from sweet fruits. You can add sugar or honey to teas and decoctions if desired. Sweet fruits are used to prepare jelly, puree, jellies and compotes.

Table of permitted products

Characteristic symptoms

A feeling of heat in the chest is the main symptom of heartburn.

The main symptom of the disease in question is a burning/heating sensation in the esophagus (in the upper abdomen and behind the chest). An increase in the intensity of symptoms is observed during bending or lying down.

Single or rare manifestations of the problem can be solved on your own. Medical consultation is required if symptoms are accompanied by an intense cough. The same applies to situations where heartburn occurs after taking certain medications.

In some cases, emergency medical attention is required. In this case, the phenomenon under consideration is accompanied by the following complications:

Preventive measures

Preventing heartburn is less difficult than eliminating symptoms and treating the disease. As part of prevention, the following recommendations are followed:

• rejection of bad habits;
• adjusted diet;
• eliminating coffee from the diet;
• comfortable clothing that does not compress the organs;
• lack of excess weight;
• correctly prescribed treatment.

In the event that diseases provoke heartburn , the patient faces severe inconvenience, which only a doctor can eliminate.

Menu (Power Mode)

Meals for heartburn should include light meals that are quickly digested and do not linger in the stomach for a long time. In this regard, preference is given to dairy products and cereal dishes, eggs (but not hard-boiled, since they take a long time to digest). Boiled meat and steamed cutlets are also easier to digest than fried meat.

If milk is well tolerated, breakfast and dinner can consist of milk porridges; for snacks you can add milk, milk jelly or cottage cheese, baked fruits and fruit and berry jelly. Breakfast and dinner may additionally include an omelet, egg porridge (it is cooked in a saucepan like porridge, with a little water instead of oil, and brought until thickened), poached or soft-boiled eggs. Meat or fish dishes are served with porridge or boiled vegetables in the form of puree.

Diagnostics

The first thing the doctor needs to rule out is the presence of gastritis or gastric ulcer. To do this, the patient does not take flour products for 2 weeks, and also does not use antisecretory drugs and antibiotics. This is necessary in order to carry out a rational diagnosis of helicobacteriosis using serological methods. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy allows you to visualize changes in the mucous membrane of the stomach and esophagus. This is important for further adequate treatment.

Carrying out FGDS

The next stage is an ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs. If there are diffuse changes in the pancreas or liver, you should pay attention to the biochemical parameters of the blood serum. This applies to amylase, liver transaminases, and bilirubin. If abnormalities are detected, consultation with a gastroenterologist is necessary.

Intestinal microflora is subject to study. To do this, bacteriological culture of stool is done for dysbacteriosis. Most often, the laboratory technician indicates bacterial overgrowth syndrome when concluding.