When you have your first experience of heartburn, you may think you're having a heart attack. No matter how painful the sensations might be, however, they have nothing to do with your heart and everything to do with your stomach. When stomach acid builds up and is forced back up your esophagus, it produces heartburn. Therefore, the key to avoiding heartburn is to keep your stomach acid low and flowing the way it is meant to flow. This isn't always possible, though, and then you need some type of heartburn medication that will relieve the symptoms and help your body get back on track.
There are a number of different types of medications that are used for heartburn, and they are all effective in their own way. You're probably most familiar with antacids, such as Tums, that work to neutralize stomach acid and eradicate the pain. If you keep a bottle of antacids in your home and carry some in your purse or pocket, you'll be good to go whenever an attack might hit you. Antacids usually work quickly, and taking them as per the instructions on the bottle will most likely get rid of the problem right away. However, you need to keep in mind that not every medication is going to work the same for every person who takes it.
If antacids alone aren't doing the trick for you, you may want to try a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) which will lower the production of stomach acid thereby lessening your chances of getting heartburn. If you've heard the TV commercials advertising Prevacid, you know that it is a PPI that is prescribed for patients suffering with acid reflux, which is an acute form of heartburn. This is not an appropriate medication for everyone who suffers from occasional bouts of heartburn, though, so talk with your doctor to see if he feels you will benefit from taking it. It can lead to diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and nausea in some cases.
A third type of heartburn medication consists of H-2 blockers, such as Zantac, which can be purchased over-the-counter. These medicines are much less potent than their prescription counterparts, but they may take care of your problem, because they do effectively block acid production.
If you suffer from heartburn, even infrequently, you're sure to want to find some type of heartburn medication that will relieve the symptoms and even keep them from coming in the first place. Talk to your physician about your options, and let him recommend the best course of action for you.
For more info visit http://www.stopheartburntoday.com.
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Before you take action, investigate what is or does cause your heartburn...it could be another medication! It could be that you don't have enough stomach acid to properly digest your food which would cause gas and bloating and more...You may need more acid or digestive enzymes... Did you know that Prilosec is only approved for short-term use. The manufacturer itself doesn't recommend using beyond 14 days. Could that be because long-term use of the drug in rats led to an increase in gastroinstestinal cancers? Or maybe because it can cause joint, muscle, and leg pain? Or possibly it's because of the diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea? Whatever the reason, I can't think of one person who only took this drug for 14 days. The study itself examined patients who had been taking it for 12 whole years! Even if patients tried to stop taking the drug, they'd be on it again before long because it doesn't fix the problem. Once you stop taking it, all of your old symptoms are likely to flare up again in less than a week. The bottom line is that drugs like Prilosec will come up short every time. It's part of a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors that work by reducing stomach acid to around 10 percent of normal levels. Problem is, you need stomach acid. And in reality, many of the people who have reflux problems are actually suffering from too little stomach acid – not too much. Which is why, as contradictory as this might sound, you should actually be looking for ways to increase your stomach acid levels! One of the great pioneers of stomach acid is Dr. Jonathan Wright, and you can learn more on the real causes of heartburn, acid reflux and GERD from his website, www.wrightnewsletter.com. For a more detailed explanation – and a solution – pick up his book, "Why Stomach Acid Is Good for You." It's widely available from bookstores, online booksellers and libraries. In the meantime, try some DGL, or deglycyrrhizinated licorice. You can find it in a vitamin shop or health food store, where it's often sold as a chew. Just don't confuse it with sugary licorice candies – they're definitely not the same thing.
I loved this article as I DO have heartburn...I still can't tell exactly what kind but my dr.calls it gerd...and zantac used to take care of it but now my dr.prescribes meds for me for it... thanks though... willnetta