What is Heart Burn and How to Treat itIt happens to nearly all of us at just the once or another. You enjoy a delicious meal; settle in for some relaxation afterward, and then it hits. The burning sensation in your chest and the bitter taste in your mouth. For some, the burning gets so intense that it feels as though your chest is on fire. This is where the term "heart burn" comes from, even if the pain has absolutely nothing to do with your heart. In some severe cases, heart burn can even be mistaken for a heart attack or vice versa - making this condition more serious than it really is. For most, the pain of heart burn is enough to leave us running for relief from our medicine cabinet. In addition, the good news is that this result is usually enough to put that burning sensation to rest finally. Before discussing treatment options for heart burn, it is important to understand exactly what happens in your body to create this painful sensation after a meal. At the base of your esophagus, a ring-like muscle is called the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES. Usually, this muscle relaxes to provide food to move from your esophagus into your stomach, where it is digested by your stomach acids. The LES then closes, so that the food and acid inside your stomach cannot creep back up the digestive tract into your esophagus. If this muscle does not work properly for one end or another, substances in the stomach can indeed return up, resulting in burning as the stomach acids reach the esophageal lining and a bitter taste as they make their progress to your throat and mouth. Effective Heart Burn Treatments
If you find yourself undergoing with more frequent bouts of heart burn, it is a good idea to talk over with your doctor about additional remedies available. Frequent occurrences of this condition can lead to damage to the esophageal lining, making treatment more imperative at this point. Your doctor can help you find the most effective heart burn remedies, whether you pick an over the counter medication or a stronger prescription to treat your condition.
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Most folks who suffer from heart burn now and again
will benefit from an over the counter remedy when the
condition strikes. This might include an antacid, like Rolaids
that will neutralize the stomach acids quickly, giving you
relief from the painful burning. Another good over the counter
treatment for heart burn is an H-2-receptor blocker, such as
Tagamet HB or Pepcid AC. These medicines work differently from
the antacids, because they actually reduce the surplus
construction of acid in preference to neutralizing it.
Moreover, while they are not as speedy as their antacid
counterparts are, they do tend to take relief for a longer
period. Some heart burn sufferers will find that a 1-2 punch
will work the best on this rule, with an antacid bringing
immediate help while the H-2-receptor blocker will offer
comfort in the long run.
