How Do I Heal My Heartburn?

According to the NIH, more than 60 million Americans experience heartburn symptoms at least once per month, while more than 15 million have symptoms daily.Heartburn, acid reflux and GERD are all terms that are used interchangeably, but they have different meanings. Heartburn, also know as acid indigestion, is a burning sensation in the chest or upper abdomen. It can be a symptom of reflux or GERD.Some causes of heartburn include dietary choices and alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, medication, stress, SIBO, H. pylori, and alcohol. While occasional heartburn is not dangerous, it may indicate gut dysfunction, including leaky gut. It is important to treat these conditions to prevent further issues.Acid reflux is a medical term referring to the flow of acid from the stomach to the esophagus, or when the acid “backs up.” Heartburn is a common symptom of reflux along with coughing, sore throat, and bitter or sour tastesin the mouth. Acid reflux is often caused by motility disorders, gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying), hiatal hernia, bacteria overgrowth, or increased abdominal pressure.GERD is a chronic condition diagnosed when reflux occurs more than twice per week or when the esophageal inflammation is present. It is a more dangerous condition as it occurs more frequently and may cause permanent damage to the esophagus and lead to cancer.  Symptoms of GERD include heartburn, sour taste in the mouth, bad breath or dry mouth, tooth erosion, bloating/burping/gas, nausea, and loss of appetite.Food can contribute to the worsening of symptoms. Common foods that exacerbate heartburn and GERD are coffee, chocolate, refined carbohydrates, alcohol, soda, peppermint, acidic foods, greasy foods, spicy foods and allergenic foods. Additionally, smoking cigarettes and some prescriptions can make symptoms worse. Besides avoiding specific foods, other lifestyle factors can decrease heartburn. These include stress reduction, stopping food intake 3 hours before bed, raising the head of the bed, increasing exercise, weight loss and eating low fat meals.Besides eliminating problematic foods, many supplements can help relieve heartburn symptoms including aloe vera leaf inner extract, glutamine, glycerine, deglycyrrhized licorice, zinc carnosine, pancreatic enzymes, and phosphatidyl choline, digestive enzymes and probiotics.