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Burning sensations near the throat or chest typically signify a case of heartburn, which is triggered when acid from your stomach begins to back up into your esophagus. In some cases, heartburn is painful enough that some people mistake it for heart-related chest pain, like a heart attack.
Not sure what to do for heartburn? Here are 14 heartburn treatments you can try to prevent and treat this burning condition!
1. Chew Sugar-Free Gum
Chewing a piece of gum works because it helps increase the production of saliva. Plus, it might even clear excess acid in your esophagus.
While gum can temporarily relieve heartburn, it’s not a cure. While this method is low cost, the following heartburn remedy is entirely free…
2. Elevate Your Head and Upper Body
Heartburn attacks are common at night, particularly if you’ve eaten a large meal before you went to bed. Unfortunately, this can make it tough to fall asleep or even wake up you in the night.
One way to reduce nighttime heartburn is to place an extra pillow underneath your head and underneath your back to elevate both. This is one of many great home remedies for heartburn.
Looking for a long-term solution to heartburn? This next option might work for you…
3. Lose Weight
Added belly fat can add pressure on the abdomen and ultimately result in heartburn. Losing extra pounds through frequent exercise and a healthy diet can reduce the risk of frequent heartburn.
The next treatment for heartburn has to do with food…
4. Eat Smaller Portions
Overeating puts pressure on your stomach, whether you’re carrying a few extra pounds, pregnant, or bloated. If your body senses you’ve eaten a lot of food, it increases acid production to help with digestion, which can cause heartburn. Make sure to space out your meals and avoid eating heavy meals before bedtime.
As you make modifications to your diet, you might want to consider the following modification as well…
5. Avoid or Limit Alcohol Intake
If you already have heartburn and acid reflux, drinking alcohol can make it worse. When you drink alcohol, it increases stomach acid and relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter. When relaxed, it reduces the ability of your esophagus to keep the heartburn-causing acid out, so you might want to cut back on alcohol if you drink it frequently.
The next remedy for heartburn is as simple as switching up your sleeping position…
6. Stop Sleeping on Your Right Side
Cleveland Clinic states that sleeping on your left side allows acid to safely pass from your esophageal sphincter back to your stomach. If you mainly sleep on your right side, you might want to try a body pillow to keep you comfortable adjusted through the night.
Snacking is normal, but if you’re prone to heartburn or acid reflux, be sure to avoid the following foods…
7. Limit Foods that Can Increase Stomach Acid
Certain foods, like fried foods, citrus fruits, chocolate, tomatoes, and peppermints, can increase stomach acid production, so limiting those foods can reduce problems with heartburn and reflux. Knowing which foods trigger your heartburn can also be extremely beneficial when it comes to preventing heartburn.
The following remedy for heartburn has to do with the clothes you wear…
8. Loosen Your Clothing
Sometimes heartburn occurs when tight clothing compresses the stomach and forces stomach acid up into the throat. So, try wearing comfortable clothing to help reduce your risk of getting heartburn or to reduce symptoms once they come on.
The next treatment method might have you reconsidering your soda intake…
9. Limit Carbonated Beverages
Carbonation can cause acid reflux, which is why we recommend reducing your intake of any carbonated beverages. Furthermore, carbonation can result in burping and gas, which might increase the amount of acid that is able to escape from the stomach into your esophagus, causing heartburn.
Curious about which foods might help? Try to stick to the following diet…
10. Maintain a Low-Carb Diet
A low-carb diet is one of many natural ways to relieve heartburn and other symptoms associated with acid reflux. Undigested carbs can result in bacterial overgrowth that ultimately elevates the pressure in your stomach. To maintain a low-carb diet, eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens.
While you’re eating, you might want to note the following…
11. Increase Probiotic Intake
Probiotics have recently been studied as an effective therapy for reducing acid reflux and heartburn. Probiotics are good bacteria that prevent the growth of bad bacteria and can be found in foods like yogurt, tempeh, pickles, and certain cheeses.
The following over-the-counter heartburn option is fairly common…
12. Take an Antacid
Antacids can treat heartburn by neutralizing stomach acid. Common brands include Tums, Pepto-Bismol, and Alka-Seltzer, and they come as gummies, chewable tablets, and liquids.
If you want to try an antacid, talk to your doctor first to see if they would be okay for you to take. If you’ve already tried antacids for heartburn, and they didn’t work, you might want to ask about the following prescription option…
13. Try H2 Receptor Blockers
H2 receptor blockers are available both over the counter and via prescription. They treat conditions that cause excess stomach acids, like heartburn and acid reflux. Some common brands include Pepcid, Pepcid AC, and Axid.
If you find these medications aren’t to your liking, though, there is another method that might work…
14. Take a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI)
Other medications available over the counter are proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which also reduce and block stomach acid production. By reducing acid production, these drugs help relieve heartburn. Prilosec is one of the most common PPIs around.
