Do you sleep with 3 pillows under your head? After you eat or drink do you moan in agony grasping your chest at the same time? Do you feel like you have swallowed a thousand nails? Then welcome to the world of indigestion and heartburn.

First, let me clarify myself here. Indigestion and heartburn can be caused by many different reasons. Today I am writing about heartburn and indigestion caused by life, and NOT by any underlying illness.

Heartburn or pyrosis is a painful or burning sensation in the esophagus, just below the breastbone caused by regurgitation of gastric acid. The pain often rises in the chest and may radiate to the neck or throat. Heartburn is also identified as one of the causes of asthma and chronic cough.

The sensation of heartburn is caused by exposure of the lower esophagus to the acidic contents of the stomach.

Quite a number of years ago, my heartburn was so bad that even a sip of water caused my chest to go on fire. Thank goodness it is now under control. It will creep up now and then, but the constant agony of heartburn has been conquered.

Heartburn can be caused by a number of factors. These include certain foods, and others are factors such as being overweight or lifestyle habits, such as smoking, drinking and stress. Stress may not necessarily cause heartburn, but it can aggravate it severely. Eating too much at one sitting will guarantee a heartburn attack.

There are many sites on the internet that will give you lists of foods to eat and to avoid.

Foods that may cause Heartburn:

Alcohol

Coffee, tea, cola, and other caffeinated and carbonated beverages

Chocolate

Citrus fruits and juices

Tomatoes and tomato sauces (such as pizza and pasta sauce)

Spicy foods and fatty foods (including full-fat dairy products)

Peppermint and spearmint

Dry fruits such as peanuts

Lifestyle changes will also help. Choosing a healthier diet, exercising and generally looking after ourselves is a first good step towards relief of heartburn.

Also, checking into the many different natural aids is worth the time and effort. Choose products from companies that have been around for a long time. Research the products recommended to you. Do not just take something, or spend your life’s savings on product because a close friend or family recommended it. Check it out first. Research it first. Find testimonials, real live testimonials.

Tips for instant relief. Raise your bed. Eat slowly. Do not eat 2 hours before bed. When heartburn strikes, do not lie down…try sucking on a candy.

Old fashioned remedies: Ginger, Clover and Chamomile.

You can find natural remedies for your health, formulated in therapeutic dosages to help with digestive disorders. There is much help available, if you take the time to thoroughly research your options.

Try not to go for the short term relief, such as Tums, Rolaids or the very many pills available in the pharmacies. Instead, try to find a permanent relief.

Another possible reason for heartburn and indigestion could be inflammation. With me, I did have that very condition. Once it was gone, so was my heartburn. Kind of like the snowball effect. The heartburn was causing inflammation, which was causing more heartburn. Another very interesting factor, for me, was that when my inflammation was present, my sugar readings were high. Once my inflammation was under control, so were my sugar readings.

To educate yourself with some general wellness knowledge check out this site. I am making no claims here, but this is some terrific research information for you. Dr. Barry Sears most recent research has uncovered a new way to define wellness … the absence of silent inflammation. In this extraordinary new book, Dr. Sears answers critical questions: What is Silent Inflammation? What causes it? How do you know if you have it? Why is it harmful to your health? How you can reduce it?

Title: The Anti-Inflammation Zone

Subtitle: Reversing the Silent Epidemic That’s Destroying Our Health

Author: Dr. Barry Sears

Binding: Hardcover

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Publication Year: 2005

Pages: 403

ISBN: 0060595469

It is a book worth reading.

Take your heartburn seriously. Discuss it with your doctor. Look for natural remedies. Research these remedies and the companies that offer them. Change your lifestyle. Normal day to day heartburn can lead to serious illness if not treated and looked after.

You can conquer it. I did.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Can you think of anything more paradoxical? Here you have a burning sensation caused by hydrochloric acid coming up through the lower esophageal sphincter (heartburn), and the suggested remedy is to swallow yet more acid. How can that possibly be? Especially as one of the potential causes of heartburn is excess acid from acidic foods.

For example, a glass of tomato juice may herald the onset of heartburn, this in itself could be the cause. You may be able to counter it with an antacid or an alkali such as bicarbonate of soda.

