Current:Home > MyMany wonder how to get rid of heartburn. Here's what the experts suggest.-LoTradeCoin
Many wonder how to get rid of heartburn. Here's what the experts suggest.
View Date:2024-12-23 22:23:23
Experiencing heartburn is no fun. It causes an uncomfortable feeling in one's throat and a burning sensation in one's chest. While some people only experience unpleasant tastes in their mouth, others feel varying degrees of pain in their stomach, neck or esophagus. For some such individuals, that pain is so acute it can be mistaken for a heart attack. "Heartburn can be quite uncomfortable and really affect your quality of life," says Kyle Staller, MD, a gastroenterologist and the director of the Gastrointestinal Motility Laboratory at Mass General Hospital in Boston.
No matter how you experience heartburn - or how often - it can be helpful to know how to respond to and alleviate symptoms when they arise.
Is heartburn dangerous?
Though heartburn usually isn't dangerous on its own as millions of people experience it daily without serious incident, there are times when it can be a sign of something more concerning. For instance, several serious medical conditions mimic heartburn symptoms including gallstones, stomach ulcers, angina (a type of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart), and even some cancers such as esophageal cancer. "Understanding the cause of heartburn and seeking treatment for frequent occurrences is crucial," says Jennifer Horsley-Silva, MD, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic. "This approach is not only important for improving symptoms, but also for preventing potentially serious complications if left untreated."
Heartburn can also be concerning for people with chronic respiratory conditions because it can aggravate breathing problems or conditions such as asthma, says Michael Fredericson, MD, director of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation division of Stanford University.
How to get rid of heartburn?
In most cases though, heartburn is not cause for serious concern, and there are many ways to avoid it and to get rid of it once it arises.
To prevent heartburn, Fredericson advises keeping a food journal to know which foods may have caused the burning sensation in the first place and then to avoid eating those foods. He also suggests not lying flat right after eating and to "resist the urge to overeat or eat quickly." Some more long-term steps to avoid heartburn include losing weight if you are medically overweight and stopping smoking if you smoke as both excess weight and cigarette smoke can make heartburn symptoms worse or cause them to occur more frequently.
Matthew Hoscheit, MD, a gastroenterologist at the Neurogastroenterology & Motility Center at Cleveland Clinic, also suggests dietary restrictions for people who have experienced frequent heartburn before, including the avoidance of foods like "chocolate, fried foods and tomato-based products" if such foods have proven to be problematic for you. And he suggests "reducing stress and getting enough sleep at night" as well.
When it comes to getting rid of heartburn once it starts, Hoscheit says that many people find heartburn relief through Alka-Seltzer and other over-the-counter antacid medications such as Tums, Mylanta or Rolaids. Stallar also suggests elevating your head "to keep stomach acid from flowing back into your esophagus" and to engage in light exercises or moving around to aid digestion.
Does drinking water help heartburn?
Another way to deal with heartburn when it arises is to drink water, milk, coconut water or herbal teas. Such liquids dilute irritants in one's throat and flush stomach acid back down into the stomach where it belongs. While water is thought to be the best beverage to drink when it comes to dealing with heartburn, there are also several drinks that are important to avoid. Alcohol and citrus juices, for instance, should be avoided, and soda can especially exacerbate matters worse due to the effect carbonation has on the stomach.
No matter which steps you choose to take to prevent or treat heartburn, Horsley-Silva says that "understanding the cause of your heartburn can empower you to take proactive measures to prevent it from persisting or recurring."
More:Though millions experience heartburn daily, many confuse it for this
veryGood! (39)
Related
- AIT Community Introduce
- The FDA approves the overdose-reversing drug Narcan for over-the-counter sales
- Seiichi Morimura, 'The Devil's Gluttony' author, dies at 90 after pneumonia case
- Aging Oil Pipeline Under the Great Lakes Should Be Closed, Michigan AG Says
- ‘COP Fatigue’: Experts Warn That Size and Spectacle of Global Climate Summit Is Hindering Progress
- Soaring Costs Plague California Nuke Plant Shut Down By Leak
- 25 Fossil Fuel Producers Responsible for Half Global Emissions in Past 3 Decades
- Duracell With a Twist: Researchers Find Fix for Grid-Scale Battery Storage
- Unexpected pairing: New documentary tells a heartwarming story between Vietnam enemies
- Why Vanderpump Rules' Lala Kent and Scheana Shay's Bond Over Motherhood Is as Good as Gold
Ranking
- Threat closes Spokane City Hall and cancels council meeting in Washington state
- Ranking Oil Companies by Climate Risk: Exxon Is Near the Top
- NFL Legend Jim Brown Dead at 87
- New lawsuit provides most detailed account to date of alleged Northwestern football hazing
- Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson weighs in on report that he would 'pee in a bottle' on set
- Federal appeals court preserves access to abortion drug but with tighter rules
- Why Are Hurricanes Like Dorian Stalling, and Is Global Warming Involved?
- Shark Week 2023 is here! Shop nautical merch from these brands to celebrate the occasion
Recommendation
-
4 charged in Detroit street shooting that left 2 dead, 5 wounded
-
This Week in Clean Economy: NYC Takes the Red Tape Out of Building Green
-
Dorian One of Strongest, Longest-Lasting Hurricanes on Record in the Atlantic
-
These Are the Best Appliances From Amazon for Small Kitchens
-
Giuliani’s lawyers after $148M defamation judgment seek to withdraw from his case
-
How Massachusetts v. EPA Forced the U.S. Government to Take On Climate Change
-
The dream of wiping out polio might need a rethink
-
29 Grossly Satisfying Cleaning Products With Amazing Results