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Natural Ways to Ease Acid Reflux Discomfort

Digestion relies on the one-way movement of stomach contents into the intestines. Acid reflux disrupts this process, pushing stomach acid up into the esophagus and causing irritation.

While many people experience this occasionally, especially after eating fatty foods or lying down, an acute attack can be painful.

But most people don’t know What to Do During an Acid Reflux Attack

This article will explain practical home remedies to help you manage acid reflux attacks.

Steps to Relieve an Acid Reflux Attack

What to do during an acid reflux attack?

Here are some key steps and home remedies that will help you overcome this problem and reduce its recurrence:

Take antacids: Antacids such as calcium carbonate help neutralize stomach acid quickly, getting rid of the burning sensation.
Sit or stand upright: This helps keep stomach acid away from the esophagus, so avoid lying down immediately after eating.
Wear comfortable clothing: Tight clothing puts pressure on your stomach, which can worsen symptoms.
Take small sips of water: To help dilute the acid and push it down.
Avoid foods that cause heartburn: You can identify the foods that cause you acid reflux and stop eating them.

Make some lifestyle changes to avoid the problem as follows:

Avoid overeating and eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day.
Use cubes or a wedge pillow to keep your head elevated while sleeping.
Sleep on your left side, which will help reduce acid reflux.
Quit smoking, as smoking increases acid reflux symptoms.
Stress can also make acid reflux symptoms worse, so practice relaxation techniques.
Some medications, such as postmenopausal estrogen, and anti-inflammatory painkillers, can cause heartburn. Consult your doctor to adjust your prescription if necessary. (Harvard health publishing, n.d.)

Quick Fixes for Acid Reflux Pain

To get rid of acid reflux pain quickly, you can do the following:

Medications

Take over-the-counter antacids such as Mylanta, Rolaids, and Tums.
Take histamine-2 receptor blockers, which work to reduce stomach acid, including cimetidine (Tagamet HB) and famotidine (Pepcid AC).
Medications that act as proton pump inhibitors, which reduce stomach acid and treat the esophagus, include esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), and omeprazole (Prilosec).

Home remedies

Take a mixture of baking soda and water to reduce stomach acid.
Eating bananas because they contain potassium encourages the stomach to produce protective mucus.
Ginger tea helps soothe the stomach and reduce inflammation.
Aloe vera gel reduces inflammation in the esophagus and stomach acid.
Skim milk acts as a barrier between the lining of the stomach and its contents.
Low-fat yogurt containing probiotics can soothe inflammation and promote digestion.

Other treatments:

Stand or sit, not lie down, after meals.
Loosen your waist belt.
Drink water.
Try apple cider vinegar.
Try low-acid fruit or vegetable juice.(NHS, n.d.)

Natural Ways to Ease Acid Reflux Discomfort

Here are the most important natural ways to know what to do during an acid reflux attack:

Eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day to reduce stress on your stomach.
Reduce your intake of citrus fruits, chocolate, coffee, fatty foods, spicy foods, and carbonated drinks.
Eat fruits such as bananas and apples, which are alkaline.
Drink ginger tea because it has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the digestive system.
Aloe vera helps reduce inflammation in the esophagus.
Eat yogurt and foods rich in probiotics.
Elevate the head of your bed to prevent stomach acid reflux while sleeping.
Stay upright after eating and avoid lying down immediately after meals.
Wear loose clothing that does not put pressure on your stomach.