But there are cases where antacids simply do not work and many heartburn sufferers swear by vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar, as a remedy for heartburn. Yet vinegar itself is acidic, so how can it possibly work?

Too Little Acid

To understand the condition fully, we need to take a look at how this part of the digestive system works.

The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) forms the entrance to the stomach. Above it is the esophagus which has only one job in life, to transport food from the mouth to the stomach. Once past the sphincter, hydrochloric acid begins breaking down the food into particles we can digest.

The muscles of the LES simply open and close the entry to the stomach which is, of course, the acidic region. When food is swallowed, the LES opens. When no food is present in the esophagus, the LES stays closed.

When closed, the LES creates a pressure difference between the esophagus and the stomach with the higher pressure being in the esophagus.

If the sphincter muscles relax too much, the pressure equalizes and acid can enter the esophagus giving rise to the sensation we know as heartburn. A change in position such as bending forward, for instance, can cause a reflux of acid with the resulting familiar pain and burning sensation in the gullet. This pain alone makes the idea of ingesting yet more acid in the form of vinegar a ridiculous notion.

And yet it, in some conditions, it does work and work very well. So how?

It comes down to the mechanics of the sphincter. One of the things that triggers the LES to close is acid itself. When acid is detected, the muscles pull tight to stay closed. However if your stomach does not create enough acid, or if you have eaten food that is very alkaline, the muscles controlling the sphincter may relax, allowing a reflux of stomach juices into the esophagus.

The result is heartburn. The remedy, therefore, is to increase the presence of acid and the answer may be to drink a couple of tablespoons of vinegar in a glass of water. This is usually enough and, in particular, raw (unprocessed) apple cider vinegar is thought to be very beneficial in this respect.

In some cases drinking plain water can also help keep stomach acid where it belongs, as can a gentle stomach ‘liner’ such as goat milk.

Try some plain water first, then milk and finally the acid intake outlined above. But take care. Heartburn can be a symptom of a much more serious condition and may not just be acid reflux. If it is persistent it is very important that you seek medical advice and the sooner the better.

Acid Reflux Disease (GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease or GERD) occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. Oftentimes a burning sensation is felt in the chest and this has been commonly referred to as heartburn. If you have chronic heartburn, it is highly recommended to see a doctor.

According to a study mandated by a new Medicare law, data has come back saying that drugs can be just as effective as even surgery in managing some of the symptoms of acid reflux. This can affect many people, as it is estimated that currently sixty million Americans have acid reflux.

If you have been diagnosed with acid reflux disease, knowing that in some cases drugs may be as effective as surgery, it makes available a variety of treatment options. Your doctor may recommend an over the counter medication, such as an antacid or a prokinetic agent. If this is not effective, prescription antacids may be recommended or even surgery, or a combination of both.

It’s been found that with chronic GERD, over-the-counter medications (such as Zantac, Pepcid and Tagamet — each with their own respected trademarks) are not as effective as proton pump inhibitors. But the proton pump inhibitors can have more side effects. Also, the respected brands Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec OTC are all similar in the degree of effectiveness. And when compared to surgery, they seem to compare similarly in relieving the discomfort of GERD.

One thing to keep in mind is that even though there are antacids and surgery to help manage your symptoms, be sure not to overlook a simple cure. Sometimes just because a cure is simple, people scoff at the ability of it to help. It’s best to start with the easiest and cheapest solutions (such as reducing workplace stress) and then work your way to something more dramatic (like surgery).

Some people have found a simple way to control heartburn is by just making simple lifestyle changes.

The most obvious lifestyle change that you could make to help manage your heartburn symptoms is also the simplest of all solutions: avoid any food or drinks that make you feel uncomfortable. Some people say this is too easy and it can’t work, some people say it’s too difficult to make dietary adjustments. But you can try a simple experiment to see if this provides your cure.

Take four week test and replace any fatty, deep-fried foods with healthier alternatives, such as a salad, vegetables, and non-citrus fruits. In addition, try to avoid any caffeine drinks (this is probably the most difficult of all) and instead try non-caffeinated drinks and herbal teas.

