Are you unsure about heartburn treatments? This burning sensation is demanding attention and you wish you knew more about the choices? Science still hasn't found the perfect cure but here's a breakdown that showstreatments by type.
Here's a general breakdown: Antacids - Look for the active ingredients.
These are generally sodium, potassium, magnesium or aluminum.
These are alkaloids to neutralize stomach acid.
Calcium works very well and has other benefits.
So does magnesium and potassium.
Sodium and aluminum are related to some medical problems, notably high blood pressure and Alzheimer's, respectfully.
These remedies are designed for short term relief, not as a cure.
Liquids for heartburn and upset stomach - active ingredient isbismuth subsalicylate, used to treat indigestion, nausea, diarrhea.
They coat the esophagus and stomach and use calcium, a similar alkaloid to neutralize acid.
A short term remedy for upset stomach and indigestion.
Acid blockers - called H2, have effective life of 6-10 hours, longer than antacids.
Used to heal ulcers and damage in the esophagus and gastro-intestinal tract..
Generally replaced by PPI.
Acid inhibitors - called proton pump inhibitors.
These restrict cells in the stomach wall from producing hydrochloric acid.
Also repair damage.
One of these is familiar to many as the purple pill.
A small study suggests that this med might be a cause for hip fractures and anemia.
Some patients have complained of more severe symptoms after treatment is concluded.
Treatment may be for 6-12 months.
There are many different products you can take for the treatment of heartburn symptoms.
Because of other health issues, it's always a good idea read the label of anything you put in or on your body.
And you should know the risks of taking any drug.
Some common heartburn products contain aluminum, sodium or aspirin.
These can be harmful, not only in the meds you're taking but because of the combined intake from other products that contain the same ingredients.
You should weigh the benefit of any treatment against the possibility of side effects.
Natural remedies - Alternative heartburn treatment can be found in natural remedies.
For the most part these have little or no medical research about them, for obvious reasons.
This doesn't mean that there is no value to these home remedies.
In fact the opposite is true.
It is very likely that one of these will work for you.
Have you had an apple to day? For quick relief here are a few that worked well for grandma and may work for you.
- A tablespoon of baking soda with a glass of water may neutralize your stomach acid.
- A few sips of club soda could fix you up if gas buildup is the problem - Chewing gum or drinking a large glass of water will dilute stomach acid.
- Apples, apple juice and apple cider vinegar have properties to cure inflammation and balance body pH.
There are other home curatives that can do more than just offer temporary relief.
These are talked about in other articles and on my web site.
The important thing is to think about the future.
For a heartburn free future start to work on a personal evaluation plan that eliminates the cause of your heartburn.
You can do this by compiling a list of possibilities.
This is the time to do some self analysis.
Since the body is an interrelated system, it's possible for both physical and mental conditions to be at the root of the problem.
So while an acidic diet is one of the most common causes of heartburn, there is no reason to think food is the only culprit.
There could be other reasons.
Good diet and good fitness can benefit the body in many ways other than heartburn.