What helps with heartburn?This is the question that gastroenterologists hear most often. And it is not surprising - according to medical statistics, two thirds of the adult population periodically suffer from heartburn. And heartburn is an extremely unpleasant and exhausting phenomenon. It can deprive a person of peace and even sleep. Few people can remain calm when there is a fire in the esophagus. Let's try to figure out - how to get rid of heartburn? There are a lot of remedies, but which of them will really help with heartburn? As a rule, when faced with heartburn, a person rushes to the pharmacy, where he buys heartburn remedies. But pharmacological drugs are not always the best way out of the situation. Very often, it is quite possible to do without drugs - folk remedies help get rid of heartburn no worse. What is heartburn? It is a strong burning sensation in the chest and larynx. Heartburn occurs due to the fact that gastric juice enters the esophagus. You remember that gastric juice contains hydrochloric acid, right? It is precisely hydrochloric acid that leads to irritation and then inflammation of the mucous membrane of the esophagus, and therefore, heartburn.
Causes of heartburn
It is very difficult to get rid of heartburn if you do noteliminate the cause of its occurrence. Therefore, first you need to find out what exactly most often provokes the development of heartburn. In fact, there are not so many of these reasons, so it is not so difficult to understand why heartburn began to torment you. The main thing is to carefully monitor your body. Sooner or later, you will definitely notice the relationship between the appearance of heartburn and this or that event. So:
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
In about half of all cases, the appearanceheartburn is associated with the presence of gastrointestinal tract diseases in humans. Such diseases include: acute and chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer and/or duodenal ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux - this will be discussed in more detail below.
- Gastroesophageal reflux
This phenomenon can hardly be called a disease –rather, it is an anatomical feature of the structure of the valve between the stomach and the esophagus. If the valve is initially too weak, there is a constant reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. This problem begins to make itself known in childhood. The child experiences severe heartburn and even vomiting, especially if the child lies down immediately after eating.
- Binge eating
In the event that a person loves tightlyeat, the likelihood of heartburn increases several times. This happens because the stomach is overfilled, and its contents begin to press on the valve. If the pressure is too strong, even the strongest valve will not withstand - the contents will be thrown back.
- Wrong menu
The type of food you eat also plays an important role.a person suffering from heartburn. Most often, heartburn is caused by spicy, smoked, salty, fatty and fried foods, sauces, seasonings, spices, products containing artificial colors and preservatives. They themselves have a very strong irritating effect on the mucous membrane of the esophagus and provoke heartburn. You will learn more about the diet for heartburn below.
- Pregnancy
Talking about the reasons leading toheartburn, we cannot fail to mention pregnancy. Most expectant mothers experience heartburn, especially in the second half of pregnancy. Although heartburn is not uncommon in the first half. In the first trimester of pregnancy, heartburn occurs due to a sharp and radically changed hormonal background. And in the second half of pregnancy, heartburn is provoked by the greatly increasing size of the uterus, pressing on the stomach.
General recommendations for heartburn
Before starting treatment, the sick personshould carefully read the simple rules. At first glance, it may seem that they are not so important. But in fact, this is not so - only by following them can you get rid of heartburn. Otherwise, you will only waste your time and energy. So:
- Schedule of meals
It is not only important what exactly there isa person, but also how he will do it. Firstly, in no case should you overeat. In the event that you suffer from heartburn, your diet should be fractional - you need to eat small portions, but often. Ideally, there should be 5 - 6 meals. In addition, you can not eat before bed - the last meal should be no later than two hours. Moreover, 15-20 minutes after eating you should not even sit down - wash, for example, the dishes. By the way, this is a very effective insure against excess weight. And you should not eat immediately after waking up - the body must have time to "wake up". As a rule, these simple rules alleviate the condition of a sick person many times, even without additional treatment.
- Rejection of bad habits
Smoking and drinking alcoholinevitably leads, sooner or later, to the development of heartburn. And treating heartburn without giving up bad habits is almost useless - it will return again and again. Therefore, if you cannot completely give up cigarettes and alcohol, then at least reduce their consumption to a minimum. By the way, drinking coffee and caffeinated drinks should also be considered a bad habit. Caffeine has a very strong irritating effect on the mucous membrane of the esophagus. And the development of gastritis is very likely. Therefore, reduce the amount of coffee you consume - this will have a very beneficial effect on your entire body, and not just on the state of the digestive tract.