Another diet tip is to eat a just barely ripened banana (were there is still a small bit of green left to it) about a half hour before bed. I know, it sounds crazy, but some people swear by this simple and healthy method of controlling heartburn.

You may not have realized it, but stress could be a contributing cause to your acid reflux. Studies have found that the body makes more stomach acid in stressful situations, and if you find yourself “stressing out,” then it’s time to learn to relax.

There’s lots of resources on the internet with instructions on reducing stress: the main thing is to find a relaxing place all to yourself, or listen to calm music, or read by yourself. Make sure you don’t let other people make their problems become your problem. If everyone asks you how to solve their problems, then get out of the problem solving business. Once you discover the source of your stress, find ways to reduce your exposure to this stressor and you may find your acid reflux to be a thing of the past.

If you have acid reflux, the best thing to do is to seek help from your medical professional. You can get trusted advice and then make your own choice. And for some people, the acid reflux may be so severe that they’ll need to have surgery and then follow up with medications to really get a handle on it.

However, some simple changes in your life may provide all the help you need and may even enhance your quality of living.

Copyright (c) 2006.

If you have chronic heartburn, you know that dealing with it can be a real pain. Heartburn is caused by stomach acid that “leaks” into the throat and down the esophagus. The burning sensation that you feel is actually destroying your esophagus slowly over time, which can cause a lot of health related problems in the long run. But, you don’t have to live with the constant suffering and painful sensations. There are many ways you can get rid of heartburn, and they are ones that you may have not even considered before!

Many people out there try treating their heartburn with over the counter medicines, such as antacids. While these do work for a certain period of time, they do nothing more than mask the symptoms temporarily. Eventually, the heartburn returns over and over throughout your daily life. It almost seems like there never is a certain way that you can get rid of heartburn, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

First off, if you want to get rid of heartburn, you need to make sure that you are cutting back on certain food and drinks. Lay off the pop and coffee, and consume more water throughout the day. Pop contains a lot of acid, which only contributes to your heartburn. And, you need to even consider the foods you eat daily, which can also cause heartburn.

If you’ve been unsuccessful in trying to get rid of heartburn, you might want to consider natural methods of treatment, such as controlling your diet, or taking certain herbs that control your heartburn. Many people have found out that natural treatments work best, with some people eliminating their heartburn altogether!

If you’re tired of living with heartburn, you owe it to yourself to take action and get rid of it for good. Click Here now to find out how you can eliminate heartburn for good, in just as little as 48 hours!

Most people will suffer heartburn symptoms at some stage in their lives. Heartburn is an uncomfortable experience and for some, it can be chronic.

Recognizing heartburn symptoms is a bit like “closing the gate after the horse has bolted.” A burning sensation or heat rising up from the abdomen in waves into a persons throat will signal a heartburn attack. A sour taste in the mouth follows and then a period of discomfort.

Heartburn symptom will usually occur about 30 minutes after a meal and the worse thing a sufferer can do is to lie down. Standing upright or taking antacids can often provide relief. Heartburn symptom can vary from mild to chronic. Mild symptom can be easily treated at home however, if symptoms persist then it’s wise to seek a medical opinion.

So what can you do to prevent heartburn? Commonsense says some lifestyle change may be required. Recognize what preceded a heartburn symptom. In my case for example, I found heartburn symptom would occur following too much coffee. A self confessed coffee addict, I suddenly realised the onset of heartburn symptom followed the consumption of one too many gourmet coffees. I then cut down my coffee consumption by about 90 per cent and haven’t had a problem since. Obviously my case is was treated as mild heartburn symptom but I was aware enough to firstly recognize what brought it on and then to do something about it.

It may be a good idea to keep a record before and after you make any changes to your lifestyle. These can be discussed with your doctor, particularly any improvements you notice so you can then set about re-adjusting.

Diet is another area to look at when recognizing heartburn symptom. In most instances, heartburn symptom sufferers can relate an episode to one or more types of food. Once you identify these you can set about reorganizing your diet. There are known categories of foods that don’t go hand in hand with heartburn and for chronic sufferers in particular, a major dietry change may be required.

