The lower esophagus ends in a sphincter, the muscle that relaxes to let food pass into your stomach. When it doesn’t close properly, it creates a condition known as esophageal reflux-- described as “heartburn.” A natural weakening in the esophageal sphincter occurs in pregnant women and just about everyone over forty. The main causes of heartburn are usually obesity, stress, and the wrong diet. Other causes include certain foods, ulcers, gallbladder problems, stress, allergies, and digestive enzyme deficiency.
Hiatal hernia is a condition where the upper portion of the stomach protrudes upward through an opening in the diaphragm into the chest. It is often confused with heartburn. Found in nearly one in every three people, hiatal hernia causes no pain or symptoms. However, many people with stomach acid reflux often have a hiatal hernia as well.
Royal Recommendations for Prevention and Treatment
1. The symptoms of too much acid can be the same as too little acid. Do a stomach acid test to determine if you need hydrochloric acid. Take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. If this makes your heartburn go away, then you need more stomach acid. This symptom may be remedied by sipping either on apple cider vinegar or lemon juice in water with meals or by taking a betaine HCL tablet at mealtime. If the test makes your symptoms worse, you have too much acid. If this is the case, avoid enzyme supplements that contain HCL. Instead, use one teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) in four ounces of water, 30 minutes after a meal. (See “Hyperacidity.”)
2. Avoid foods that are commonly associated with heartburn: alcohol, coffee, cola drinks, carbonated beverages, chocolate, citrus fruits, fried or fatty foods, milk, raw onions, spicy foods, and tomatoes. All of these can irritate your esophagus lining by causing your sphincter muscle to relax and stimulate acid secretion in the stomach.
3. Change your eating habits by eating smaller meals. Try to have your last meal of the day at least three hours before bedtime, since you’re more likely to get heartburn while lying down. Chew your food thoroughly. Eating too much food too quickly can also force up more acid.
4. After dinner, avoid drinking, smoking (See “Smoking Addiction”), napping, and strenuous lifting. Lying down after dinner may cause the food to leave the stomach too soon and stomach acids to flow upwards into the esophagus. If wearing a belt, take the pressure off of your stomach by wearing suspenders instead. (See “Indigestion.”)
5. Check your medications. Some of them lead to heartburn. High blood pressure, particularly calcium channel blockers, anti-depressants, and sedatives can commonly cause this problem. If taking antacids, usually 30 minutes after meals is the best time. Take them with as little liquid as possible. Avoid antacids with aluminum as this has been associated with Alzheimer’s disease and tends to be constipating. (See “Constipation.”)
6. If heartburn does occur, put out the fire with water. Drinking water will wash stomach acids from the surface of the esophagus back into your stomach. The saliva you swallow with the water will help neutralize stomach acid.
7. When sleeping, place six-inch blocks at the head of your bed. This will reduce the upward flow of stomach acid. Also, try sleeping on your left side, where the stomach is lower and acid is less likely to make its way up into your esophagus.
8. When choosing an exercise, avoid running. This tends to jostle the stomach too much. A relaxing walk is the only acceptable form of exercise immediately after a meal.
9. Stress may cause an increase in acid production in the stomach. Relaxation with non-cognitive or cognitive biofeedback may prove beneficial in managing your conscious or subconscious stress levels. (See “Stress.”)
10. Supplements to consider include aloe vera (which aids in healing of the intestinal tract) and pancreatic enzymes taken with meals to aid in digestion.
11. Herbs to consider include gingerroot (which absorbs acid and calms the nerves), gentian root, wormwood, and goldenseal.
12. Homeopathics to consider include: Carbo Vegetabilis (for indigestion worse with food), Nux Vomica (if worse after eating), Natrum Muriaticum (when indigestion is associated with stress), Arsenicum (for difficulty digesting anything), Lycopodium (if skipping meals gives an empty feeling), and Calcarea Carbonica (when the appetite variable and digestion is slow).
If you are experiencing heartburn along with any of the following symptoms--pain when swallowing, vomiting, bloody or black stool, shortness of breath, dizziness, or chest pain radiating into the neck and/or shoulder--see a physician. These symptoms may indicate problems more complex than heartburn, such as a heart attack. To learn more about healing and health optimizing therapies, go to www.NewHopeMedical.org or call NEW HOPE MEDICAL CENTER at (702) 476-0000 (direct line) or toll free (866) HEAL-NOW!