Some ways to relieve heartburn and burning in your stomach are drinking cold water, eating an apple, drinking ginger tea or trying to relax a little, for example.
The burning sensation in the stomach and throat is usually caused by poor digestion and reflux, which is when the contents in the stomach end up going up the esophagus causing this discomfort, which tends to get worse when lying down.
When symptoms are frequent and reflux is present more than 15 days a month, heartburn and burning can develop lesions and harm the health of the esophagus and stomach. In these cases, a consultation with a gastroenterologist is recommended so that tests can be indicated to help confirm the diagnosis and thus begin the most appropriate treatment.
10 ways to relieve heartburn and burning sensation
To reduce the discomfort caused by heartburn and burning, and also reduce the intensity and frequency of attacks, some strategies can be used such as:
1. Drink cold water
Drinking a glass of cold water can help relieve heartburn and stomach burning caused by gastroesophageal reflux.
This is because water dilutes stomach acid, temporarily relieving discomfort.
However, you should not drink water or other liquids before meals or within half an hour after eating, as this may worsen reflux symptoms.
Don’t ignore your symptoms!
2. Drink ginger tea
Ginger tea is a good natural option to relieve heartburn and burning in the stomach, as well as the feeling of nausea caused by gastroesophageal reflux or poor digestion, as it contains substances, such as gingerol and chogaol, with anti-inflammatory and antiemetic properties.
Furthermore, another tea option for heartburn is chamomile tea as it helps control the production of acid in the stomach and relieve heartburn and burning sensation. See how to prepare teas for heartburn.
3. Eat an apple
Eating a red apple without the peel can help relieve heartburn and burning in the stomach, as it has anti-inflammatory properties, in addition to being rich in pectin, which is a soluble fiber, helping to reduce stomach inflammation and neutralize excess acid.
Furthermore, some juices, such as raw potato juice, kale and apple juice or papaya and flaxseed juice, also help to neutralize stomach acidity, relieving heartburn and burning sensation.
4. Avoid fatty foods
Avoiding fatty, fried, spicy foods, foods containing broths and sauces, or drinks with caffeine or alcohol can help relieve or prevent heartburn and heartburn.
This is because these foods can increase the production of acid in the stomach, in addition to being difficult to digest, which can result in or worsen heartburn and burning in the stomach.
Furthermore, it is important to prioritize light, easily digestible foods, such as non-citrus fruits and fresh vegetables, for example, and eat small amounts more often a day.
Read too: Reflux diet: what to eat and what to avoid
5. Elevate the head of the bed
Elevating the head of the bed, placing books or bricks on the foot of the headboard, for example, can help relieve heartburn and burning in the stomach, esophagus and throat caused by gastroesophageal reflux, which are usually worse at night.
This is because, by raising the head of the coma, stomach acid does not return to the mouth, relieving reflux symptoms.
Furthermore, it is recommended to sleep on your left side, especially after eating, as it favors the natural anatomy of the stomach, preventing acid from rising to the mouth.
6. Avoid stressful situations
Avoiding stressful situations is also important to avoid heartburn and burning in the stomach, as excessive stress can increase the production of acid in the stomach, and worsen the symptoms of gastritis, for example. See some ways to relieve stress.
7. Quit smoking
Quitting smoking is very important to alleviate or prevent heartburn and burning in the stomach, as cigarettes relax the esophageal sphincters, causing gastroesophageal reflux. Find out how to stop smoking.
8. Maintain adequate weight
Maintaining an adequate weight, with a diet guided by a nutritionist, helps to alleviate heartburn and stomach burning.
This is because obesity and overweight increase the amount of fat around the stomach, putting pressure on the stomach and favoring the development of gastroesophageal reflux.
Read too: Weight Loss Diet: what to eat, avoid (and menu)
9. Avoid doing isometric exercises
Avoiding isometric exercises, such as the abdominal plank and common sit-ups, help to alleviate heartburn and burning caused by gastroesophageal reflux, as they can increase abdominal pressure and encourage the stomach to rise to the mouth.
10. Taking pharmacy medicine
Some pharmacy remedies, such as aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate, help neutralize stomach acid, quickly relieving heartburn and burning sensations.
These remedies should be used with the advice of a gastroenterologist, according to the cause of the heartburn and burning sensation, and gastric protectors, such as omeprazole or lansoprazole, for example, may also be indicated. See the main remedies for heartburn.
If heartburn and burning persist even after carrying out the indicated treatment and necessary care, the gastroenterologist may recommend anti-reflux surgery, which consists of placing a valve in the stomach, to prevent the acidic contents from returning to the throat. Understand how this surgery is performed and what recovery should be like.
