How To Relieve Heartburn: 5 Home Remedies

You can often relieve mild heartburn at home. Heartburn is a common sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), in which stomach acid flows back into the esophagus.

The way you lie down to sleep can lead to heartburn. Research has shown that lying on your right side increases acid reflux at night and after meals. Consider trying to sleep on your left side as much as possible.

Try elevating the head of your bed with blocks or using a bed wedge to elevate your upper torso. This remedy has been shown to be effective against nighttime symptoms of GERD.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can help relieve heartburn because they:

• Block fluid flow
• Reduce stomach fluids
• Make stomach acid less acidic

A common medication for this is Pepcid AC (famotidine). Its effectiveness may decrease because people develop a tolerance to the drug.

“What I suggest to my patients is that they take a [OTC] H2 blocker when they have their breakthrough symptoms. It seems to give them better control,” said Joel Richter, MD, director of the Joy McCann Culverhouse Swallowing Center at the University of South Florida. Health.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are medications that help your stomach produce less acid. However, they are not always fully effective and up to 40% of people may occasionally experience breakthrough symptoms.

“Generally, the [PPIs] are administered 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast,” said David Johnson, MD, professor of medicine and chief of gastroenterology at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Health.

Some people are better off splitting doses throughout the day to avoid nighttime symptoms. A doctor can help you determine how and when to take PPIs.

Knowing what triggers heartburn can help you reduce its severity.

Heartburn is usually caused by:

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Peppermint
• Spicy, fatty or acidic foods
• Tomato products

If you’re not sure what’s causing your heartburn, keep a food diary to track what you eat and your symptoms. This can help identify patterns and triggers.

A 2016 study found that people with GERD experienced acid reflux more often if they lay down longer after a late meal than those who ate earlier meals. Eating a meal a few hours before bed or just before bed can lead to heartburn.

Eat your meals earlier in the day rather than just before bed. Waiting at least three hours after eating before lying down is a useful guideline.

Eating before exercise can also make GERD symptoms worse. Give yourself time between eating and exercising.

Food passes from your throat to your stomach through your esophagus when you swallow it. Acid can come back through the opening to your stomach if it doesn’t close after food passes through.

Acid can travel up your esophagus into your throat, a condition known as acid reflux. One of the main symptoms of GERD is chronic acid reflux. Acid reflux can cause a burning sensation or heartburn. You can also have GERD without heartburn.

Talk to a doctor if you make any changes and still experience heartburn. Let them know if you use over-the-counter medications frequently, such as twice or more per week.

See a doctor if you have symptoms such as:

• Coughing or wheezing
• Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
• Heartburn that persists after trying home remedies or gets worse with medication
• Unintentional weight loss

Get medical attention immediately if you have serious symptoms. These include black or brown stools and vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds. Burning, crushing chest pain can be a sign of a heart attack.