When you put a gas in a slice of pepperoni pizza, your digestive system starts working and secretes stomach acid to digest food. In many people, a defective esophageal valve causes these acids to enter the esophagus and cause a burning sensation in the chest. Below we want to show you ways to treat heartburn or gastric reflux.
Finally, we introduce a number of pills for gastric reflux.
Causes of heartburn
When you swallow a slice of pepperoni pizza, the slice enters the stomach through the esophagus, opening up a ring of muscles that acts like the lower esophagus, allowing the food to enter your stomach. The valve must then be closed again to prevent acid from entering the esophagus, but in some people the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus does not work well, causing acid to leak from the stomach into the esophagus, causing irritation and discomfort. Also called gastric acid reflux.
Symptoms of heartburn or acid reflux
A nagging pain in the middle of the chest is a clear sign of heartburn or reflux. Reflux usually occurs after a meal and may last for several hours. Sometimes the pain may get worse after bending over or lying down. Other symptoms include a sour taste in the mouth, difficulty swallowing, or the fact that food is stuck in your chest. Chronic cough or asthma attacks may also be associated with reflux.
Who is at risk for refux?
Anyone can have reflux, but certain lifestyles can affect the function of the esophageal sphincter or the amount of acid the stomach secretes. People who are overweight, eat bulky meals, wear tight clothing or smoke are at higher risk.
Are GERD and reflux the same?
Heartburn usually does not have a severe effect on your health, however if it is severe, permanent and prolonged it can have side effects. If you have reflux or heartburn more or less during the week, or your heartburn is severe, you have a condition called round (esophageal reflux disease) and you should see your doctor. Without chronic treatment, it can cause sores and inflammation. Round can also cause changes in esophageal cells, which increases the risk of esophageal cancer.
Heartburn during sleep
Gastric reflux during sleep can be dangerous because more acid stays in the esophagus during sleep and sleep apnea, and you also secrete less acid-neutralizing saliva when we sleep, which can cause more reflux during sleep.
How to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease and prevent heartburn
home treatment
You can prevent mild heartburn with simple ways such as eating smaller meals, eating dinner at least three to four hours before bed, and avoiding snacks before bed to prevent reflux, because there is food in the stomach when lying down. Pulling can lead to reflux.
Control the food you eat
Some foods can put you at risk for GERD by adding more acid to your stomach or relaxing your esophageal sphincter, so avoid these foods. These foods vary depending on your body. Some people may reduce their risk of reflux by avoiding tomatoes, garlic, onions, chocolate, peppermint, fatty foods and citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruits. If you find that spicy foods cause heartburn and you like these foods, you do not need to eliminate them completely from your diet, it is enough to eat these types of foods with less pepper.
Control the drinks you drink
Certain beverages such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, tomato juice and orange juice can cause reflux. Of course, you do not want to be frustrated if you cannot get the right pitch so invest in a good capo.
Change exercise program
Exercise can increase intra-abdominal pressure, which increases the risk of reflux. Some types of exercise can cause heartburn by changing the natural direction of food movement in the body. For example, reverse yoga can be called this type.
Raise your head while sleeping
If you have reflux while sleeping, place a few bricks under the upper bases of your bed so that the upper part is at least 15 cm higher. By doing this you can prevent the secretion of acid from the stomach to the esophagus.
Wear loose clothing
Another way to prevent heartburn is to wear loose clothing that prevents extra pressure on the abdomen and thus the stomach.
Heartburn during pregnancy
More than half of pregnant women complain of severe GERD, especially in the second and third trimesters. Changes in hormone levels and more pressure on the stomach during pregnancy increase the risk of reflux and heartburn. If pregnant women are unable to treat their heartburn in the above ways, they should see their doctor for any treatment.
Heartburn medications (heartburn pills)
Here are some medications and pills that are suitable for heartburn.
Antacids: For the treatment of occasional reflux, liquid antacids can be used that also act quickly, these drugs, as their name suggests, neutralize stomach acid and cause temporary relief. Of course, when using them, be sure to pay attention to their instructions, because excessive use of them can cause serious dangers.
H2 blockers: These drugs reduce the production of stomach acid and can be effective in preventing reflux if taken half an hour before a meal.
Acid blockers (proton pump inhibitors): These drugs also work to reduce acid production, except that they are more effective than H2 blockers.
What medicine should we use to treat heartburn?
In this regard, various factors such as the severity of heartburn, its duration, frequency of recurrence and… are involved. The best way to ensure the best medicine is to consult your doctor.
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