Acid Heartburn 101

Many people have occasional acid heartburn. When food enters the stomach muscles near the end of the esophagus or LES closed the esophagus off. When this muscles fails to keep the stomach acids from entering the esophagus the heartburn occurs as well as other symptoms. It is when the heartburn is more frequent and ongoing that a person may develop gastroesphageal reflux disease or GERD.

Individuals may experience acid reflux due to a hiatal hernia, pregnancy and certain prescription medications. Some of the prescription drugs that can cause acid reflux include calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure, progestin used for birth control and abnormal menstrual bleeding, anticholinergics for sea sickness, bronchodilators used for asthma, tricyclic, antidepressants, dopamine used for Parkinsons disease, sedatives for anxiety and insomnia and beta blockers used for heart disease or high blood pressure.

Common side effects of these medications are heartburn and acid reflux. When you experience these kinds of symptoms, the first thing to do is to consult the doctor who gave you the prescriptions to discuss other treatment options. Do not stop taking your prescribed medications without your physician’s consent or advice.

The next step is to avoid foods and beverages that are often triggers for acid reflux such as alcohol, caffeine, carbonated beverages, chocolate, citrus fruits, juices tomatoes and spicy sauces, full-fat dairy products, fatty foods and mints like peppermint and spearmint.

You can also change your diet habits to eat smaller meals. A full stomach will put extra pressure on the lower esophagus regions increasing the reflux. Avoid lying down right after eating or eating two to three hours before bedtime. When you lie down after eating, your full and extend stomach puts pressure on the LES. Also avoid bending over or exercising after eating.

If you are overweight, you might consider losing weight as the extra pounds increase the pressure on the the parts of your abdomen that push up on the esophagus. It has been reported in symptoms from acid heartburn disappear when a person loses ten to fifteen pounds. If you smoke cigarettes, consider stopping as the chemicals in cigarettes can weaken the LES.

Often acid heartburn symptoms get worse at night. When you go to bed, elevate your head about six inches. Sleeping with the head elevated higher than the stomach can minimize your symptoms. Use bricks blocks or books located under the head of the bed. You can also get one of the popular wedge or “acid reflux” pillows available online to raise your head higher than your stomach. And just a heads-up: Avoid wearing tight belts or garments around the waist. Snug fitting clothing puts pressure on the abdomen forcing undigested food upwards and causing acid reflux symptoms.

For temporary relief, you can try over-the-counter antacids and H2 Blockers such as Pepcid AC and Zantac to reduce the stomach acids as well as Prilosec OTC. But nothing is a substitute for a visit to your doctor to get the proper diagnosis. When you meet with your doctor, you can discuss medications for your acid heartburn along with alternative treatments that can also provide relief.