- Loosen things up. Tight underwear, pants, belts and any other too-snug apparel increase abdominal pressure. Choose loose-fitting clothes and you'll feel more comfortable.
- Stay regular: When you're constipated straining to have a bowel movement increases the pressure in your abdomen. More pressure equals more stomach acid going where it doesn't belong. To prevent constipation, exercise often, drink lots of water throughout the day and eat plenty of dietary fibre. The simplest way to do that is to add ample fruit, vegetables and whole grains to your diet.
- Sleep with your head up. If heartburn keeps you awake at night, try raising the head of your bed with 15 to 20 cm blocks. This keeps your stomach contents from pushing upwards. There are foam wedges you can sleep on that do the same thing--look for them at better pharmacies or in medical supply stores. Regardless of whether you use a wedge, try to say on your left side as you slumber. Your stomach extends into the leftside of your abdomen so sleeping on this side keeps anything in your stomach down low and away from your lower oesophageal sphincter.
- Take a walk after meals. A leisurely stroll can encourage intestinal movement and reduce heartburn. The worst thing you can do is lie down right after eating. Food get jammed up against the lower oesophageal sphincter, making heartburn almost a certainty.
That seems logical, but the answer is no. The H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors do reduce acid levels in your stomach, but enough acid remains to kill off most micorbes that make it into your stomach. You can still get sick if you eat spoiled food, but no more frequently than someone who is not taking heartburn medicine.
>Should I stop taking aspirin?
Yes. Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin may take your heartburn worse. One large three-year study of 25,000 people found that frequent users of NSAIDs were twice as likely to have GORD symptoms as those who didn't use them. Familiar NSAIDs to watch out for include ibuprofen (Nurofen) and naproxen (Naprogesic) among others. A good substiute for a headache or other mild pain is the drug paracetamol (Panadol).
PROMISING DEVELOPMENTS
The gamma-amino butyric acid agonist baclofen is used for multiple sclerosis and shows great promise as a weapon against GORD. In one study it reduced the number of participants' reflux episodes by as much as 70%. It also helped keep the lower oesophageal sphincter from relaxing --the major cause of GORD.
Natural methods
People have been drinking milk for decades to relieve heartburn. Don't: It's an old natural remedy that doesn't work. In fact, milk actually stimulates acid production, making your heartburn worse. Instead, try the healing compound deglycyrrhistinated liquorice (DGL), which is available in lozenge form. Take one or two after eating and chew them slowly so all the active compounds get put to work coating and repairing the stomach's mucouus lining.
Also try a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in a cup of warm water. This provides immediate relief if you don't have antacids close by. Be warned: You'll belch mightily so be prepared. Hard lollies will also work. Sucking on them produces extra saliva, washing acid away. Don't use peppermint; it can make heartburn worse.
HEARTBURN OR HEART ATTACK?
you get a sudden, severe attack of heartburn. So you think you'll brush it off with a couple of antacids. But before you do, just remember that the pain of a heart attack can be almost indistinguishable from that of severe heartburn.
call 000 in Australia or 111 in New Zealand
if what you think is heartburn is accompanied by any of these symptoms, which can indicate a heart attack.
- Pain that radiates into your jaw or out your left arm.
- Tightness or pain in the center of your chest.
- Cold sweats, nausea and vomiting.
- Dizziness and shortness of breath.
- Increased pain when you excert yourself.
For the most severe cases of GORD, medication may not provide enough relief. And sometimes people just aren't able to make the necessary lifetsyle changes. It is at this point that you should probably talk to a surgeon. For about 5 percent of those with severe heartburn and GORD, surgery is the best option.
If chronic GORD has scarred your oesophagus and narrowed the opening--you'll know this has happened if you have difficulty swallowing food--your doctor may recommend endoscopic dilation. In this procedure, a ballon-like device is inserted into your oesophagus and then inflated, stretching the oesophagus open. This is an outpatient procedure and boasts a high rate of success
In the most complex surgery for GORD, called Nissen fundoplication, a surgeon wraps the upper part of your stomach around the lower oesophageal sphincter and attaches it firmly in place. This creates a stronger valve and for most people, eliminates GORD symptoms for at least 10 years. Traditionally, fundoplication requires a large incision in your abdomen and recovery takes from four to six weeks.
Today, many surgeons are recommending a much less invasive procedure called laparoscopic fundoplication, which is performed through a few tiny incisions using remotely guided instruments. It boasts the same success rate as an open fundoplication but with this approach you're typically back to normal activities within a week. Even though laparscopic fundoplication is a relatively recent surgical development, laparscopic techniques have been used for nearly 30 years, especially in the field of gynaecology. Today more than 85 percent of gallbladder removals are done laparoscopically. Although there are many advantages to laparscopy, this technique may not be suitable for everyone. Be sure that you are thoroughly assessed by a surgeon before having this operation.
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