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Natural Cures for Heartburn
Heartburn occurs as a burning sensation moving up the chest soon after eating. The pain behind the breast bone is often described as a "burning" sensation. Pain can also be felt at the same level in the mid-line of the back. Heartburn is generally related to meals and posture and can often be relieved by natural remedies.
Poor digestion can occur when your alkaline reserve is low and your blood becomes over acidic. Heartburn is caused by overeating, poor food choices, drinking with meals and bad food combinations. Eating too many acidic foods and a lack of digestive enzymes coupled with compromised digestive health from ongoing abuse can result in acid reflux. If left untreated, heartburn can degenerate into Acid Reflux Syndrome, which in turn can lead to serious complications, such as ulcers, strictures (scarring of the esophagus), and even inflammation and infection of the throat, larynx and lungs.
Self treatment using over-the-counter antacids can lead to other gastrointestinal problems. For example, antacids containing aluminum have a tendency to cause constipation, while antacids that contain magnesium tend to cause diarrhea. Histamine antagonists, while effective, may also carry side effects like fatigue, headache, insomnia, muscle pain, nausea, and vomiting. In serious cases, it could even cause impotence, confusion, and hallucinations, especially in the elderly. In other words, many of the conventional means of treating heartburn is actually making you sick.
What is heartburn?
Heartburn, also known as pyrosis, is an uncomfortable burning sensation just below the breastbone, caused by the production of too much gastric acid. Although the pain often starts in the chest, it may stretch to the neck, throat and jaw.
It may be called heartburn, but this condition doesn’t actually have anything to do with the heart. It gets its name because of the burning sensation it causes near the heart - although some heart problems may give rise to a similar burning sensation.
Heartburn relief
Medical heartburn remedies include things like antacids, H2-receptor antagonists, alginates and proton pump inhibitors. Small amounts of sodium bicarbonate can also bring heartburn relief by neutralising the acid causing the pain. Contrary to popular belief, milk is not on the list of recommended heartburn remedies, as it contains both calcium and protein, which will increase acid production in the stomach, and instead of giving heartburn relief it can worsen.
Natural heartburn cures
Natural heartburn cures do not involve pharmaceutical drugs or surgery, but instead encourage a holistic approach, taking overall well-being into account to bring heartburn relief, rather than just treating the physical symptoms.
Natural heartburn cures include raising one's bed at a slight angle so that the head is raised slightly higher than the feet. This can prevent gastric acid from rising in the oesophagus and causing pain. Another recommended form of heartburn relief is to avoid pillows which only raise the head, as this does little for heartburn and places continuous strain on the neck.
Because large meals cause excess stomach acid production, it helps to eat little and often, rather than having large meals, especially in the evening. Acid in fruit or juice, fatty foods, coffee, tea, onions, peppermint, chocolate, or highly spiced foods, especially just before bedtime, can also trigger an attack.
The vast majority of people who suffer from heartburn can link their symptoms to specific foods. So diet management is one of the key preventative heartburn remedies. Fatty foods and caffeinated beverages can also trigger the symptoms.
Equally, tight clothing around the abdomen may increase the risk of heartburn because it puts pressure on the stomach.
Natural heartburn cures from Natural Cures.com
If you feel conventional medicine isn’t working, and you want to find out more about non-medical heartburn remedies, make Natural Cures your first port of call. You’ll find a wealth of information about natural heartburn cures which restore the body’s biochemical balance, and look at the dietary and lifestyle changes which may be necessary.
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