Posts Tagged ‘Heartburn’

It’s good to know what the signs of reflex acid are so that you can protect yourself against this condition. You don’t want to ignore things like heartburn in favor of watching television because it could mean that your stomach acid is destroying your esophagus. After all, you don’t want to discover that ignoring the signs of this condition has resulted in bleeding of the esophagus.

Additionally, you shouldn’t have to live a life full of pain or other uncomfortable effects of reflux acid. The following are three of the most common symptoms of reflux acid.Heartburn is one of the most common signs of reflex acid. This is also called acid indigestion and it revolves around a burning pain in a person’s chest or in the stomach or abdominal region. Heartburn can be incredibly uncomfortable. Additionally, it can move from your stomach to your chest throughout the day or even the ..

Source: Stomach Acid

Understanding and Treating Heart Burn

Before moving on to treatment options for heart burn, it is important to understand exactly what happens in your body to create this painful sensation after a meal. At the base of your esophagus, there is a ring-like muscle that is called the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES. Usually, this muscle relaxes to allow food to move from your esophagus into your stomach, where it is digested by your stomach acids. The LES then closes, so that the food and acid inside your stomach cannot creep back up the digestive tract into your esophagus. If this muscle does not work properly for one reason or another, substances in the stomach can indeed come back up, resulting in burning as the stomach acids reach the esophageal lining and a bitter taste as they make their way to your throat and mouth.

Common Heart Burn Treatments

Most people who occasionally suffer from heart burn will benefit from an over the counter medicine when the heartburn strikes strikes. This might include an antacid, like Rolaids that will neutralize the stomach acids quickly, giving you relief from the painful burning. Another good over the counter treatment for heart burn is an H-2-receptor blocker, such as Tagamet HB or Pepcid AC. These medicines work differently from the antacids, because they actually reduce the production of acid rather than neutralizing it. And while they are not as speedy as their antacid counterparts, they do tend to bring relief for a longer period of time. Some heart burn sufferers will find that a 1-2 punch will work the best on this condition, with an antacid bringing immediate help while the H-2-receptor blocker will offer relief over the long term.

If you find yourself continuously suffering with more frequent bouts of heart burn, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor about additional remedies available. Frequent occurrences of this condition can lead to damage to the esophageal lining, making treatment more imperative at this stage. Your doctor can help you find the most effective heart burn remedies, whether you opt for an over the counter medication or a stronger prescription to treat your condition.