Can’t Use Zantac? Try These 5 Heartburn Remedies

Heartburn remedies - Dr. Axe

Heartburn, a form of uncomfortable indigestion, affects millions of people every day, yet is largely preventable and treatable.


Roughly 20 percent of adult Americans put up with painful heartburn or acid reflux symptoms on a recurring basis — and more than 60 million yearly.


In April 2o20, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called for retailers in the U.S. to pull the popular over-the-counter heartburn medication called Zantac from store shelves. Although Zantac has been used by millions of people for years in order to reduce acid reflux and heartburn symptoms, according to available research reviewed by the FDA, the drug may contain a probable human carcinogen.


Here’s the good news: Not only are there other medications that can be safely be used in Zantac’s place, but you can also benefit from simple natural heartburn remedies that often work quickly to correct the underlying causes of this digestive problem.


What Is Heartburn?


Heartburn is defined as “a form of indigestion felt as a burning sensation in the chest, caused by acid regurgitation into the esophagus.”

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This condition is related to acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). These digestive issues are sometimes referred to simply as “indigestion.”


Heartburn and more chronic forms of GERD are two of the most common health conditions affecting Americans despite the availability of simple lifestyle or even medical intervention options.


What causes acid reflux and heartburn? Diet and lifestyle habits, mostly.


They commonly produce a variety of temporary, yet uncomfortable and often painful, symptoms. The most common times to experience heartburn or acid reflux symptoms occur at night after eating a large meal, during movement like bending or lifting, or when lying down flat on your back.


Symptoms


The most common and noticeable heartburn symptoms include:



  • burning sensations and pain in the chest

  • general discomfort in the upper abdomen or below the breast bone

  • stomachaches shortly after eating, feeling like stomach acid is “churning”

  • pain that seems to move up from the stomach first and can reach as far up as the throat

  • regurgitation or having the sensation of acid backing up into your throat or mouth

  • sour and bitter tastes in your mouth

  • feeling overly full

  • belching, burping and feeling nauseous (symptoms of dyspepsia)


Wondering if heartburn is dangerous or simply inconvenient to deal with? Occasional heartburn here and there — especially after eating common “trigger” foods that are acid-forming — isn’t thought to be dangerous, but according to studies, experiencing these symptoms on an ongoing basis could raise a red flag for a chronic condition like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).


GERD can sometimes lead to serious problems, so it’s important to evaluate what’s causing the symptoms. This usually means making some adjustments to your lifestyle using acid reflux remedies that target the underlying digestive and stress issues.


Related: What Are Meat Sweats? Plus How to Prevent Them


Causes


Although the name implies it would involve the heart, heartburn is primarily caused by digestive problems like stomach acid regurgitation into the esophagus. It doesn’t actually have much to do with one’s cardiovascular system.


It was named “heartburn” because some of the symptoms — like pain and throbbing near the breast bone and heart — are similar to those that would occur when someone is having a heart attack. In fact, some people actually suffering a heart attack mistakenly think that they’re dealing with heartburn and don’t rush to the emergency room!


Why does indigestion like heartburn happen?


The most common underlying causes of the LES not working properly to hold in stomach acid include:



  1. Certain foods in the diet

  2. Eating too much at one time

  3. The “brain-body connection” and the effects of high stress levels

  4. Taking certain medications


Research shows that other risk factors for heartburn include: older age, excessive body mass index (BMI), smoking, anxiety/depression, and less physical activity at work.


Although it commonly goes away after delivery, more than half of all pregnant women also experience some sort of heartburn at one point or another, caused by increased pressure on the digestive organs and hormonal changes.



Remedies


Many of the causes of heartburn can be fixed by trying heartburn remedies like changing your diet, avoiding overeating, and better controlling stressors. Here are several natural remedies to try before relying on medications:

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1. Eat Smaller Portions, Spaced Throughout the Day


Overeating puts a high amount of pressure on the stomach. When the body senses that you’ve eaten a large amount at once, stomach acid production is turned up in order to facilitate digestion. After eating a heavy meal, especially one that’s high in fat or filled with acid-forming foods, according to studies, some of the contents of the stomach can literally leak out and flow back into your esophagus.


Many people eat their biggest, heaviest meal at night, which is why heartburn is most common before bedtime. Nighttime overeating may also lead to weight gain that is linked to higher rates of heartburn. For example, a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that obesity likely causes heartburn due to many factors, including an increase in intra-abdominal pressure, a greater association of hiatal hernia and hormonal factors.


To avoid weight gain and overeating at dinner or afterward, try spacing out your food intake throughout the day more. If you’re the type of person that usually eats two to three bigger meals a day, try shifting to a schedule of eating four to six smaller meals and front-loading your calorie intake toward the earlier part of the day.


Studies generally suggest that it’s best to avoid eating at least three hours before going to sleep.


2.
  • To help reduce heartburn symptoms, limit foods that increase stomach acid, such as fried foods, citrus fruits, garlic, coffee, and alcohol.

  • Eat healing foods like fresh vegetables, healthy fats, quality proteins, bone broth, and fermented foods to support digestion.

  • Control stress levels to prevent increased acid production in the stomach, which can trigger heartburn symptoms.

  • Consider taking supplements like digestive enzymes, probiotics, magnesium, and L-glutamine to support digestion and reduce symptoms.

  • Be cautious about the medications you take, as some can worsen heartburn symptoms or pose health risks.



    • Potential causes of heartburn may include: consumption of specific foods, overeating, high levels of stress, and intake of certain medications.

    • Effective natural remedies for heartburn encompass: consuming smaller meals throughout the day, managing stress levels, following an anti-inflammatory diet, utilizing digestive support supplements, and avoiding problematic medications.

    • It is now recommended to discontinue the use of the widely-used over-the-counter medication Zantac (containing ranitidine) due to concerns about potential contamination that could jeopardize public health.