There are a number of treatments for heartburn symptom including antacids but treatment can vary in relation to the seriousness of any related heartburn attack. Again, your physician can provide information on these. In my instance, I identified what brought on my heartburn symptom and acted accordingly.

Heartburn symptom doesn’t have to rule your life. With heartburn, prevention is sometimes better than cure. Take some commonsense steps such as isolating instances and dietry intake preceding an attack and you will be well on the way to getting on top of any future heartburn symptom threat.

Are you thinking of ways to stop heartburn? Well, before you take a bite of that piece of pizza, or go to your favorite buffet restaurant, learn some valuable ways to defeat heartburn.

Heartburn affects 15 million Americans on a day to day basis. It’s not much of a problem when people experience heartburn on occasion, it’s when a person feels the symptoms on a more consistent basis (two or more days a week). People sometimes over look their symptoms thinking it’s maybe something they’ve eaten.

Of course this is true in some cases, but if you continue to experience symptoms of heartburn after trying different OTC treatments, then your body is trying to tell you something I believe you should take serious heed to.

There’s a small muscular ring at the junction of your esophagus and your stomach. This is called the LES (lower esophageal sphincter). This ring is suppose to keep food and stomach acid in your stomach.

If the LES is weak or relaxed, then food, liquids, and stomach acid will travel up to your esophagus. As a result you feel a bad burning sensation. That burning sensation you feel is commonly known as heartburn.

I’m sure you’ve heard and read a lot of this before, but hey, the more you read, the more you learn, right? If you want to learn some easy ways to stop heartburn then here are some ways I hope you find helpful.

1. Smoking – I’m sure it’s easier said than done to simply quit smoking. However, smoking relaxes your lower esophageal sphincter. When this happens stomach acid will sneak up to your esophagus.

2. Create a food diary and pay very close attention to certain foods like chocolate, milk, sodas, fruits and vegetables that are high in acids like oranges and tomatoes. Spicy foods can also irritate your esophagus which causes heartburn.

3. Drink more water – Some may feel there’s no sugary or strong taste with water. Water not only is a benefit to your kidneys, but it also helps neutralizes stomach acid.

4. One important thing to consider is that you may have a more serious condition, especially if you experience heartburn more than twice a week. If your esophagus is damaged, like mine was, then you may need surgery to repair it.

There are some other things you may try to stop heartburn, like cucumber juice. Cucumber juice (freshly squeezed) can help put a stop to heartburn. Try to exercise a bit more to lose some weight.

If you were to lose 10lbs. that would help relieve pressure off of your LES. Herbs like agrimony, aloe vera, angelica, fennel, garlic, gentian etc., can help treat your heartburn symptoms.

Even though it’s not always talked about homeopathy treatment is pretty good for heartburn. Arsenicum album – for heartburn accompanied by anxiety, chills and thirst, abdominal cramping.

Nux vomica – for heartburn caused by fats or sour foods. Sulfur – for heartburn caused by overeating and/or accompanied by burping.

Nutritional supplements, probiotics, soil-based organisms and stress reduction are four others way to bring an end to heartburn. The best type of nutritional supplements you can try are digestive enzymes and calcium carbonate. The calcium carbonate should be taken every 2 to 3 hrs. until symptoms ends.

Acidophilus and Bifidobacteria, are probiotics that can also be helpful, as can fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and soil-based organisms.

Now, FOS is an all-natural carbohydrate type of microorganism that serves as a fertilizing agent that helps Bifidobacteria to thrive in the large intestine, where it helps to protect against harmful bacteria.

Soil-based organisms detoxifies your gastrointestinal tract while eliminating fungi, molds, parasites, viruses, and yeasts. With the high price of gas and foreclosures all everywhere, it’s pretty hard not to be stressful.

The good news is there are some stress reduction techniques that can maybe help you in ending your heartburn. There are people who practice holistic health. They help their patients reduce stress through the use of various mind and body medicine techniques, like:

* Biofeedback

* Hypnotherapy

* Relaxation exercises

I hope some of these tips will assist you in your fight to stop heartburn. Have a wonderful day and a better tomorrow.

