You’ve just had a great meal and oh no, here comes the dreaded “burn” again. Heartburn is no fun!

Let’s learn more about this condition and how you can ease the burn.

Quick Read:

  • Many people suffer from heartburn and rely on over-the-counter medications for relief.
  • If heartburn symptoms persist and starts to affect your daily quality of life, it’s worth talking to a doctor for a more thorough diagnosis.

What is heartburn?

No, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart! Heartburn occurs when stomach juices flow backward into the oesophagus. This is the tube that leads from the mouth into the stomach. The backflow, called reflux, is what causes the warm burning sensation beneath the breastbone. You may feel it spread in waves up into your neck and get a sour taste in your mouth. Heartburn can last anywhere from 10 minutes to a few hours and often gets worse if you lie down.

 

A word on GERD

If you have heartburn quite often, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This can lead to other, more severe health problems. Please see a doctor if you have constant heartburn and natural remedies or over-the-counter medications aren’t helping.

Home remedies for heartburn

  • Eat smaller meals and try to avoid late-night snacking. After eating, wait at least three hours before you lie down.
  • Stay away from trigger foods that cause heartburn. Generally, these include citrus fruit and juices, tomatoes, fatty and fried foods, alcohol, carbonated drinks and caffeine. You may need to do an elimination test by gradually cutting out these foods to see which ones cause a reaction.
  • No smoking! Just quit it, immediately. Smoking makes heartburn worse and it can lead to a whole range of health problems.
  • Heartburn at night can make it difficult to sleep, or even just get comfortable. Try to raise the head of your bed a little to keep your head elevated. Also, try to sleep on your side, if possible. Sleeping on your back might worsen heartburn.
  • Ask a pharmacist for advice on over-the-counter medication that can help with the heartburn. But remember, if the issue is ongoing, it’s a good idea to speak to a doctor or go to the clinic.
  • Tight clothing, especially around the waist, can put pressure on the stomach and trigger heartburn. Choose loose, comfortable clothes to avoid added pressure.
  • Try aloe vera. It has soothing substances and can help reduce inflammation in the stomach. Drinking a small amount of aloe vera juice before meals may help prevent heartburn.
  • Watch your posture. If you’re constantly slouched or slumped over, this can compress the stomach and place more pressure on the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES), the valve that separates the oesophagus from the stomach.
Aloe vera juice for heartburn
  • Chew on sugarless gum after a meal to soothe the burn.
  • If you’re on chronic medication, ask your doctor about the side-effects; heartburn may be one of them.
Help at hand

Get emergency help if:

  • You have pain in your upper belly with chest pain or pressure.
  • You vomit blood or brown-ish liquid.
  • It’s difficult to breathe or you have shortness of breath.
  • You have black stools.

Hiatal hernia

Your doctor may also check for a hiatal hernia. This is a condition where the upper section of the stomach protrudes into the chest cavity through the hiatus, a small opening in the diaphragm. This condition can affect the way your lower oesophageal sphincter functions. It creates a separation between the oesophagus and the stomach, allowing stomach acid to flow back into the oesophagus, which can lead to heartburn. Common symptoms of this hernia include coughing, having difficulty swallowing, regurgitation, heartburn, and nausea.

Images: Vecteezy