Heartburn: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Heartburn is a burning feeling in your chest that you might get after eating. Most of us have experienced heartburn at some point or get it on occasion, particularly after a very large meal. However, you may experience heartburn at any time.
That burning sensation in your chest, just behind the breastbone, is caused by stomach acid travelling back up your food pipe. This movement is called acid reflux. Heartburn happens because the muscle that normally closes the gap between your food pipe and your stomach loosens up. This allows food contents and stomach acid to travel back up. The stomach acid irritates the food pipe, causing the burning sensation in the chest and throat.
Other symptoms that may accompany heartburn include:
- An unpleasant sour taste in your mouth, caused by stomach acid
- Feeling full or bloated
- Feeling nauseated
- A bad taste in your mouth
- Bad breath
- A cough that won’t go away
- A hoarse voice
- A sore throat that won’t go away
Typically, heartburn treatment consists of:
- Lifestyle changes, like avoiding certain foods, losing weight, or changing eating patterns
- Over-the-counter medication like antacids or alginates
- Prescription medication like proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) or so-called ‘H2 receptor antagonists’
Sometimes, heartburn happens because you’ve had a particularly large meal, which overstretches your stomach.
The main thing to remember is that, if you get it frequently, you should see your healthcare professional. Frequent heartburn may sometimes signal a chronic condition called gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD for short).
What Home Remedies Help to Relieve Heartburn?
Whether they are natural home remedies or over-the-counter drugs suggested by your pharmacist, these treatments could provide some help.
However, it's important to remember that these remedies for heartburn only treat the symptoms but not their underlying cause. If your symptoms keep coming back or you experience them more than once a week, you should see a healthcare professional. Temporary remedies shouldn’t be used in the long term, as they could mask a more serious condition.
Does Sodium Bicarbonate Provide Relief from Heartburn?
Sodium bicarbonate (or baking soda) is a remedy for heartburn. It is an antacid, meaning that it works to neutralise stomach acid. This makes sodium bicarbonate a popular active ingredient in many heartburn medications.
Over the counter antacids are preferable but if you don’t have any on hand, a bicarbonate sodium solution can be a handy home remedy for heartburn, however it can have possible side effects.
If you take too much sodium bicarbonate, you can cause a chemical imbalance in your body called alkalosis. Due to its high sodium content, the solution is also not suitable for people with cardiovascular problems.
If you want to try a sodium bicarbonate solution to help with temporary heartburn, it’s best to speak with your doctor or pharmacist before taking the solution.
Can Chewing Gum Help Alleviate Heartburn Symptoms?
Chewing gum can provide help with heartburn and acid reflux by reducing stomach acid.
Gum chewing produces more saliva which contains bicarbonate, acting as an antacid, reducing stomach acid in your food pipe. The simple act of swallowing more often also helps clear out the stomach acid.
However, if you wish to try this remedy, make sure you opt for sugar-free gum without spearmint or peppermint, as these ingredients may relax the stomach muscle that keeps gastric acid down and cause the opposite effect.
How Effective Is Ginger in Helping to Treat Heartburn?
Some evidence suggests ginger may help treat heartburn and other stomach problems as it may soothe the digestive tract and reduce inflammation. It is thought to contain other plant compounds with antioxidant properties that may protect the stomach lining. Finally, ginger may aid digestion by helping food move naturally through the digestive tract.
You can consume ginger in any of the following forms:
- Whole, minced or crushed in ginger tea
- Raw, added to smoothies, juices or to a healthy breakfast
- As supplements, either in tablet or powder form
- As candy, hard or chewable
As with most natural remedies for heartburn and other conditions, ginger can also cause side effects. Too much ginger may:
- Upset your stomach
- Cause allergic reactions
- Cause bleeding
Therefore, more extensive and well‐controlled human studies of ginger or its standard extracts are required to demonstrate its efficacy as a gastroprotective agent. Dose‐finding studies should be undertaken to accurately determine the effective dose and preparation of ginger in further clinical trials protocol.
Can Bananas Help with Heartburn?
In addition to ginger, bananas may also count themselves among the foods that can help to relieve heartburn. Fresh bananas are an alkaline food that helps coat the stomach lining with a protective layer. This layer may help counter stomach acid.