- clothing
Yes, yes, don't be surprised!Sometimes it is the wrong clothes that can cause heartburn attacks. This is especially true for women – they, trying to look slimmer, often buy clothes one size smaller. And as a result, in addition to unsightly folds and problems with blood circulation, heartburn can appear. After all, clothes also squeeze the stomach. It is not for nothing that in the Middle Ages, when ladies wore corsets, heartburn – like fainting – was considered an indispensable attribute of high society ladies.
Means of emergency help
First, we will tell you about the meansemergency aid when heartburn is so bad that you can't stand it anymore. However, remember - these remedies can only be used as a last resort. These remedies should never be the main method of treating heartburn - they can have a negative effect on the body. In no case should these remedies be used to treat teenagers, pregnant women and the elderly.
- Soda solution
An old and beloved remedy for many peopleto eliminate an attack of heartburn - this is the most common baking soda. To prepare this remedy, dissolve one teaspoon of baking soda in half a glass of warm boiled water, stir thoroughly. Drink the solution in one gulp. Heartburn will disappear in literally a minute. But be prepared for the fact that there will be a strong belching - this soda reacts with hydrochloric acid contained in the gastric juice. Such a remedy has an extremely negative effect on the stomach, so resort to it in the most extreme cases.
- Milk and activated carbon
Another very effective remedy is thisactivated carbon solution. To prepare it, you will need half a glass of warm boiled milk and 10 tablets of activated carbon. Grind the activated carbon thoroughly and dissolve it in milk, drink it in one gulp. Of course, this remedy does not help as quickly as a soda solution - heartburn will subside in about 20 minutes. But it is not as harmful to the stomach as soda.
- Beans
If you often suffer from heartburn, alwaysKeep a few soaked beans ready. As soon as heartburn starts, peel the beans and mash them. Eat one tablespoon and wash it down with half a glass of water. The heartburn will subside in a few minutes. And, as a rule, it does not return for the next few days.
Treatment of heartburn folk remedies
Emergency funds are a condition, of course,improve quite quickly. However, none of these remedies helps radically - heartburn will constantly recur. Therefore, to treat heartburn, you need to use other recipes. Of course, you will not be able to eliminate an attack of heartburn with their help. But systematic treatment will very quickly, and most importantly, for a long time rid you of heartburn. So:
- Buckwheat grain
To prepare this remedy you will need500 grams of buckwheat. Fry the groats in a hot frying pan – it should acquire a dark brown color. After that, using a coffee grinder, grind the groats to a flour state. Take one teaspoon of such powder twice a day. Duration of treatment is three weeks.
- Broth chamomile
As is known, chamomile has greatnumber of positive properties. It is a truly universal "healer" that helps with most diseases. Heartburn is no exception - chamomile decoction helps very well. It is prepared as follows: place five tablespoons of dry chamomile flowers in an enamel pan, pour one liter of water and bring to a boil. After the decoction boils, reduce the heat and boil for 15 minutes. Then cover the pan with a lid and wrap it in a terry towel, leave to infuse for two hours. After that, strain with gauze and pour into a glass container. Store the decoction only in the refrigerator, no more than three days. You need to take the decoction before each meal, half a glass. The duration of treatment is three weeks, no less.
- Raw juice of potatoes
In case you are suffering from more than just heartburn,but also gastritis, it is worth paying attention to potato juice. Potato juice perfectly reduces the acidity level of gastric juice, relieves inflammation of the mucous membrane of not only the esophagus, but also the stomach. A sick person should drink half a glass of fresh potato juice, three times a day. It is necessary to take the juice 15 minutes before meals, and also immediately before bedtime.
- Apples and carrots
A very effective and tasty remedy for heartburn –These are carrots and apples. You can drink a glass of freshly squeezed carrot and apple juice every morning – mix them or alternate them if you want. The duration of such treatment is at least one month. Sometimes there is simply not enough time to prepare juices every day – and especially in the morning. No problem – eat a fresh apple or carrot – the effect will be about the same. The treatment should also be continued for at least a month. In any case, consistency and compliance with all the rules are very important for treating heartburn. And still, try to consult a gastroenterologist. It is extremely rare, but there are still cases when heartburn indicates the presence of certain serious diseases. Therefore, it is better to be on the safe side than not to notice the problem. Be healthy! We recommend reading:
