Do you feel uncomfortable with a burning sensation in your chest? Does that keep bothering you quite often? You are probably suffering from heartburn, a fairly common symptom in adults due to acid reflux. The heart feels as if it’s on fire. The unpleasant sensation burns the throat and can lead to nausea or even vomiting. Want to know more about the condition and how you can treat it? Then go ahead and give this post a read!
Acid reflux is a term given to a sensation when the stomach acid flows upwards into the esophagus resulting in what is known as heartburn. Acid reflux is scientifically known as gastro-esophageal reflux disease or GERD.
After your food passes through your esophagus into your stomach, a muscular valve called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) closes, not allowing the food or acid to move back up. Acid reflux occurs when the LES relaxes incorrectly, thereby permitting acid from your stomach to flow or reflux backward into your esophagus. Stomach acids are needed to digest the food consumed. However, if too much acid develops in the stomach, several uncomfortable symptoms, including gas and bloating, or a burning sensation in your throat and stomach can be experienced. This usually occurs after consuming certain types of foods or eating too fast without chewing well, or lying down soon after a meal. Certain conditions such as obesity or pregnancy may also lead to an increase in stomach acid.
Acid reflux can be caused due to a variety of reasons. Common ones include – overeating, obesity, increased consumption of fatty foods, caffeine, alcohol based drinks, smoking, resting soon after meals and stress. Its symptoms include a burning feeling in the chest, bloating, nausea, vomiting, burping and sore throat. Certain medications may settle the discomfort, but can have negative side effects. It is advisable to try out some natural remedies to find what helps you best to treat your condition. You need to reach out for simple things found in day-to-day kitchens which will help you settle down. The answer to heartburn and acid indigestion lies in being able to restore your natural gastric balance and function.
When your stomach is unwell, it is needless to say that you need to avoid food that will further trigger and worsen the condition. The same can be said about GERD. Those of you suffering from GERD will recover if you avoid the following, for these may worsen your condition and leave you feeling rather restless and uneasy (1).
Some remedies you can use to help you overcome the burning sensation in your stomach are as follows:
A teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate can assist in bringing relief to the burning sensation of heartburn due to acid reflux. Baking soda is the common name for sodium bicarbonate and is alkaline in nature and will help cure your heartburn as its pH is higher than 7.0. This neutralizes stomach acid, and if it rises in the throat you don’t get the burning sensation. Use by mixing 1 teaspoon of baking soda into a glass of water until it dissolves completely and drink it to neutralize stomach acid (2). Add honey or lemon for taste if you want. Avoid using this remedy for more than a week at a go, as it is high in salt and can lead to swelling or nausea.
Aloe is a plant usually used to soothe burns. Though there is no scientific backing to this remedy, use of this herb does help with heartburn as it reduces inflammation (3). This means when your stomach starts feeling irritated and inflamed, a cold glass of Aloe Vera juice may just help it calm down. Drink ½ cup of Aloe juice, cool or at room temperature, before meals. Choose one that has the laxative component removed.
Chewing gum stimulates the salivary glands thereby increasing the flow of saliva. As a result, any acid that has built up in the gut is diluted and washed away quickly. The clearance of acid then improves the symptoms of heartburn. Chew a piece of sugar free gum or suck on a lemon drop or sour candy to stimulate the production of saliva. Saliva is alkaline, so swallowing saliva neutralizes stomach acid.
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