Heartburn, Baking Soda and Antacids - What You Must Know

You probably know of 'Grandma's Remedy' of a little baking soda in a glass of water to soothe the burning sensation of heartburn or acid reflux. But before you try this, you need to know some things about using baking soda or any antacid as a heartburn remedy.

What Is Heartburn and How Can Baking Soda Help?

Some people suffer heartburn after eating too quickly or eating particular foods. It results from a little stomach acid squirting up into your esophagus, which is the tube that leads from your mouth to your stomach. This ‘acid reflux’ irritates the walls of the esophagus resulting in a burning sensation. It actually has nothing to do with the heart but because the burning is felt in the chest area, it was referred to as ‘heartburn’. Symptoms of heartburn can mask the more serious symptoms of heart disease so it is important to find the causes of the acid reflux and eliminate them.

You often only need to sip a little water for mild heartburn to dilute the acid and cool the burning sensation. Saliva produced in the mouth can also help and being naturally alkaline, can neutralize the acid. Just chew a stick of gum to get the saliva flowing.

An effective remedy is baking soda for heartburn because being alkaline it neutralizes the stomach acid in the esophagus. Just sip a solution (one teaspoon in a glass of water) slowly until the discomfort reduces and you feel relief. Compared to over-the-counter antacids, baking soda is cheap, readily available and you do not need a prescription - and it is useful for baking cookies too!

Why Baking Soda and Antacids Should Not Be Over-Used

If you take too much baking soda, or any antacid medication, then you start to neutralize the acid in the stomach. The stomach then compensates by producing more acid, leading to you taking more baking soda or antacid. This can exhaust the stomach cells and so the levels of stomach acid can drop over time. You might think this is a good thing for your heartburn, but reduced levels of stomach acid can impair digestion to such an extent that food is not properly broken down. Allergies and inflammation in various areas of the body can be the result.

Additionally, if you suffer from high blood pressure, then you do not want the excess sodium, which is present in baking soda and many antacids. Over-the-counter antacids can also contain calcium and magnesium which can cause mineral imbalances in the body if used long-term. Aluminum salts are present in some antacids and aluminum has been implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. If you suffer from frequent heartburn, you should consult your doctor. It is also worth noting that some medical conditions or medicines can weaken the esophageal sphincter and cause acid reflux. If you are taking anxiety medication, calcium channel blockers for hypertension, antihistamines, asthma medication, nitrates, or prescription pain killers, let your doctor know when heartburn becomes a side effect.

Baking soda, like any antacid medication, is not a long term solution to your heartburn. Your priority should be to find out the causes of heartburn. Often the causes are the opposite to those you might expect for acid reflux. You also need to look for permanent solutions. Some of these may surprise you. For your long term health, you need to find out a cure for your heartburn.

Article Source: http://www.diyarticlelibrary.com

About the author: Natalie Beech is a health writer who writes informatively about heartburn. Discover surprising information about heartburn and acid reflux at The Heartburn Relief Website
This and other unique content heartburn articles are available with free reprint rights.

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