Heartburn Myths

Heartburn happens when stomach acid runs backwards into the esophagus, the muscular tube that leads from the mouth to the stomach. Heartburn is brought on by a wide variety of factors, some of which are individual. Home cures for heartburn are surrounded by falsehoods, and if you do not have all the information, you could do more harm than good. By debunking these myths about heartburn and learning the truth behind these common heartburn myths one can get insight into how heartburn is caused and how the condition can be managed effectively. 

There is only one known cause of heartburn, and that is a bad diet. Heartburn can be triggered by eating certain meals, such as those that are fried or fatty, but there are many other possible causes as well. Heartburn can be caused by a number of different things, including medical conditions and medications, worry, stress, wearing clothes that is too tight, smoking, and having excess body fat. If you're suffering from acid reflux, drink some milk (Sugihartono et al., 2021). You may have heard that drinking milk might temporarily relieve heartburn symptoms, however this is not the case. Cattle milk has a lot of fat in it, which might cause your stomach to create more acid and make your heartburn worse. If you're experiencing heartburn symptoms, cutting back on high-fat dairy items like whole milk or yogurt is advised. Although drinking milk is a common home treatment for heartburn, you may want to reconsider using it the next time you get symptoms. Milk does help to reduce stomach acid at first, but it actually causes your body to make even gastric acid shortly afterward. It's also difficult to digest, which can trigger an increase in stomach acid.

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Apple cider vinegar might be helpful for those with heartburn. Heartburn is a common complaint, and some speculate that it could be caused by low stomach acid levels. In order to increase stomach acid, some persons with heartburn take apple cider vinegar. Vinegar may benefit some people, but it can make an already sensitive esophagus even worse (Gaur et al., 2018). The use of apple cider vinegar for heartburn relief is not supported by sufficient data at this time. Mints may help with heartburn. Despite popular belief, consuming a mint after dinner will not alleviate heartburn. Peppermint has been linked to an increase in heartburn symptoms by relaxing the sphincter muscle between the stomach and the esophagus, which then allows stomach acid to reflux into the esophagus. Baking soda can be used to alleviate heartburn symptoms. Sodium bicarbonate, the main element in baking soda, is a substance your body already produces in order to neutralize stomach acid. However, because baking soda is not a regulated medicine, it may create undesirable side effects if used for an extended period of time.

One home cure is to loosen any restrictive clothing that might be putting pressure on the stomach and causing the painful and distressing regurgitation of stomach contents into the esophagus. Three hours before going to bed, standing or propping up your body so that your head, chest, and/or shoulders are elevated. Since lying down compresses the lower esophageal sphincter, it can make symptoms worse. The increased production of saliva in response to gum chewing results in more frequent swallowing. The increased production of saliva can help neutralize acid in the mouth, throat, and stomach (Parimala et al., n.d). When people follow a healthy diet and get the extra weight off, they often experience fewer episodes of heartburn. Exercising frequently may help lessen the frequency with which one has heartburn. Exercising regularly can help you control your weight, reduce stress, and improve your digestion. Quitting smoking has been associated with several positive health effects, including a decrease in heartburn symptoms. Eating slowly and reducing portion size helps alleviate the strain placed on the LES by a heavy meal. At times, this muscle weakens enough to allow undigested food to enter the esophagus, where it can produce intense heartburn.

References

Gaur, V. K., Gupta, S., & Srivastava, J. K. (2018). Health Benefits and Preventive Effects of Common Beverages in Cancer. In Rediscovering Cancer: From Mechanism to Therapy (pp. 393-428). Apple Academic Press.

Parimala, M. L., Ramya, M., Rajeshwari, M., & Priyanka, M. A study to assess the knowledge on home remedies for minor ailments among antenatal mother.

Sugihartono, T., Miftahussurur, M., Simamora, R. M., Kuntaman, K., Rezkitha, Y. A. A., & Yamaoka, Y. (2021). Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Facts and Myths. Journal of International Dental and Medical Research, 14(2), 865-874.