Heartburn is seen in numerous individuals and it is caused because the acids that is present in your stomach troubles the esophagus. Rare heartburn is normally caused due to the usual irritants such as spicy food and could normally be treated with the help of without a prescription antacid. But if you face heartburn frequently, like more than three time a week, than your heartburn might be very severe problem.

This constant occurring heartburn is actually the most understandable way to recognise that you might be undergoing a disease called GRED or gastroesophageal reflux. This disease occurs because of stomach acid as well as other bile starts to move back in the esophagus.

The most normal symptom of the heartburn is burning sensation which you feel in the chest. So far, the other symptoms are linked to the heartburn include, however are unlimited to, insomnia, chest pain, wheezing, choking and abdominal pain. Although, they couldn’t be comparable in seriousness, the heartburn symptoms could be bewildered with the heart attack. Even though, it is significant to recall that long lasting heartburn symptoms could point out that there’s more severe heart problem and this would need medical attention. 

Spicy food is considered to be well known heartburn cause. But, other causes are eating huge meals, greasy foods, alcohol, fatty foods, eating quickly as well as lying down immediately after meal. Most of the people don’t realize this, however stress is also considered as one of the heartburn cause. Stress could give rise to stomach acid and this is stored in the esophagus.

Today, there are many medicines as well as treatments to assist you to cure the heartburn case. You are most likely to without prescription medicines such as Rolaids, Tums and Gaviscon. These are normally selected to get relief from the heartburn which is caused by greasy foods, spicy foods or heavy foods and these are normally taken immediately after meal. For heartburn which occurs more often then there are some medicines like Pepcid AC and Prilosec OTC to combat its symptoms.

And it’s significant to take in account that all these are only some cures available for the heartburn. With several heartburn fighters, its quiet easy to not remember that they’re prescription strength treatments for most serious cases. For beginners, there are many cures which are availed in an effective prescription power version; few of these are inclusive of Pepcid, Prilosec and Zantac. Till now we have stated about the cures or treatments which are divided as H2 blockers or antacids. Other type of heartburn cures are inclusive of pro – mobility treatments such as proton pump inhibitors or Cisapride which include Prevacid and Nexium.

Others ways through which the heartburn could be prohibited include surgery and this is only recommended for serious cases and for lifestyle changes. The most common suggested things which you could do in order to put an end to this naturally is by cutting down alcohol and spicy foods, stop taking large meals and stop smoking and totally ignore sleeping immediately after your meal and start exercising.

To Your Health!

Ughhh… I’ve got this horrible sensation where my heart feels like it’s on fire my throat is burning as if acid has been injected into it and I feel like I’m about to gag!

It happens to nearly all of us at one time or another. You enjoy a delicious meal, settle back for some relaxation afterward, and then it hits. The burning sensation in your chest and the bitter taste in your mouth.

For some, the burning gets so intense that it feels as though your chest is on fire. This is where the term “heart burn” comes from, even though the pain has absolutely nothing to do with your heart.

In some severe cases, heart burn can even be mistaken for a heart attack or vice versa – making this condition appear to be more serious than it really is. For most, the pain of heart burn is enough to leave us running for relief from our medicine cabinet. And the good news is that this solution is usually sufficient to put that burning sensation to rest once and for all.

Before discussing 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 creating a bitter taste as they make their way to your throat and mouth.

Effective Heart Burn Treatments

Most folks who only occasionally suffer from heart burn will benefit from an over the counter remedy when the condition 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.

Like any persistent ailment if you find yourself suffering with more frequent bouts of heart burn, we recommend that you talk to your doctor and get a proper diagnosis so that he/she may point out additional remedies available. Remember frequent occurrences of this condition can lead to damage to the esophageal lining, in which case a prescribed treatment becomes more imperative.

You May Not Know If You Have Acid Reflux

Unlike the usual Acid Reflux symptoms of heartburn, burning sensations in your throat and chest, Silent Acid Reflux can be difficult to detect. The causes are the same, but the symptoms are not.

Both Acid Reflux and Silent Acid Reflux are caused by stomach contents backing up into the esophagus and up to the throat. This is usually happens because weak throat muscles.

Allow the acidic stomach contents to travel to the throat, resulting in the burning sensation.

Silent Acid Reflux, however, exhibits subtle symptoms that often go un-noticed and are dismissed for other reasons or causes.

