7 Ways to Ease Heartburn

By Michael Castleman, Natural Solutions

When Sandy Bush, 35, of Canyon Country, California, went to see his doctor complaining of extreme heartburn, it seemed like the least of his problems. His wife had just left him for another man, and he was trying to help their two young children through the messy divorce.

Yet heartburn, while not as catastrophic as the dissolution of a family, can be pretty miserable. It hurts like crazy, robs you of sleep, and can be terrifying when mistaken for a heart attack. And it’s exacerbated by stress (as in, divorce). One version, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD–the result of chronic, untreated heartburn–has even been linked to cancer.

This irksome condition has become epidemic: Half of all Americans experience the occasional bout, and 15 percent–that’s 43 million people–get it frequently enough to consult a doctor. In fact, heartburn is so common that the leading medications, Prilosec and other proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), are among the world’s most frequently prescribed drugs. The New York Times reported that last year, Prilosec (a.k.a. “the purple pill”) racked up U.S. sales of $4.6 billion–more than the profits for McDonald’s, Wendy’s, KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut combined.

PPIs do work better than other heartburn drugs, relieving symptoms in 90 percent of cases. But they have a troubling–and underpublicized–downside: They actually make heartburn worse after you stop taking them.

Here’s why: Heartburn happens when a ring of muscle that surrounds the base of the esophagus weakens or is overpowered by upward pressure from the abdomen, allowing acid to back up or “reflux” into the esophagus, explains Jana Nalbandian, an assistant professor of naturopathic medicine at Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Seattle. PPIs work by minimizing stomach acid, but they also increase gastrin, the enzyme that triggers acid production. Stop taking a PPI and you get “rebound hypersecretion,” which means that your stomach actually produces more acid than before. “PPIs are like a dam on a river,” says gastroenterologist Neil Stollman, an associate clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center. “The dam cuts the flow to a trickle. But remove the dam, and the river floods.” As a result, those who discontinue PPIs typically rush back to their doctors and beg for more; Stollman says his patients call Prilosec “purple crack.” To get off PPIs, users must wean themselves slowly over several weeks.

Fortunately, there’s another solution, one that targets prevention rather than controlling symptoms. Of course, it’s a bit more work because it requires a number of lifestyle changes rather than just popping a pill. “Heartburn prevention is a balancing act,” Nalbandian says.

Still, Sandy Bush decided to go this route after his doctor explained its many advantages. “He told me if I made some behavioral changes, I could probably get better without medication,” Bush says. “I’m a do-it-yourself kind of guy, so I was ready to listen.” Here are the strategies that can help:

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

DawnMarie Perez D.

5:14PM PDT on Sep 15, 2010

I suffer terrible from ACID REFLUX AND GERD, NOT TO MENTION A HIATAL HERNIA, the pain is excursiating, i have had this for close to 7 yrs, what makes it worse is that im sensitive to the meds, AND YES STRESS MAKES THIS WORSE, shortness of breath (feels like asthma attack) that along with the pain like ground glass ripping yr stomach apart burning under yr breast bone both sides and down yr middle stomach this is agonizing!!! this has alterned my life, where i can no longer work and enjoy the things i used to do before, on top of that i developed "severe depression" this really sucks, im trying to find natural meds and cures that might be able to help me!!!

send a green star

KayL N.

1:19AM PST on Jan 11, 2010

I suffer from chronic acid reflux, and nothing has helped it but Nexium. If I skip a single day of taking the med, I immediately start feeling like someone has poured battery acid down my throat and it is trying to climb back out. I've just been put on a diet to lose mega-weight because of diabetes, so this article gives me hope that the acid refux might get better when I get thinner.

JE L.

10:13PM PST on Dec 26, 2009

Interesting.

Past Member .

1:36AM PST on Dec 18, 2009

Milk is supposed to actually increase stomach acids, so it's really a myth that it can help with heartburn. I agree with Damaa, water is the best remedy as well as some baking soda. Whole milk is also fatty which also causes the stomach to produce more acids, so I'd avoid this old wive's tale if you want relief from heartburn.
folic acid

9:38AM PST on Dec 12, 2009

I do not suffer from that too often thank goodness

Margarita R.

5:12PM PST on Dec 10, 2009

Dr. Cohen,

It's been a while since I took chemistry, but I've always known HCl as hydrochloric acid, which is not exactly for human consumption. Is there a specific concentration? Perhaps these are initials for something else?

Mel, not sure if it was you or the doctor you quote in the article that made the original mistake, but the "purple pill" is NEXIUM. Prilosec is blue and pink. Both are made by the same manufacturer and Nexium was re-formulated when Prilosec went over the counter to keep the patent longer. Now insurance companies require dr approval for folks who want Nexium because they'd rather you get Prilosec so they don't have to pay.

I find it interesting that Asthma medication causes heartburn when reflux aggravates Asthma. Go figure. I find that when I stop my Nexium, my breathing capacity goes down.

veronika p.

4:35PM PST on Dec 10, 2009

My boyfriend gets really bad heartburn. I'll tell him about these tonight, Thanks.

Elizabeth A.

1:35AM PST on Dec 8, 2009

Throwing it out there for someone who might know: If aspirin can CAUSE heartburn how does the combo of that and baking soda help RELIEVE it??

1:32AM PST on Dec 8, 2009

Dr. Cohen,

Your comments piqued my interest. Based on your statements, it sounds like you promote a raw food diet, at last one including 50% or more raw food. Am I incorrect?

What do you mean that lactic acid "Burns as HCL does"?

Why/how does the addition of HCL prevent plaque?

I've never heard of HCL being sold in supplement form. I there a company/brand you can recommend?

I'd sincerely appreciate a response if your schedule allows. Thank you.