Heartburn Drugs Pose Risks: 12 Natural Symptom Relievers

>> Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Share

"About 60 to 70 percent of people taking these drugs have mild heartburn and shouldn't be on them," says Mitchell Katz, director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health

And we all know that these types of drugs are over 10 billion a year in Sales.

"but, beyond symptom relief, there's no long-term benefit to taking them, while there are some long-term risks." One study found a 74 percent increase in risk of infection with a harmful intestinal bacteria called Clostridium difficile for those taking a daily prescription-strength PPI, while another found a 25 percent increased risk of fractures in postmenopausal women who used PPI's.


1. Avoid heartburn-triggering foods. These vary from person to person, but common offenders include orange juice, chocolate, tomato sauce, spicy foods, mint, garlic, and vinegar. Fatty, greasy foods, like cheeseburgers and fries, are also heartburn instigators.
2. Stay upright for a few hours after you eat. Sitting up works with gravity to keep food and stomach acid from flowing up into your esophagus. Better yet, move about a bit to help speed digestion. "Our grandparents had it right when they headed out for a walk after a large meal," he says.
3. But abstain from exercise right after eating. Intense workouts slow digestion, making reflux more likely. Better to exercise first thing in the morning or a few hours after a meal. If you still experience heartburn symptoms after a workout, drink extra water. Staying hydrated helps improve digestion to keep symptoms at bay.
4. Eat smaller meals. To avoid heartburn, aim to eat up to six mini-meals a day, as opposed to three large ones. The worst? Eating a large meal right before bed. Try to abstain from food or drinks within an hour or two of bedtime. Even a tall glass of water before lying down can trigger symptoms in susceptible individuals.
5. Go easy on caffeine and alcohol-and avoid cigarettes. All three can relax the esophageal sphincter muscle, which normally keeps stomach acid from splashing up into the esophagus. Carbonated beverages can also cause this problem.
6. Don't eat too quickly. Try chewing slowly and putting your fork down between bites. Hot soups are a good appetizer because they take longer to consume.
7. Wear looser-fitting clothes. Tight belts, waistbands, and pantyhose constrict the stomach, sometimes triggering reflux.
8. Find ways to relax. Stress may increase stomach acids, raising the likelihood of heartburn.
9. Aim to lose a few extra pounds. The pressure of excess weight-especially around the abdomen-increases the chance that stomach acid will backwash into the esophagus.
10. Try chewing gum. This can boost the production of saliva, which neutralizes stomach acid.
11. Bend with your knees. Bending over at the waist tends to promote heartburn symptoms.
12. Elevate the head of your bed. Place blocks or bricks under your bedposts to raise the head of your bed 6 inches. Elevating your head and chest during sleep helps prevent nighttime reflux. A wedge pillow may also work.

In Addition, Rio Naturista offers products which may help your body deal with these issues.  Come into our store for more details

Post a Comment

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Disclaimer:

This site does not constitute medical advice. Content on this site is sourced from sites deemed reliable. Content is presented as editorial information. No way does IP MicroMedia or RioNaturista guarantee accuracy on information presented. You should seek advice from a licensed or credentialed individual for serious health or medical issues. Comments are reserved by those posting and the ideas or opinions on this site may not reflect the views of Rio Naturista or IP MicroMedia

  © IPMM ' by IPMicroMedia.com 2010

Back to TOP