At least one big feast in a series of New Year's holidays is already over, which means clients with a burning sensation in the esophagus have already made their way to the nearest pharmacy. Overeating and heavy doses of alcohol almost inevitably lead to problems with the gastrointestinal tract, even for those who do not normally suffer from this. Pharmacy workers who celebrate the holiday are required to dispense “something for heartburn.” How to answer the strangest or trickiest questions from clients about antacids? We offer you the following answer options.
Recommend me something for heartburn that will last longer.
Modern antacid drugs that are not absorbed in the digestive tract, such as aluminum phosphoric acid or aluminum-magnesium drugs, are suitable for you. They bind hydrochloric acid quite quickly - usually within a few minutes after ingestion - and their effect lasts up to several hours. Maximum duration of action
characteristic of drugs containing aluminum hydroxide. They act for 2.5–3 hours [2].
What medications effectively help with heartburn?
Why can't you drink soda if you have heartburn?
You've probably heard that you can get rid of heartburn at home with baking soda.
This is what our grandparents did (the case when folk remedies are more likely to cripple). From chemistry lessons we know: an acid can be neutralized with an alkali to water. But we must remember that this chemical reaction releases carbon dioxide. Once in the stomach, it provokes the production of a new portion of acid. It's like putting out a fire and adding fuel to it at the same time. There is a short-term effect, but then it gets worse.
How to choose a drug for heartburn?
To begin with, we will list the reasons that can lead to heartburn, so that you take your health seriously and, if the symptom appears frequently, consult a specialist for diagnosis.
Possible causes of heartburn:
- chronic gastritis with increased acid secretion,
- hiatal hernia,
- ulcer,
- reflux disease,
- zero acidity (achlorhydria).
Heartburn can also be caused by the effects of gastric surgery, the use of certain medications, hypersensitive esophageal syndrome, and pregnancy.
Medicines used for heartburn:
- Antacids
. Contains magnesium, calcium or alginic acid salts that neutralize hydrochloric acid. These are natural substances for our body, so they do not irritate the mucous membranes. There are analogues containing aluminum salts, but they can lead to digestive disorders. - Preparations that form a gel barrier
, preventing acid reflux. - Drugs that suppress acid secretion
. Drugs of this type should be prescribed by a doctor; for some diagnoses their use is not recommended. - Prokinetics
. Increase muscle tone, accelerate the transit of food from the stomach to the intestines. Specialist consultation is required.
Antacid complexes are the most gentle way to get rid of unpleasant symptoms.
CONSUMED offers five antacid complexes for heartburn, which differ in release form (tablets, suspension, gel suspension), as well as auxiliary components.
Additional recommendations:
- For 1.5–2 hours after eating, do not bend over or take a horizontal position.
- Avoid tight clothing, belts and corsets that compress the gastrointestinal tract.
- Avoid heavy lifting.
- Stop smoking.
- Eat small portions, do not overeat.
- Avoid irritating foods: too hot, cold, spicy, sour, fatty.
- Reduce your consumption of coffee, strong tea, chocolate and alcohol.
Dietary supplement IT IS NOT A MEDICINE. BEFORE USE, IT IS RECOMMENDED TO CONSULT WITH A SPECIALIST.
Give me heartburn medicine. And it would be desirable to also help with bloating - are there any such remedies?
Yes, today there are combination drugs that simultaneously neutralize hydrochloric acid and stop the manifestations of flatulence due to the inclusion of simethicone in the antifoam composition. It reduces the surface tension of gas bubbles in the digestive tract, promoting their rupture. An example of such a drug is a combination of aluminum, magnesium hydroxide and simethicone in the form of a suspension. It simultaneously neutralizes hydrochloric acid, reduces gas formation in the intestines, and also envelops the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, protecting it from the damaging effects of aggressive substances [5].
When symptoms occur
Heartburn often indicates the following gastrointestinal diseases:
- Stomach ulcers, gastritis, gastroduodenitis, cholelithiasis - with these pathologies, reflux of food mixed with acid or bile is often observed.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a disease - leakage of contents occurs as a result of sphincter insufficiency. Patients often complain of coughing, which occurs due to the penetration of foreign particles into the respiratory tract.
- Chronic pancreatitis - with the disease, symptoms may include increased salivation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Also unpleasant symptoms may occur:
- after gastric surgery and cholecystectomy;
- in older people due to age-related changes;
- with long-term use of certain drugs (Citramon, Ibuprofen);
- against a background of stress;
- during pregnancy;
- as a result of bad habits.
Even in healthy people, unpleasant symptoms can be caused by eating foods such as tomatoes, sour fruits, chocolate, and strong coffee.
But, whatever the cause, in most cases heartburn appears suddenly. However, in various pathologies it can occur regularly and persist for a long time.
We figured out the cause of heartburn. Is it possible to get rid of heartburn using over-the-counter remedies and folk recipes is the next question that arises among patients.
Even in healthy people, unpleasant symptoms can be caused by eating foods such as tomatoes, sour fruits, chocolate, and strong coffee.
What is the difference between tablets and suspension from heartburn? Do they act differently?
The mechanism of action of a drug does not depend on the form (tablets, gel, suspension), but on its components. But the pharmacokinetic properties - the speed of onset of the effect, the duration of action - may differ between tablets and suspensions. It is believed that tablet forms maintain the acidity of gastric juice longer at a level of more than 4 ( acidity of gastric juice is considered normal in the range of 1.3–7.5 pH - editor's note.
