Home Remedies to Treat Heartburn
When your stomach acid splashes up into the esophagus, it can cause a burning sensation that may make you think that you are having a heart attack. However, acid reflux, the problem that causes the feeling of heartburn, merely occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter between the stomach and esophagus weakens and fails to prevent this back splash of stomach acid.
While there is no exact way to tighten up the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES, there are some steps that you can take to help ease your heartburn, including:
- Learn what foods trigger your heartburn—and avoid them
- Stay away from alcohol and nicotine
- Try not to overeat
- Eat slowly, and pause between bites
- Time your meals so that you do not eat before bed
- Allow yourself 2-3 hours after eating before you lay down
- Wear loose-fitting clothing, especially around your waist
- Lose weight if you are overweight
- Raise the head of your bed by increasing the mattress height, rather than by using pillows
To learn what types of food cause your heartburn to flare up, try keeping a food journal of everything you eat throughout the day. Thus, you can narrow it down to what foods affect you. Typical triggers include citrus, tomatoes, caffeine, mint, and chocolate.
Reglan Side Effects
Unfortunately, many doctors have prescribed Reglan, or metoclopramide, to people who suffer from chronic heartburn. Metoclopramide can actually cause problems that are worse than acid reflux, such as tardive dyskinesia and cervical dystonia. These disorders are debilitating and permanent.
Contact Us
If you or someone you know has taken Reglan or other metoclopramide medications and developed a disease like tardive dyskinesia, you may be eligible for compensation. To learn more, contact the Houston Reglan lawsuit attorneys of Williams Kherkher today at 800-761-3187.
