Prevention and Treatment for Heartburn Pain

Heartburn can be prevented and treated in a variety of ways. In general, treatment can fall into one of three categories. There are lifestyle changes, medications and surgery. Here we look at the lifestyle changes that can be put in place in order to live more comfortably with this digestive disorder, as well as some of the medications that can bring you relief.

Lifestyle Changes

Refrain From Sleeping After Eating: Do not lie down to take a nap or go to bed at night for at least three hours following a meal. Gravity is more likely to work against you and push stomach juices into the esophagus if you are lying in a horizontal position. Remain upright until the digestive process is well underway. A full stomach, sleep and reflux can easily combine to make you feel miserable.

Avoid Alcohol: The reason alcohol is bad for those with heartburn is that it causes more stomach acid to be produced than usual. This then serves to relax the lower esophageal sphincter which then makes it all that much easier for the contents of the stomach to reflux up into the esophagus and into the throat. The back up of stomach acid can lead to irritation and inflammation in the esophagus.

Foods to Avoid

Fatty, Fried Fast Foods: Before you stop in at the drive-thru at McDonald’s for a big Mac and an order of French fries perhaps you should think twice. Do you want to pay for this fast meal of greasy food with an uncomfortable heartburn attack? The majority of food that is sold at most fast food chains is not at all beneficial for a person who suffers from heartburn. In particular hamburgers, fried chicken and French fries are the worst choices. If you must eat at a fast food restaurant then opt for a salad or a grilled chicken burger.

Fruit: Fruits contain a high concentration of acid and are therefore not a good bet for a person who has heartburn. The ones with the highest acid content include grapefruits, lemons, cranberries and oranges. In the same way, tomatoes are a fruit and they are not going to do your digestive system anything good in terms of reflux. Avoid eating tomatoes and any tomato products such as tomato sauce or tomato paste.

Beverages: Food is not the only thing that can trigger an attack of heartburn. Alcoholic beverages are not good for those who suffer from reflux and other related problems. In particular, wine and liquor are the alcoholic beverages that you should avoid the most. Coffee and tea are two other beverages that can trigger a heartburn episode.

Pharmaceutical Options

Antacids: A doctor will sometimes recommend medication for heartburn if lifestyle modifications have not brought about the desired results. Over-the-counter antacids are an option as these do not require a prescription. There are also medications that work to halt the production of acid as well as those that aid the stomach muscles in doing their job properly. It is important to become aware of the fact that antacids do have potential side effects. The magnesium salt that is a part of antacids can cause diarrhea while the aluminum can lead to constipation. The two kinds of salts are very often found in balanced quantities in the same product in order to prevent either one of these problems from occurring. The one helps to cancel the other one out and vice versa.

Proton Pump Inhibitors: This type of medication is available by prescription only. Examples of it include Prilosec (omeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole), Aciphex (rabeprazole), Nexium (esomeprazole) and Protonix (pantoprazole). This medication is more effective than antacids because it can relieve practically all of the symptoms associated with heartburn. It is rare for a person suffering from heartburn to not be helped by proton pump inhibitors. In some cases, Prilosec may be able to be purchased in an over-the-counter version known as Prilosec OTC. Please be advised that you should only use proton pump inhibitors under the supervision of a physician.

Heartburn may not be a life threatening condition, but it can certainly cause you a lot of distress. If you want to learn more about the causes of heartburn and the options in heartburn medicine, visit the Heartburn Relief site.