Preventing Heartburn
Most people experience heartburn at least once a month. But if heartburn symptoms are frequent and occur in more than three meals a day or arise during activities such as eating or smoking, you may have a chronic heartburn condition.
Preventing heartburn means keeping your risk of developing heartburn to a minimum so that you are less likely to develop acid reflux, or GERD.
Symptom Heartburn
Heartburn, which is sometimes called indigestion, occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus and is ofter digested by the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). The action of welcoming back the stomach acid back into the esophagus is the lower esophageal sphincter(LES). Normally it closes to prevent stomach acid from poisoning the esophagus.
There are circumstances however when the LES is weak and fails to close successfully. In these cases, the acid finds its way into the esophagus.
Frequently used drugs Heartburn
The most common drug used to prevent heartburn is antacids. Commonly over-the-counter antacids such as Maalox, Mylicacid, Rolaids, and the like, will relieve most cases of heartburn.
Antacids are often the first remedy that many people try. They reduce the discomfort and duration of the heartburn though they may not get rid of the symptoms entirely.
You may find that antacids work better or not at all. Some patients have no relief at all and others experience modest relief. You may need to try several different types of antacids before you find one that works best for you.
Another option you can try for the prevention of the symptoms leading to heartburn is a device called an Ookroma. The Ookroma is a device that is similar to the antacids. The difference between the two is that the Ookroma is designed to work in a manner similar to the way your stomach empties itself without you having to exert too much pressure on the abdomen.
While the Ookroma device may be helpful, it will not cure heartburn. You will still have to take medications that can relieve some of the symptoms.
For effective heartburn treatment, you need to treat the symptoms, and not just the cause. It may be possible to lessen the severity of symptoms, but it will not help if you continue to eat or drink things that are known to trigger heartburn.
The most common trigger for heartburn is acidic foods. Alkaline-forming foods will trigger the symptoms. You should try altering your diet, eating more alkaline-forming foods, and avoiding the consumption of foods that can form gas such as peas and beans.
You should also try taking medications that are known to relieve heartburn. There are several prescription drugs that treat the symptoms, and some relieve them completely. If you are one who is very often heartburn afflicted you may want to try a medication that you are not allergic to. Consult your doctor about this.
A known drug for many years has been Imipramine. It has been shown to relieve heartburn in up to 87% of patients. While some side effects may still occur, this is a safe drug that you should try. You should also consult with your doctor before trying Imipramine.
Another drug that has been shown to help patients with heartburn is a drug called Prilosec. It has been shown to be nearly double the rate of improvement. However, one major concern is that Prilosec can cause serious side effects, including diarrhea. You need to carefully monitor your use of this drug.
Your stomach is a very efficient organ. It has saved hundreds of thousands of lives every year, specifically helping people who are experiencing heartburn. The procedure outlined in this article is relatively safe and does not contain any harmful chemicals or toxins. Although the methods explained here can be risky, those who have tried it have actually lived through it. Discuss your options with your doctor today.
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