Has heartburn become an ongoing issue? You may experience it unexpectedly after eating different foods and consuming various beverages. Unfortunately, heartburn can cause real discomfort and last for several hours. If you feel like you can't escape the irritating heartburn, it's a good time to learn more about the treatments available for this condition.
What You Can Do at Home When You Start to Experience Heartburn
You can do a few things to temporarily relieve your heartburn at home. These options include:
- Chamomile Tea — Drinking a warm cup of fresh chamomile tea can relieve heartburn within minutes because it is a natural anti-inflammatory. Not only does it help ease the pain, but it also tastes good.
- Ginger Root Tea — Much like chamomile tea, ginger root tea can provide a soothing sensation while easing your heartburn.
- Antacids — You can buy antacids from your local grocery store or pharmacy and use them when you feel heartburn-related pain. It's good to have a few antacids on you wherever you go, especially if the heartburn comes and goes.
Use these products when seeking relief from heartburn. Although it's only a quick fix, you can use tea and antacids to avoid constant discomfort.
When to Seek Expert Medical Help and Why
Although uncomfortable, you may think your heartburn isn't a big deal. However, it could indicate that you have an underlying condition, such as acid reflux or gastroparesis. When you have acid reflux, it means your stomach acid ends up returning to the esophagus, where it would then cause the heartburn you're feeling. If you have gastroparesis, food in your small intestine may not move as quickly as it should, thus resulting in heartburn.
If the at-home treatments aren't helping, and you still have bad heartburn several times a week, talk to your physician about it. You may need to take prescription medication before eating or drinking anything and follow a few dietary restrictions to get relief.
Before the physician can provide a diagnosis and prescribe medication, you may need to answer several questions about your symptoms and undergo tests or procedures, such as a blood test or endoscopy. Getting a proper diagnosis will help you take the necessary steps to prevent heartburn in the future.
Get Help With Your Heartburn
If you have heartburn, you don't have to just live with it. Along with treating it at home, you can talk to a medical professional about heartburn treatment and find a solution.
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