Heartburn, commonly termed as pyrosis, is reported to wreak frequent havoc in many of us. This incinerating and afflictive sentience in the esophagus is often caused due to the back flow of acid from the stomach of the individual.
Though the name has the word ‘cardiac’ attached to it, in reality, this does not have any correlation with the heart. The sensation starts in the esophagus and travels up along the throat, chest, neck and the jaw. Usually, heartburn is an insinuator of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
How to cure Heartburn?
Heartburn cure can be categorized into 4 different types, namely medicament intake, lifestyle changes, natural/herbal and home remedies and surgical procedures. We shall discuss the heartburn medications in depth here.
Effective Therapeutic Medications
The medicines that are usually taken for heartburn constitute bismuth salicylate, proton-pump substances, h2-blockers, baking soda and antacids
H2-Blockers: More popularly referred to as the H2RA, H2-Receptor antagonists, this class of drugs impede the action of histamines on the parietal cells of the human stomach thereby bringing down the production of acid within the stomach.
The disadvantage associated with these h2-blockers is the fact that they testify to be effective only after getting absorbed within the bloodstream. As a result, the effect of their intake is visible only after a 30 minute timeframe since their intake. However, though not fast active, they are an effective heartburn cure.
Baking Soda: Baking soda when mixed with a cup of water is just the salt solution. This when taken in, nullifies the stomach acid that is ejected back into the esophagus which in turn facilitates heartburn cure.
Antacids: Intake of antacid medicines has been proven to offer the quickest relief for heartburn. They nullify the stomach acid and relieve the individual of heartburn with ease. Medicines that are made up of aluminum and magnesium hydroxide, aluminum and calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, hydrotalcite and magaldrate are a few of the well known antacids taken for heartburn cure.
Bismuth subsalicylate: It controls the movement of fluids within the bowel. Being anti-bacterial, it helps in the removal of toxins and has also proven to cure diarrhea, vomiting and nausea.
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PPIs: They work by stopping the acid secretion with the stomach. Proven to be effective than any other medication, benzimidazole and imidazopiridine derivatives are PPIs that are in vogue today
Side Effects of Heartburn Cure Medications
The side effects include mild headaches, dark colored stool, nausea, diarrhea and constipation
Final Note
People who are suffering from phenylketonuria/PKU should not take Phenylalanine containing antacids. If bismuth subsalicylate is given to children suffering from chicken pox and flu, they may develop Reye’s syndrome. People who are allergic to salicylates or aspirin should not be given bismuth salicylate.
With all, considering the negative effects that can be induced by the heartburn cure medications, it is highly recommended that OTC medications like antacids should be taken as per the advice of your medical practitioner.