Bananas also contain a fibre called pectin, which helps move food through the digestive tract. Keeping the food moving may also reduce stomach acid.
Tips for All Year-Round Heartburn Relief and Prevention
A few small lifestyle changes can go a long way in reducing heartburn symptoms or preventing them altogether. Below, we list some simple heartburn remedies that you can apply to your daily routine right away.
Does Keeping a Food Journal Help in Avoiding Heartburn?
Yes, keeping a food journal can help you identify foods that trigger your symptoms, so you know what to avoid.
Many people with heartburn will discover that certain foods worsen their symptoms, but which foods are to blame can vary from person to person and they can be hard to identify. Recording what you eat can help you find problem foods.
The International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) recommends you record what you eat, the symptoms you experience, and the activities you engage in for 7 days. Then, share the information with your physician.
Can Loose-Fitting Clothing Offer Relief from Heartburn?
Yes, avoiding clothes that are tight around the waist can help prevent heartburn. This could be because tight clothes simply make you feel uncomfortable. Also, tight clothes such as girdles or corsets may put pressure on the tummy, pushing stomach contents back into the food pipe.
Can Elevating the Head of Your Bed Prevent Heartburn?
Yes, raising the head of your bed by about 15–20 centimetres when you sleep can help you clear out stomach acid and help relieve heartburn symptoms. Gravity also does its job in this position, keeping the stomach acid down throughout the night.
You can try using a block of wood or books to raise the head of your bed, but don’t use pillows, as these can put pressure on your belly and worsen your symptoms.
How Can Adjusting Your Sleep Position Help With Heartburn?
When lying down on your back, your tummy expands. This can relax the stomach muscle that normally keeps the gap between the stomach and the food pipe closed. When this muscle is too relaxed, stomach acid can travel back up, causing heartburn.
But elevating your head or sleeping on your left side can help reduce the amount of acid that escapes from the stomach. The left side is particularly helpful because it pulls stomach acid away from the upper right side of the stomach, which is where the food pipe connects with the stomach. This makes it harder for acid to reflux back up.
Medications to Treat Heartburn and Acid Reflux
Acid reflux treatments are available over the counter, and they can provide heartburn relief. However, it’s important to remember they are not a cure for heartburn, and you should not be taking them over a long period of time.
If you find yourself needing to take these heartburn remedies regularly or for more than a week, you should see your doctor instead, as these medications could hide a more serious condition.
The following treatments can provide fast-acting symptom relief, but speak to your pharmacist first if you’re pregnant, are taking any other medication, or if you’re unsure about which medication to take. All of these medications come with potential side effects, so make sure you always read the packaging and leaflet.
Alginates and Gaviscon
Alginates are medications that use alginic acid, which is derived from seaweed. When it meets stomach acid, alginic acid forms a gel-like barrier that floats above the stomach contents and stops them from flowing back up.
Gaviscon is a common alginate medication. It comes in both liquid form and tablet form. If you’re taking it as a liquid, the recommended dose for adults is one or two 5-millilitre spoonfuls. Gaviscon is best taken after meals and before going to bed.
Always read the patient information leaflet for the Gaviscon product you choose to take.
Antacids
Antacids neutralise (or reduce) stomach acid by raising the pH levels in your stomach.
Antacids also come in tablet or liquid form. A common recommendation is to take antacids occasionally, after meals and at bedtime. Make sure to always check the packaging and leaflet for dosage instructions.
PPI (Proton Pump Inhibitors)
Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are medications that reduce how much acid your stomach makes. Common examples of PPIs include:
- Pantoprazole
- Rabeprazole
- Omeprazole
PPIs may be available over the counter, but they may also be prescribed by your physician, especially if you have to take them for longer periods of time. Usually, PPIs are prescribed for longer-term use, between 4 and 8 weeks.
Conclusion
As we have seen in this article, you can try plenty of home remedies and lifestyle changes for heartburn relief, as well as natural remedies and over-the-counter medications.
But remember these should not be used in the long run, and always consult your healthcare professional if you experience heartburn frequently or your symptoms are severe.
To learn more about heartburn symptoms and how to remedy them, explore our articles, What is constant heartburn, What is the difference between heartburn and indigestion, and Some foods you didn’t know could cause heartburn.
This article is not intended to treat or diagnose, please reach out to a healthcare professional in case of any doubts.
