Heart burn for natural cure

Heartburn is a type of digestive problem which involves burning sensation in the upper abdomen, behind the breast bone. It is caused when the acidic stomach contents come in contact with the esophagus lining causing irritation and burning. The main symptom of heart burn is burning pain in the chest which may worsen while lying down, bending and after eating.

Heart burn can also worsen and be more frequent at night. Heartburn which occurs frequently is usually a symptom of GERD or gastro esophageal reflux syndrome where the lower esophageal sphincter weakens or relaxes abnormally. Occasional heart burn can also be due to other factors like large meal, fatty foods, spices, alcohol, caffeine, carbonated beverages, tomato sauce, chocolates, mint, smoking, certain medications and immediately lying down after meals.

Certain health conditions also pose a risk factor for heartburn like obesity, pregnancy, asthma, hiatus hernia, diabetes, delayed stomach emptying and connective tissue disorders. It can be easily taken care of with some natural cures for heartburn. Besides your heart burn treatment, medications involving antacids and H2 beta blockers try the following heart burn home remedies.

Eat small meals – To prevent excess production of stomach acid and reduce the pressure on lower esophageal sphincter, prefer eating small but frequent meals. Learn the art of eating slowly and chewing each morsel thoroughly.

Lose some weight – Heart burn is more common in people who are obese as extra weight on the abdomen pushes your stomach up and puts extra pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter, if you are one of those then lose your weight on a gradual scale to decrease your symptoms.

Meal time – Finish your meals 3-4 hours before going to bed, don’t lie down or bend immediately after having a meal. If your symptoms worsen at night then prefer sleeping your head raised several inches (6-9 inches) from bed.

Triggers – Certain foods can make heartburn symptoms worse, learn to identify and avoid them if they are the triggers. Some common triggers include coffee, alcohol, carbonated beverages, onions, fatty food, chocolate, peppermint, garlic, nicotine, tomatoes and citrus fruits and its juices.

Quit smoking – Smoking increases the production of stomach acid; the air swallowed during smoking may also aggravate acid reflux and belching.

Herbal remedy – Drinking warm water or drinking basil tea 30 minutes after a meal will also help to dilute the stomach acids.

Dress wisely – Avoid tight fitted clothes and belts especially around the waist as they tend to put pressure on the abdomen and lower esophageal sphincter. For a quick fix you can chew sugar free chewing gum, as the saliva produced during chewing helps to dilute and flush the stomach acids. If you follow these natural cures for heartburn on regular basis as a lifestyle modification then they will help to decrease your symptoms naturally.