Home Remedies for Heartburn: 10 Ways to Get Rid of Acid Reflux

What is Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux, often known as GERD, is a medical disorder in which the contents of the stomach, including acid and digestive fluids, flow back up into the oesophagus. This results in a burning feeling known as heartburn.

What are the signs and symptoms of Acid Reflux?

The most frequent symptoms and indicators of acid reflux include:

• Heartburn
• Regurgitation
• Cough
• Sore throat
• An unpleasant taste in the mouth.

Other less common symptoms include:

• Chest pain
• Bloating 
• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Belching
• Hiccups.

What are possible complications of Acid Reflux?

• Esophagitis: Esophagitis is an oesophageal inflammation that may produce symptoms such as heartburn and chest discomfort. Complications of the disease include bleeding, oesophageal narrowing, and ulcers.
• Barrett's Oesophagus: Constant acid reflux may cause damage to the oesophageal lining, a condition known as Barrett's Esophagus. Changes in cell structure may result, which in turn may raise the localised cancer risk.
• Laryngitis: Acid reflux causes irritation of the larynx (voice box) leading to hoarseness, coughing and throat pain due to long term acid exposure in this area.
• Asthma: Studies have shown that there is an association between asthma and GERD when symptoms are not well controlled with medications for asthma or GERD, resulting in increased severity of both conditions.
• Pulmonary Problems: Acid entering into lungs through aspiration can lead to irritation and inflammation leading to serious pulmonary problems like bronchospasm, wheezing & coughing.
• Tooth Erosion: Stomach acid coming back into mouth along with food & beverage may cause yellowish teeth erosion due to continuous erosive action on enamel.

Home Remedies for Heartburn: 10 Ways to Get Rid of Acid Reflux

• Eat slowly and in small portions: Eating slowly gives the body time to properly break down the food which helps the acid production to be regulated. Also, eating smaller snacks or meals several times throughout the day helps to maintain even levels of stomach acid.
• Avoid highly seasoned and spicy foods: These types of foods have been known to increase acid production in the stomach, which often leads to acid reflux. Therefore, it is better to avoid such food items as much as possible if one suffers from prolonged acid reflux.
• Try sitting in a slightly incline position soon after eating: Doing this puts gravity on your side so that your stomach contents go down instead of back up the oesophagus. However, do not recline immediately after eating since that might lead to heartburns because food moves more slowly when in a reclined position.
• Ginger: A spoonful of ginger juice or 1/4 teaspoon of ginger powder mixed into warm water can help prevent heartburn and neutralise stomach acids that otherwise cause excessive acid production leading to Acid Reflux.
• Try to maintain a healthy weight: Losing weight if needed by combining a healthy diet with a regular exercise regime is beneficial in controlling your acid reflux symptoms.
• Fibre rich foods: You should also add fibre-rich foods such as greens, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, almonds into your diet which helps in supporting digestion naturally and helps move things along in the GI tract in order to reduce symptoms associated with acid reflux.
• Yoghurt: Consume organic yoghurt at least thrice a week as it contains probiotics that replenish good bacteria in the gut which can help with digestion of food without any disturbance or complication leading to acid reflux later on.
• Anti-inflammatory foods: Include anti-inflammatory foods in your diet like ginger, turmeric, and garlic that are all known for their medicinal qualities and detoxifying effects on the body which helps calm digestive disturbances associated with acid reflux.
• Avoid Stressful Situations: Stress can be a major trigger for Acid Reflux symptoms, so it’s best to try and avoid potential triggers if possible.
• Aloe vera juice: The vitamin and mineral content of aloe vera juice makes it useful for easing digestive issues and reducing the severity of acid reflux. Moreover, it alleviates the oesophageal irritation and inflammation brought on by acid reflux. Mix 1 ounce of freshly extracted aloe vera juice with 2 ounces of water or other favourite juices and drink it twice daily on an empty stomach for relief from acid reflux.

If the aforementioned measures fail, surgical intervention may be the right approach.

What are the surgical treatments for Acid Reflux?

• Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication: In this procedure, the upper portion of the stomach is wrapped around the lower end of the oesophagus in an effort to tighten the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), hence decreasing acid reflux.
• Endoscopic Procedures: Endoscopy is a form of minimally invasive surgery used to treat acid reflux. It involves using a lighted tube with a camera at its tip to view inside the oesophagus and stomach and can also be used to perform tissue biopsies or stretch tight areas of the LES.
• Radiologic Procedures: Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may be alleviated with a minimally invasive surgery called radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which employs radio waves to generate heat and relax the LES. Other procedures involving radiation include photodynamic therapy and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR).
• Fundoplication Open Surgery: Open surgery may be appropriate in cases where more extensive damage has been caused by Acid Reflux or if there are problems with weakened muscles in any other part of your digestive tract. The surgery generally involves attaching an artificial valve or sphincter around your lower oesophagus so that food remains contained within it before entering your stomach, thus stopping any further retrograde flow of Acid Reflux into your esophageal region after you have finished eating.

Best doctors to consult for Acid Reflux?

• Gastroenterologists: Gastroenterologists are medical experts who specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive tract conditions, including acid reflux. They understand the anatomy of the digestive system and ways to identify and treat reflux issues with medication or lifestyle changes.
• Primary Care Physicians: Primary care physicians, also known as family care doctors, internists, or general practitioners, treat a variety of illnesses and health issues. They’re qualified to diagnose, prescribe medications, and provide lifestyle solutions to manage acid reflux symptoms.
• Geriatricians: Geriatricians are physicians who specialise in treating older adults. They understand how various conditions affect the elderly population and can recognize signs of acid reflux among other older patients who may have difficulty communicating their symptoms due to age-related factors such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
• Ear Nose Throat (ENT) Doctors: ENT doctors use their expertise in areas of the face, throat and head to diagnose why a patient might be experiencing adverse effects from acid reflux such as earaches or persistent hoarseness in voice due to prolonged exposure of stomach acid in their throat.