Juliet Cohen asked:


Heartburn or pyrosis is a painful or burning sensation in the esophagus. Heartburn is a form of indigestion. Heartburn is a burning feeling in the lower chest, along with a sour or bitter taste in the throat and mouth. It usually occurs after eating a big meal or while lying down. Heartburn is also identified as one of the causes of chronic cough, and may even mimic asthma. Heartburn is linked to eating habits and posture. It happens when acid from your stomach gets forced upwards into the oesophagus ,This is called acid reflux. About 30% of adults experience occasional heartburn, while 10% experience heartburn every day.

About 25% of pregnant women have heartburn or related symptoms. Heartburn is an irritation of the esophagus caused by acid that refluxes from the stomach. Some other factors that can make heartburn worse include certain foods, such as fatty foods, spicy foods, chocolate, caffeine, onions, tomato sauce, carbonated beverages and mint, alcohol ,large meals ,lying down too soon after eating and certain medications, including sedatives, antidepressants and calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure. Cigarette smoking is main cause of heartburn.The primary symptom of heartburn is a burning pain in your chest, under your breastbone.

This pain may decay when you bend over, lie down or eat. It may also be more frequent or worse at night. Most people can control the irritation of heartburn with lifestyle modifications and over-the-counter medications. Several kinds of medicine can be used to treat heartburn. H2 blockers (Pepcid, Tagamet, Zantac) reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes. Other medicines, such as omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid), also reduce how much acid the stomach makes. Metoclopramide (Reglan) reduces acid reflux. If the heartburn continues, you may need prescription surgery.

Heartburn Treatment and Prevention Tips

1. Smoking may increase stomach acid.

2. Antispasmodic drugs and motility stimulants may be prescribed.

3. Alginates are useful when there is reflux of stomach acid.

4. Eat smaller meals reduces pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter.

5. Acid suppressants, such as histamine H2-antagonists also helpful.

6. Antacids, such as maalox, rolaids and Tums, neutralize stomach acid and can provide quick relief.



Beverly

peterhutch asked:


H-2-receptor blockers. Over-the-counter H-2-receptor blockers, such as cimetidine (Tagamet HB), famotidine (Pepcid AC), nizatidine (Axid AR) or ranitidine (Zantac 75), are available at half the strength of their prescription versions. Instead of neutralizing the acid, these medications reduce the production of acid. They don’t act as quickly as antacids, but they provide longer relief. Take these medications before a meal that you think may cause heartburn because it takes them about 30 minutes to work. They’re also effective in reducing reflux at night if taken at bedtime. Some H-2-receptor blockers can cause infrequent side effects, including dizziness, diarrhea, headache, kidney problems and temporary ****** enlargement in men. In rare instances they can also react dangerously with other medications.

Elevation of the upper body at night generally is recommended for all patients with GERD. Nevertheless, most patients with GERD have reflux only during the day and elevation at night is of little benefit for them. It is not possible to know for certain which patients will benefit from elevation at night unless acid testing clearly demonstrates night reflux. However, patients who have heartburn, regurgitation, or other symptoms of GERD at night are probably experiencing reflux at night and definitely should use upper body elevation. Reflux also occurs less frequently when patients lie on their left rather than their right sides.

Patients with mild symptoms are treated as needed with non-prescription remedies like antacids, a non-prescription H2 blocker, or the non-prescription proton pump inhibitor (PPI), omeprazole (brand name: Prilosec OTC). For patients with more severe symptoms, or for those who do not respond adequately to non-prescription therapies, continuous treatment with a prescription-strength H2 blocker or PPI is recommended. H2 blockers and PPIs both work by decreasing the production of stomach acid that causes many of the symptoms of gerd.

Decreasing the size of portions at mealtime may also help control symptoms. Eating meals at least 2 to 3 hours before bedtime may lessen reflux by allowing the acid in the stomach to decrease and the stomach to empty partially. In addition, being overweight often worsens symptoms. Many overweight people find relief when they lose weight.

Treatment for GERD and heartburn ranges from over-the-counter remedies to surgery. Here’s a rundown on the pros and cons of your heartburn treatment options.

Pay Close Attention to Your Diet—Foods and drinks that aggravate GERD include spicy foods, acid based foods, greasy foods, alcohol, and caffeine. Before you bite into that pizza or fried chicken, think about how you are going to feel a couple of hours from now. Before you drink those beers, followed by that cup of coffee, think about the last time you did that and were up all night. If you are suicidal and enjoy great pain, drink that big glass or orange juice on an empty stomach. Sometimes changing your diet can be the key in controlling acid reflux.

Whereas the stomach has a protective lining so that it doesn’t succumb to the acid, the esophagus has no such lining. That’s why upwardly mobile stomach acid burns, sometimes so badly that you may think you’re suffering a heart attack.

Medications ranging from over-the-counter antacids to prescription drugs are used to treat acid reflux. Find out what your options are and which are best for you.



Victoria