Tag: acid reflux

Results Are In: How to Immediately Stop Heartburn

Do you suffer from heartburn? Here is the answer for your relief: We’ve found the very best over the counter, maximum strength, heartburn medications proven to be the most effective amongst competitors.

Unfortunately, approximately 20% of Americans are affected by heartburn. Fortunately, there are plenty of available treatment options to stop your suffering. We’re here to help provide you with fast, effective relief from that lingering stomach acid causing your heartburn to flare up.

After taking a deep dive into the most reputable clinical research to identify the best possible treatments, we’ve got answers for you. As it turns out, the best treatment depends on how severe your symptoms are. There are three active ingredients that have been proven effective to protect against heartburn – Antacids, H2 blockers and PPIs, or proton pump inhibitors. But what do these really mean?

Antacids

Antacids are packed full of ingredients that are moderately effective at neutralizing your stomach acid. In fact, that’s us putting it lightly. Ever taken an Alka Seltzer? We’re sorry to report that baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, does nothing for you.

Research shows that Alka Seltzer is actually very ineffective at neutralizing your stomach acid. It is also full of high sodium content, another no-no. Sorry to break the news, but if you’re taking Alka Seltzer for your heartburn you’re probably not experiencing any real relief.

H2 Blockers

H2 is what tells your stomach to produce acid. There are three H2 blockers: Cimetidine, Ranitidine, and Famotidine. These fight to prevent heartburn by blocking your body’s response to the chemical that tells your stomach to produce acid.

The downside? In some rare cases, Cimetidine has been linked to gynecomastia (breast enlargement in males). You should also be very cautious if you’re on any prescription medication, as it is also more likely to interfere with it. Ditch any heartburn products that have Cimetidine and try to stick to Ranitidine or Famotidine.

PPIs

These are much more potent than any H2 blockers because they completely stop your stomach from producing any acid. Approved by the FDA back in 2001, Esomeprazole is the newest PPI, but has extensive research that is quite impressive.

In fact, esomeprazole was found to promote faster healing than other PPIs – So much so, that a single dose is more effective than a double dose of competing PPIs! With that being said, we are dumping all other ingredients and exclusively providing you with esomeprazole-based heartburn medications.

Now that you have a better understanding of the active ingredients that are proven to be effective, here is our list of the very best over the counter, maximum strength, heartburn medications:

1. Tums Ultra Strength 1000 – Best for Mild Heartburn
2. Rolaids Ultra Strength Soft Chews – Runner-Up for Mild Heartburn
3. Zantac 150 – Best for Moderate Heartburn
4. Nexium 24HR – Best for Intense Heartburn

August 16, 2019
Finding the Best Acid Reflux Treatment

Acid reflux, also known as heartburn, is an issue that occurs when your stomach acid washes up into your esophagus, causing pain and discomfort. It can be difficult to find relief for this frustrating condition. If you’re looking for the best treatments for acid reflux, you’ve come to the right place. Today we’re discussing the best ways to avoid acid reflux, and the best treatments for when you’re suffering from it.

Acid Reflux

Avoidance

The best thing to do is to just avoid acid reflux altogether. You’re likely aware of some of the triggers of your heartburn, but maybe you’re not as familiar with others. Let’s look at some of the common things you’ll want to avoid when it comes to acid reflux.

Eating Late

Avoid eating late at night. The later it is when you eat, the worse off you’ll be when you try to lay down for bed. Often, laying down after a late meal is a surefire way to agitate your stomach and send acid spilling up into your esophagus. This results in the continual chest pain and burning that are typical of heartburn. In order to avoid this, make sure you don’t eat within four hours of the time you’d like to get to sleep.

Red Meat

You may also want to avoid red meat in your diet if you have bad acid reflux. Not only will red meat exacerbate your heartburn symptoms, it’s also not very good for you in the first place. Consider eating fish for entrees instead, or even forgoing meat altogether for some meals. This will not only help your acid reflux, but it will also be good for you overall!

Carbonated Drinks

As tasty as sodas and seltzer waters are, the carbonation is terrible for acid reflux. It can often excite your stomach acid and irritate your esophagus. This, in turn, leads to your stomach acid splashing up into your esophagus and trigging heartburn. The same goes for highly acidic drinks like juices. If you have bad heartburn, consider drinking water with your meals instead of sparkling water or juice. It’s also a lot better for you in the long run.

Large Meals

One of the most surefire ways to trigger your acid reflux is by indulging in a very large meal. Whether this is a splurge you’re enjoying or just you being quite hungry, eating a lot of food often gets your stomach acid going and can cause heartburn. Consider having more meals throughout the day of smaller portions, as this will allow you to avoid triggering your acid reflux.

Antacids

One of the most straightforward treatments for heartburn is to take antacids. These help to neutralize your stomach acid so that even if it does splash into your esophagus, it won’t cause as much discomfort as it normally would. Common examples of such medications are Tums and Rolaids. These can help to offer instant relief.

H2 Blockers

Another great option for preventing heartburn is the use of an H2 blocker. These have a somewhat complex mechanism of working, but they essentially block your body from producing as damaging of acid. Examples include Zantac and Pepcid. These are usually taken regularly as a way to combat the worst of heartburn symptoms.

Proton-pump Inhibitors

Proton-pump inhibitors are great for when H2 blockers aren’t working. They’re a bit more intensive, and work on a different mechanism than H2 blockers, but they’re often much stronger. Prilosec and Nexium are two well-known examples of this type of medicine. You don’t usually start with these, as they’re much more intensive, but they’re a great fallback if H2 blockers aren’t working.

June 14, 2019
Foods to Fight Acid Reflux: Get Relief

No one loves having heartburn or acid reflux. It’s a surefire way to ruin a night with friends getting a nice dinner. If you’re looking to find foods that can help you stay on the comfortable side of heartburn, we’re here to help.

Today we’re looking at the top foods that help fight acid reflux. Let’s find you some relief.

Foods to Fight Acid Reflux

Before We Begin…

Before we begin we’d like to offer a bit of advice. When it comes to heartburn, one of the most important things you can do is eat less food, and eat it slower. Don’t chow down on a huge meal late at night and then try to lay down for bed. That’s a sure way to trigger a bout of heartburn, whether you eat the right foods or not.

Likewise, consider taking antacids if your acid reflux is bad enough. These medications can help settle an upset stomach and take some of the bite off of heartburn. You likely already knew this, but it never hurts to have a reminder. There’s more than just dietary ways to fight acid reflux, after all.

Low-Acid Foods

Ideally, you want to stick to low acid foods. This goes double if you’re not already taking antacids, but it’s a good idea in any event. Generally speaking, you’ll want to avoid most fruits, as they tend to have a very high acid content. This doesn’t apply to bananas or melons, though, both of which are low in acid and high in nutrients. They also both make great snacks!

Another good low-acid food is oatmeal. The consistency and high fiber of oatmeal make it great for calming heartburn. As such, a good breakfast for frequent acid reflux sufferers is oatmeal and bananas, with a bit of cantaloupe. Yum!

Dinner Foods

If you’re going out to a late dinner with friends, you’re likely looking to keep the food light and acid-free. The best way to do that without looking like you’re avoiding “real food” is just to order the right stuff! Fish is very low in acid, and it’ll likely keep your stomach from becoming upset. The same goes for potatoes, though we’d advise you stay away from fries.

Fried food, in general, is a surefire way to upset your acid reflux. As such, we’d recommend staying away from fish and chips. Instead, get a grilled salmon with a baked potato! It’s good for you and it won’t upset your stomach.

March 29, 2019