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Heartburn remedies help to reduce the burning sensation in the esophagus and throat, because they act by inhibiting the production of acid, or by neutralizing its acidity in the stomach.
Although most heartburn remedies are over-the-counter, they should only be used after medical advice, as it is important to understand the cause of heartburn, especially if it is frequent, and to tailor treatment, as this can indicate more serious problems such as gastritis or presence of stomach ulcers.
List of remedies for heartburn
Some of the most used remedies to treat heartburn include:
Type of remedy | Commercial name | What is it for |
Antacids | Gaviscon, Pepsamar. Maalox. Alka Seltzer. | They react with stomach acid, neutralizing it. |
H2 receptor antagonists | famotidine (Famox) | Inhibit acid secretion induced by histamine and gastrin. |
Proton pump inhibitors | omeprazole (Losec), pantoprazole (Ziprol), lansoprazole (Prazol, Lanz), esomeprazole (Esomex, Esio) | Inhibit acid production in the stomach by inhibiting the proton pump |
More important than the use of medicines, it is to make a diet that helps to avoid heartburn, eating light foods and avoiding processed foods with a high content of fats and sauces. Learn more about what your diet should look like to prevent heartburn.
Remedies for heartburn in pregnancy
Heartburn is very common during pregnancy, as digestion slows down, producing a full stomach and burning sensation. The best way to treat heartburn is to prevent it from arising by removing fried foods and other very fatty and spicy foods from your diet, for example.
However, when heartburn becomes frequent, it is advisable to consult the obstetrician to start the safe use of some medicines, such as Mylanta Plus or Milk of magnesia. See what other precautions you should take to treat heartburn in pregnancy.
Watch the following video and see more tips on how to stop heartburn in pregnancy:
Natural Remedy for Heartburn
To treat heartburn using natural methods, you can prepare a tea of espinheira-santa or fennel tea and drink iced tea at the moment when the first symptoms of burning in the throat or poor digestion appear.
Another tip to relieve heartburn is to suck a pure lemon at the moment when heartburn arises because the lemon, despite being acidic, contributes to the decrease in stomach acidity. In addition, eating a slice of raw potato can also help to neutralize stomach acidity, fighting discomfort. See more home remedies to fight heartburn.