How to Get Rid of Heartburn

Does your chest feel on fire after a few bites of spaghetti? Do you feel a burning sensation in your throat when you bend over? Heartburn is a painful and uncomfortable experience, but there are ways to alleviate the symptoms. One effective way is to make dietary and lifestyle changes, such as avoiding spicy foods and elevating your head during sleep. If you want to learn how to get rid of heartburn, you are at the right place!

However, if the symptoms persist or become severe, it’s important to seek the help of a medical professional. Don’t let heartburn disrupt your daily life, take control of your health and seek the proper treatment if necessary.

What is Heartburn?

There are various causes of heartburn—a condition characterized by a burning sensation in the chest. Some of the most common causes of heartburn include:

Eating large meals or lying down after eating
Consuming certain foods and drinks, such as spicy or fatty foods, citrus, tomato-based products, and alcohol
Smoking
Obesity
Pregnancy
Certain medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen
Underlying medical conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia, or peptic ulcers.

Why it’s Important to Address Heartburn (and What Happens if you Don’t)

Heartburn may seem like a minor inconvenience. However, ignoring it can lead to more serious health problems in the future. If left untreated, chronic heartburn can cause damage to the esophagus, increase the risk of esophageal cancer, and worsen symptoms of other medical conditions such as asthma or diabetes.

Furthermore, frequent heartburn can affect your quality of life. This condition can make it difficult to sleep, eat, and perform daily activities.

What Increases the Risk of Heartburn?

If you want to learn how to get rid of heart burn, a great first step is to look at your diet. What you eat can have a significant impact on your heartburn symptoms. To manage heartburn, it’s important to develop healthy eating habits. Some tips for managing heartburn through diet include:

Eating smaller, more frequent meals
Avoiding trigger foods, such as spicy or acidic foods, caffeine, and alcohol
Limiting fatty and fried foods
Eating slowly and chewing thoroughly
Avoiding eating late at night or before bed.

Poor Sleeping Habits

If you aren’t catching some good ZZZs, you might experience more heartburn. The truth is that poor sleeping habits can also affect heartburn symptoms. It’s important to adopt healthy sleeping habits to manage heartburn. Try managing heartburn through sleep with the following advice:

Elevating the head of the bed by 6-8 inches
Sleeping on your left side
Allowing at least 3 hours between eating and lying down
Avoiding eating or drinking before bed.

Lack of Stress Management

Did you know that stress can lead to heartburn? It’s true. Managing stress is an important part of managing heartburn. Some tips for managing heartburn through stress management include:

Practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga
Engaging in physical activity or exercise
Taking breaks and scheduling time for self-care
Getting enough sleep and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.

Little to No Exercise

Exercise is not only good for overall health but can also help manage heartburn symptoms. Regular physical activity can help manage weight, reduce stress, and improve digestion. Some types of exercise that may be beneficial for managing heartburn include:

Low-impact activities, such as walking or cycling
Yoga or stretching exercises
Resistance training, such as weight lifting or bodyweight exercises.

Consuming Trigger Foods

Certain foods and drinks can trigger heartburn symptoms. Avoiding these trigger foods is an important part of managing heartburn. Some common trigger foods to avoid include:

Spicy or acidic foods
Caffeine
Alcohol
Fatty or fried foods
Citrus fruits and juices.

Helpful Heartburn Home Remedies

Are you wondering how to get rid of heartburn? Some people swear by herbal remedies. Herbal remedies have been used for centuries to manage various health conditions, including heartburn. Consider trying some of the following:

Ginger, which has anti-inflammatory properties and can help soothe the stomach
Licorice root helps protect the stomach lining and reduce acid reflux
Slippery elm soothes irritated tissues and reduce inflammation
Peppermint can possibly relieve indigestion and reduce inflammation

Bust Out the Baking Soda

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a natural antacid that can help neutralize stomach acid and alleviate heartburn symptoms. To use baking soda for heartburn relief, mix 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 4 ounces of water and drink it slowly.

Try Some Chewing Gum

Chewing gum may seem like an unlikely remedy for heartburn, but it can actually help alleviate symptoms. Chewing gum stimulates the production of saliva, which can help neutralize stomach acid and promote digestion. Choose sugar-free gum to avoid adding extra sugar to your diet.

Drink Apple Cider Vinegar

Wait—apple cider vinegar is acidic. Can it really help you get rid of heartburn?

While it may seem counterintuitive to use vinegar to manage heartburn, some people find that apple cider vinegar can actually help alleviate symptoms. The theory is that the vinegar can help increase the acidity of the stomach acid. This will improve digestion and reduce symptoms of acid reflux.

To use apple cider vinegar for heartburn relief, mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in 4 ounces of water and drink it slowly. Note that some people may find that vinegar exacerbates their heartburn symptoms. It’s important to pay attention to your body’s reactions.

How to Get Rid of Heartburn: Try Medical Treatment

While occasional heartburn is common and can often be managed through lifestyle changes, certain symptoms may warrant medical attention. If you experience any of the following symptoms, it’s important to seek medical help:

Frequent or persistent heartburn
Difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing
Unintentional weight loss
Chest pain or pressure
Shortness of breath

How to Get Rid of Heartburn: Hillandale Can Help

A healthcare professional can play an important role in diagnosing and treating heartburn. We can perform diagnostic tests, such as an upper endoscopy or pH monitoring, to evaluate the severity and underlying cause of your heartburn symptoms. Hillandale can also provide treatment options, such as prescription medications or surgical interventions. The goal is to symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Don’t Delay Getting Help with Heartburn

If your heartburn symptoms persist despite making dietary and lifestyle changes, it’s important to seek medical help. Chronic heartburn can lead to more serious health problems, such as esophagitis or Barrett’s esophagus, and can increase the risk of esophageal cancer.

Hillandale Primary Care can help evaluate the underlying cause of your symptoms and provide appropriate treatment options. Don’t let heartburn impact your daily life. Seek medical help to manage your symptoms and improve your overall health.