Acid Reflux Treatment – Your Best Options
Heartburn is a common complaint and can strike anyone, at anytime. So what are the best ways to prevent or treat this uncomfortable aliment? On the acid reflux treatment front there are a number of options, from home remedies to over the counter or online bought variations.
Some will work wonders while others will have little effect; it all depends on the level of acid that your stomach is producing as to how effective each option will be. Some people may only get it occasionally while there are others who suffer a more serious affliction.
Pharmaceutical drugs
Usually, the more severe cases require medical intervention in the form of H2 blockers or Promotability Agents. These medicines work by reducing the production of acid in the stomach and also increasing the pace of digestion, the combined effect of which is to reduce the severity of the reflux.
Proton Pump Inhibitors are a rung above than the H2 blockers. They are even more effective at reducing the production of stomach acids and can do that for a longer duration. Common brand names include Prilosec, Prevacid and Aciphex.
A couple of points worth remembering when it comes to these drugs –
One – Although they do work, they only deal with the symptoms and not the root cause, which means if you miss a tablet, or run out, the pain will return.
Two – As with all prescription medicines, the risk of side effects is always there. And more so if you take them for longer periods of time. These can range from diarrhea and headache, all the way to chest pain, stomach pain and vision problems.
Natural treatment
A better option is to look for a natural acid reflux treatment that can provide permanent relief without the risk of any side effects. The first step is to take a close look at the foods you eat.
Simple changes to your diet can work wonders, by understanding what foods you are eating and how they interact with the acid in your stomach you can scale down the severity of the problem. One of the simplest treatments that can be used by everybody is water; by drinking enough water on daily basis you are in essence lowering the acid levels by diluting it.
However, this approach alone is unlikely to be enough to resolve the problem on a permanent basis but it will help. In order to neutralize the acid you need to take in something that is alkaline, this will correct the acid levels and bring balance back to your system.
Quick natural fixes
If you suddenly find yourself stricken with the pain there are some things which you can carry with you that will work within seconds, such as those portions of vinegar that you get at some fast food restaurants. Yes, vinegar, although it is acidic in nature it does tone down and counter the effects of acid reflux and the associated pain.
White or apple cider vinegar is best but in emergencies any will help. Mustard is another but that is difficult to eat on its own, pickled eggs can help as can salad cream, not mayonnaise though as the levels of vinegar or mustard are not high enough to be of any use.
There are a whole host of foods that have high alkaline levels, it’s just a matter of finding one that you either like or can tolerate to eat. Lemons and watermelons are two of the fruits that have high levels of alkaline.
Other foods include Mango, pineapple, ginger, bell peppers, strawberries and potatoes. There are many others to choose from as well, doing a quick internet search will pull up a list of possibilities. By adding these high alkaline foods into your daily diet, you can over the course of a few weeks get the acid levels under control so they are no longer an issue.
Another good one to remember is to always carry some gum with you, not only does it give you minty fresh breath but saliva is great at neutralizing acid, so when the pain strikes get chewing. Drinks such as aloe vera and honey based ones can also help by calming the stomach and the oesophagus.
Exercising
Yes, there are targeted exercises that can strengthen your muscles in the stomach and regulate the acid inside. Combined with the right diet, they can do wonders and actually make for the hands down best acid reflux treatment.
Improving your digestion through the use of quality Prebiotics has also been proven to provide relief from reflux. Just make sure to use one with the right ingredients (kiwi fruit extract is a great choice).
Although drugs from the doctor may work quicker they do not solve the problem, they only mask it. So over time the drugs may become less effective and the pain will return. You may also find that although it controls the pain most of the time there will still be certain foods you cannot eat as it causes too much pain. By opting for natural methods you stand a far better chance of eliminating the issue so that you can enjoy the foods you love without the fear of the pain that usually comes with eating them.
The root of the problem could simply be down to stress, as this can cause unbalances in the bodies chemistry and many people suffer from heart burn and acid indigestion during times of extreme stress and worry.
Take some time out, try yoga or mediation to help control stress levels, exercise right and eat foods that are good for acid control and in a short time you will see a noticeable difference.
