Symptoms, Preventio & Home Remedy of Acidity & Heartburn

Acidity, Acid Reflux or heart burn are due to presence of excessive acid in the stomach that causes irritation of the gastrointestinal covering. This causes a burning pain. When this excessive acid leaks back into the gullet this inflames and the feeling of heartburn is produced. Heartburn is the most common symptom of gastro-esophageal reflux. Heartburn can take a patient's life, if not treated properly in time.

The following conditions can produce excessive acid in stomach causing acidity and heartburn.

• Eating rich and spicy foods.
• Eating quickly, very fast without proper chewing.
• Eating quickly while under stress.
• Improper sleep
• Smoking
• Alcohol consumption
• Pregnant women may suffer because when the baby grows, the uterus exerts pressure on the digestive tract.
• Obese people may suffer because of excessive pressure on their digestive tract.

Some people are more susceptible than others to acidity and heartburn as they have problem in digesting some foods.

Bananas have protective action against the acidity and heart burn. Eating a banana daily will prevent such conditions.

1. Chew the food properly. Do not eat in hurry.
2. Do not skip meals. Do not keep large gap between meals. This produces gas / wind. Eat smaller frequent meals.
3. Avoid fried foods, pickles, tomato sauce and ketchup, mustard, hot spicy foods, vinegar, chocolates, excessive tea or coffee, peppermint, spearmint, citrus fruits or juices, carbonated beverages, etc.
4. Avoid raw salad of vegetables like onion, cabbage, radish, and peppers.
5. Avoid unripe high pectin fruits, such as unripe apple. But ripe apple such as delicious apple or fuji apple may help.
6. Drink plenty of water, at least 8 glasses daily.
7. Take a mixture of 2 tsp of natural apple cider vinegar and 2 tsp raw honey in a glass of water before meals.
8. Stop smoking and cut down on alcohol.
9. Do not eat just before going to bed.
10. Read below for Acid reflux and heartburn remedies
    

Heartburn or acidity can be treated by taking some precautions.

1. Maintaining an upright posture for two to three hours after food will help in preventing reflux.
2. Sleep with your head and shoulder on a high pillow for elevation. Place one brick under each foot of the head end of the bed.
3. Chew a few basil (tulsi) leaves to get relief from burning and gas.
4. Keep a small piece of jaggery (gur) in your mouth and slowly suck it. Repeat it every hour till acidity subsides.
5. Keep 1 teaspoon ajwain (carom seeds) in mouth and chew slowly after every meal.
6. Eat watermelon, banana or cucumber every hour.
7. Eat a few almonds when your feel heartburn symptoms.
8. Drink coconut water 4-5 times a day.
9. A glass of cold milk gives fast relief of acidity and heartburn.
10. Keep a small piece of harad (chebulic myrobalan) in your mouth and chew it after every meal. Chebulic myrobalan (Haritaki, Harida, Harar, Chebulic myroblan, Black myroblan, Harada) has been used in India for the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, heart-burn, piles, hemorrhoids, dyspepsia, and liver disorders.
11. Take one piece of clove and suck on it slowly to treat acidity.
12. Drink fresh mint juice slowly after meals.
13. Drink daily a 1 tsp juice of chebulic myrobalan (Harra in Hindi, Haritaki in Sanskrit and Kadukkai in Tamil) mixed with 1 tsp of amla (Indian gooseberry) juice.
14. Practice Kapalbhati yoga daily.

When to Consult a Doctor

Go to your Doctor if you experience the following:

1. Heartburn continues for several times a week.
2. Symptoms persist even after taking heartburn medications or returns again.
3. If you wake up at night due to heartburn.
4. Black stools
5. Difficulty in swallowing.
6. Weight loss