Heartburn
Learn about natural heartburn cure and healthy steps you can take to reduce attacks.
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Understanding Heartburn
Heartburn is the common
term to describe when acidic fumes or gases from our half-digested food
flows upwards back into the esophagus, where they are not supposed to
be.
The medical term for
heartburn is gastroesophageal reflux diseases (GERD). But
GERD is not a disease. Heartburn can be a result of either a
faulty lower esophageal sphincter, or some kind of stomach problems like
gastritis or peptic ulcers.
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When there is indigestion
or stomach upset, the gas pressure in the stomach will cause belching.
A burp or belch would open up this faulty valve, allowing gastric
contents to flow upward in the form of liquid or acidic fumes or gases.
When this happens, sufferers will feel a burning sensation, pain,
pressure and much discomfort on the chest.
The pain is felt because
the esophagus has somehow been injured. When the acidic fumes or
gases come in contact with the wound, pain is felt. This also
happens when sufferers eat acidic food. They will have difficulty
swallowing as the acidic food touches the wound on the way down.
With GERD, inflammation
and ulcers can occur in the esophagus. Chronic heartburn must not
be taken lightly. It can result in obstruction, ulceration and
formation of an abnormal lining which may turn cancerous.
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Symptoms of Heartburn
Sufferers experience a
crushing chest pain and pressure beneath the breastbone. Sometimes
the pain can be so great that it is mistaken for a heart attack.
Other symptoms include
excessive mucus in the throat, difficulty swallowing food, sore throat,
stomach pain, bloating, belching,
flatulence and even
constipation.
For some, there would also
be constant coughing, choking in the sleep, ENT infections, and bad
breath.
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Diet/Lifestyle Suggestions
The most important thing
you can do to control the heartburn, is to control the acidic
fumes/gases from flowing back upwards. Reduce the gas in the
stomach to lessen the pressure on the faulty lower esophageal sphincter
valve that causes a back-flow (or a reflux).
Prevention is the best
cure for indigestion. Avoid processed foods, dietary fats,
chocolate, mint, alcohol, caffeine, hot-spicy foods, and gas-causing
foods (see
flatulence/wind).
Eat more fresh fruits and
vegetables (avoiding the acidic ones). Chew a gum to stimulate
saliva production which can reduce the acid by half. When you have
a heartburn attack, swallow your saliva which neutralizes the acid in
the esophagus.
Notice and jot what food
aggravates or cause your heartburn and avoid them. Some food that
aggravates other sufferers may not trouble you.
A large meal followed by a
lie down soon after is a sure-fire way to start a heartburn.
Gravity helps prevent a reflux, so sit or stand.
Doctors often prescribe
antacids for heartburn. Beware, as some antacids contain aluminum,
a substance that is linked to Alzheimer's disease.
Finally, quit smoking, a
deadly habit for GERD sufferers.
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Recommended Recipes for Heartburn
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Important Note: These
recipes can only act as temporary relief for heartburn. With
change of eating habits and lifestyle, a cure is possible. But if
uncared for and left
untreated, chronic heartburn can lead to cancer. See a
gastroenterology if you have chronic heartburn.
Pomegranate juice is extremely healing
on inflammation and soothes the pain of heartburn. Drink it
on its own, regularly and frequently. Its high content of
anti-oxidant will also generally do you much good.
This combination is very
efficient in soothing the pain of heartburn. These highly alkaline
produce neutralize the acidic environment, are very cleansing and
building.
Another alkaline combination
that cools and soothes the pain of heartburn. These highly
alkaline produce neutralize the acidic environment, cleanse, repair,
heal and nourish.
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