) than suspensions. When chewable tablets for heartburn are taken correctly, acid-neutralizing components enter the digestive tract evenly, which has a positive effect on the result. At the same time, for heartburn, suspensions can begin to work faster than tablets [3]. In addition, they are optimally distributed over the surface of the mucous membrane, and in the lumen of the esophagus and stomach they form small drops with a large surface area, which enhances their medicinal properties [6].
And yet it cannot be said unequivocally that any form has an advantage. To draw such conclusions, you need to consider the properties of a particular drug.
Causes of heartburn
The main cause of heartburn is considered to be insufficiency of the cardiac sphincter. This is a muscular valve that closes the gap between the stomach and esophagus. When it is weak, part of the stomach contents is thrown back into the esophagus. To better understand the causes of heartburn and treatment, it is necessary to understand what processes occur in the body.
Stomach cells synthesize hydrochloric acid. The substance mixes with the contents of the stomach and, when regurgitated (returned), severely irritates the esophagus, causing a burn to the mucous membrane. As a result, this leads to a burning sensation. The return of a bolus of food into the esophagus does not always cause damage to the mucosa. The likelihood of inflammation depends on the level of acidity of gastric contents and the frequency of its reflux into the esophagus.
Eliminating the cause of heartburn is the primary goal in its treatment.
Soda for heartburn: how to dilute, proportions
To achieve the effect, you can simply drink a small amount of soda with a glass of water or drink a solution of soda in water.
Step-by-step instructions for preparing an aqueous solution
- To prepare the product, use warm (36-37 °C) boiled water.
- Dissolve 1/2 or 1/3 teaspoon of soda in 1/2 cup of water.
- The mixture is thoroughly stirred and drunk in small sips while warm (the liquid should not be allowed to cool, as this may reduce the effectiveness of the product).
- After taking the soda solution, it is advisable to loosen tight clothing and accessories that may squeeze the body, and take a sitting or reclining position (but not lying down!).
The effect occurs within 5-10 minutes.
Other recipes for soda solutions
There are several prescription medications that contain sodium bicarbonate. In addition to the most popular described above, these are:
- Soda with lemon juice . Add a little lemon juice to the soda solution (the permissible amount is 0.5 teaspoon). When bubbles appear, drink the liquid in small sips.
- Soda with apple cider vinegar and sugar . Dissolve 1 teaspoon each of apple cider vinegar and sugar in 1 glass of water, then add 1 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate to the mixture. When the liquid starts to fizz, you need to drink it slowly.
How to treat alcohol poisoning with vomiting in a narcological hospital
The best place to combat acute alcohol intoxication is an inpatient drug clinic. Here the patient can undergo highly effective detox therapy. During it, cleansing droppers are placed, which:
- bind and remove toxins;
- wash away alcohol;
- restore healthy water and electrolyte balance;
- normalize acid-base balance;
- support the kidneys, liver, heart, brain.
After drips, the condition of the poisoned person improves quite quickly. In addition to these, narcologists perform various physical procedures. This can be intravenous laser blood purification, xenon therapy, intestinal lavage, plasmapheresis.
Before sending the patient home, the narcologist talks about the rules that must be followed in the near future in order to fully recover. When working with people dependent on alcohol, psychotherapy sessions are conducted. During them, techniques are used to convince the patient of the need for coding.
Other folk remedies
The table presents some folk remedies that can be used at home for burning in the esophagus (after consultation with your doctor).
| Means | Explanation |
| Vegetable juice | You can consume individually or a mixture of juices (potato, cabbage, carrot, beet) 2-3 tablespoons before meals for treatment and prevention. |
| Mineral water | In the absence of contraindications, you can drink slightly alkaline or alkaline water 50-250 ml 3 times a day. Before use, the water must be heated to approximately 40 °C and the gas must be released. |
| Chamomile infusion | The infusion is prepared from 1-2 teaspoons of dry raw materials and 1 cup of boiling water. The product is infused for 20 minutes, filtered and drunk in small sips (no more than 3 glasses per day). |
| Infusion of a mixture of herbs | 0.5 tablespoons of plantain leaves, chamomile flowers and St. John's wort are poured into 1 liter of boiling water, left for 15 minutes in a warm place, and taken 1 tablespoon before meals 3 times a day. |
| Infusion of yellow gentian | Gentian yellow root (20 g) is poured with boiling water (1 glass), the mixture is allowed to cool and drunk 1 tablespoon 30 minutes before meals. |
| Flax seed infusion | Ground flax seeds (3 teaspoons) are poured into 1 cup of boiling water and left overnight. The resulting liquid is drunk one sip before and after each meal, as well as before bed. |
| Viburnum jam | Viburnum jam (1 tablespoon), which is dissolved in 1 glass of boiled water and drunk as tea, can relieve an attack. |
| Mumiyo | Shilajit (0.2 g) is mixed with 1 tablespoon of water or milk and taken in the morning and before going to bed for 4 weeks, after which you need to take a break for 2 weeks. |
In addition, during a severe attack of heartburn, you can chew almonds or oatmeal.
Alkaline mineral water has the same effect on heartburn as soda
Heartburn Treatment Approach
For persistent heartburn, the patient, after examination, is prescribed drug therapy. Lifestyle changes are indicated (including eating right and giving up bad habits). Some patients require surgery.
In addition to following a diet, how much food a person takes is also important. So, to eliminate this symptom, it is recommended to consume no more than 200 ml of food at a time. Food should be eaten warm, avoiding too hot or cold foods. The last meal should be at least 3 hours before bedtime. It is also not recommended to lie down for at least 1 hour after eating; physical activity is allowed no earlier than 2 hours later.
