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You probably know of 'Grandma's Remedy' of a little baking soda in a glass of water to soothe the burning sensation of heartburn or acid reflux. But before you try this, you need to know some things about using baking soda or any antacid as a heartburn remedy. What Happens In Heartburn and How To Take Baking Soda You might get heartburn after eating too quickly or eating particular foods. What happens is that a little acid from the stomach squirts up through the sphincter at the top of the stomach and irritates the lining of the esophagus - the tube that runs from your mouth to your stomach. It is this 'acid reflux' that causes the irritation and pain. There are many causes for this ‘acid reflux’ and if you suffer from chronic heartburn then you might want to look into ways of preventing it as the symptoms can mask the more serious symptoms of heart disease. You often only need to sip a little water for mild heartburn to dilute the acid and cool the burning sensation. Saliva produced in the mouth can also help and being naturally alkaline, can neutralize the acid. Just chew a stick of gum to get the saliva flowing. Baking soda for heartburn is such an effective remedy because it is alkaline and neutralizes the stomach acid in the esophagus. One teaspoon in a glass of water, sipped slowly until the discomfort subsides, should be adequate to bring relief. The great thing about baking soda, compared to over-the-counter antacids, is that it is cheap, readily available and you do not need a prescription. And you can use it for baking cookies! When Baking Soda and Antacids Can Cause Problems If you take too much baking soda, or any antacid medication, then you start to neutralize the acid in the stomach. The stomach then compensates by producing more acid, leading to you taking more baking soda or antacid. This can exhaust the stomach cells and so the levels of stomach acid can drop over time. You might think this is a good thing for your heartburn, but reduced levels of stomach acid can impair digestion to such an extent that food is not properly broken down. Allergies and inflammation in various areas of the body can be the result. Additionally, if you suffer from high blood pressure, then you do not want the excess sodium, which is present in baking soda and many antacids. Over-the-counter antacids can also contain calcium and magnesium which can cause mineral imbalances in the body if used long-term. Aluminum salts are present in some antacids and aluminum has been implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. If you suffer from frequent heartburn, you should consult your doctor. It is also worth noting that some medical conditions or medicines can weaken the esophageal sphincter and cause acid reflux. If you are taking anxiety medication, calcium channel blockers for hypertension, antihistamines, asthma medication, nitrates, or prescription pain killers, let your doctor know when heartburn becomes a side effect. Antacid medication and baking soda are not long term solutions to your heartburn. Your priority now should be to discover the causes and solutions to your acid reflux. These might surprise you. The cure for your heartburn and the solutions to your long term health could be the exact opposite of what you might expect.
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About the Article Author
Natalie Beech writes informatively about heartburn. Get more information about possible causes and solutions to heartburn at The Heartburn Relief Website Get your own completely unique content version of this article.
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