Let me tell you a story. So far not a successful one. A fellow I know has spent his life quietly coughing several times a day to clear his throat of mucus. He always thought it was a sinus condition draining into his throat. After fifty some years of this he began to make popping sounds at night while he slept when his mouth was open. Every breath made a sound like a dripping faucet. After a year or so of that and beginning to cough extra loud to clear his throat he visits his Doctor, who sends him to a sinus specialist; who does a CAT scan and finds the sinus’ clear. Then it was on to an allergy specialist and they find he is not allergic to anything. Then to throat specialist who examines the throat and finds his throat swollen around the vocal cords and finds tiny growths on the vocal cords. The growths were removed and found to be benign. A prescription was prescribed to reduce the swelling; and another for Silent Acid Reflux (really wasn’t silent with all the noisy coughing he was doing, but that is what the Doctors called it) which didn’t help. Now he is on the purple pill that doesn’t seem to be helping. He has been advised to sleep with his head raised and to avoid certain foods. What is next? He doesn’t know .Perhaps natural remedies. He has been seeing Doctors for a couple years now. The point here is that if you have the signs or symptoms don’t wait for years to check it out. Try to get it fixed, nip it in the bud if you can, before it gets out of hand.

Silent Acid Reflux affects people of all ages – even infants.

If you find yourself clearing your throat frequently, or while eating or talking; snoring or have bouts of irregular sleep you may be suffering from Silent Acid Reflux. If your child is frequently swallowing food that they spit up, the acid in it can damage the lining of their esophagus. People suffering form these conditions, including my friend, are often advised to sleep with their heads raised; and let several hours pass after eating before sleeping to allow the digestive process to settle down. They are also advised to avoid foods that induce a lot of stomach acid.

If you have these signs, don’t dismiss it. Visit your Doctor before it gets too serious.

There are medicines, natural remedies and treatments to relieve the condition. They do not work for everyone, but they are worth a try and may help you.

Richard Prosser

Do you suffer from heartburn? Besides the obvious discomfort, heartburn can lead to more serious health risks. Long term damage of acid reflux or heartburn can lead to a condition known as Barrett’s esophagus.

Barrett’s esophagus is a digestive disorder in which the normal healthy white lining of the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach, known as the esophagus, is damaged and replaced by an abnormal red lining called specialized intestinal metaplasia. This happens because of stomach acid that leaks back into and irritates the esophagus. This acid damage is also referred to as heartburn, GERD, and acid reflux. Acid reflux is a result of stomach acids used to digest foods coming back into the lower esophagus area. This occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter muscle gets weakened or functions improperly. The burning sensation is due to the fact that the esophageal lining is unable to withstand the rising acidic levels.

Barrett’s is an uncommon health condition, only about 5 percent of people with GERD develop Barrett’s esophagus. However, if Barrett’s is diagnosed, there is a 30- to 125-fold increased risk of developing esophageal cancer. The cancer can spread to lymph nodes and other organs. Esophageal cancer arising from Barrett’s esophagus can lead to the second fastest growing type of cancer in the United States. The scary thing is that Barrett’s esophagus itself does not cause symptoms. The heartburn or acid reflux that causes Barrett’s esophagus results in symptoms of chest pain or indigestion.

One of the most important things you can do to prevent your Barrett’s esophagus from turning into cancer is to manage your heartburn. The allopathic treatment for heartburn usually involves taking antacids. Antacids are usually taken 30-60 minutes after eating. Prescription drugs have also been shown to control acid reflux. If you suffer from this condition, be sure to ask your physician what your best options would be for treating problem. Many also choose to seek natural cures for treating acid reflux. Some popular treatments include digestive enzymes at the beginning of meals, chewable calcium tablets, and herbal combinations including marshmallow root, DGL, and aloe vera.

Be sure to call your health care provider if heartburn persists for longer than a few days, or you have pain or difficulty swallowing. Also, call your provider if symptoms worsen, do not improve with treatment, or if new symptoms develop in a person with Barrett’s esophagus. Diagnosis and treatment of acid reflux may prevent the onset of Barrett’s esophagus.