Table of contents:
- Choice of heartburn medication
- 1. Antacids
- 2.Proton pump inhibitor (PPI)
- 3. H2 blockers
- How to deal with heartburn without drugs
- 1. Loosen clothes that press on the stomach
- 2. Sleep with your head higher
- 3. Chew gum
- 4. Take advantage of baking soda (baking soda)
Heartburn (heartburn) followed by a burning sensation along the throat is a common symptom of acid reflux disease (GERD). This condition can actually be treated with drugs and various other natural methods. Come on, see what are the drug and treatment options for treating heartburn.
Choice of heartburn medication
One of the causes of burning sensation in the gut is when stomach acid rises back up into the esophagus. This condition can trigger a burning sensation in the upper stomach, or heartburn.
Although the symptoms of acid reflux are quite disturbing, you can treat heartburn with several medications. Here are a number of drugs to treat pain in the gut.
1. Antacids
One type of drug that can be used to relieve pain in the gut is an antacid. The use of antacids aims to reduce stomach acid.
Generally, heartburn relievers contain calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or aluminum hydroxide. All of these compounds function to neutralize acid in the stomach and can usually relieve heartburn quickly.
Even though it is an over-the-counter drug, wrongly using antacids can actually aggravate the symptoms you are experiencing, such as:
- difficulty swallowing,
- gastric pains,
- gallstones,
- pancreatic problems, up to
- stomach cancer.
That's why you need to follow the instructions for use that are listed on the label. If you are in doubt, please ask your doctor or pharmacist regarding the use of antacids as a way to treat heartburn.
2.Proton pump inhibitor (PPI)
Proton pump inhibitors are a class of drugs that doctors often prescribe to reduce heartburn due to ulcers or GERD. PPIs work by blocking the acid production site in the parietal cells of the stomach.
There are millions of parietal cells that continue to reproduce, so a PPI will certainly not completely stop the production of stomach acid. That is why, the drug to treat heartburn is fairly safe.
So far, there are many types of proton pump inhibitors available with little comparison with each other. Some of the PPIs that doctors may often prescribe to treat heartburn include:
- omeprazole,
- lansoprazole,
- esomeprazole,
- rabeprazole, and
- dexlansoprazole.
Although somewhat more effective than other drugs, PPIs can trigger a number of side effects that shouldn't be ignored. Therefore, you should consult your doctor first before using this drug.
3. H2 blockers
Before PPIs and antacids were present as pain relievers in the gut, H2 blockers were the first drugs to treat ulcers and GERD. Although less effective than the other two drugs, this prescription drug is cheaper and safer to treat heartburn.
In addition, H2 blockers are also available in low doses and can be bought without a prescription to reduce mild heartburn pain.
This drug works by fighting histamine as H2 receptors on the parietal cells of the stomach. That way, the production of hydrochloric acid can be reduced. These drugs also help fight the corrosive effects of acids that can cause heartburn.
H2 blockers to relieve heartburn are available in various types, including:
- cimetidine,
- ranitidine,
- nizatidine, and
- famotidine
When using the drugs above, don't forget to read the instructions for use. If the heartburn is still throbbing and sore after taking the medicine, consult your doctor to get the right treatment.
How to deal with heartburn without drugs
Apart from drugs, it turns out that there are other ways you can treat heartburn in order to maximize the benefits of the drug. In addition, long-term use of medications, such as antacids, can increase the risk of side effects.
Here are some ways to treat heartburn that can be done without drugs.
1. Loosen clothes that press on the stomach
One way to deal with heartburn without medication is to loosen clothes that press on the stomach. This simple method usually helps relieve the pain of wearing tight clothing.
If possible, immediately change to looser clothes so that the heartburn is not depressed and causes pain.
2. Sleep with your head higher
Reporting from Harvard Health, sleeping with your head higher can actually help treat pain in the gut.
Ideally, your head should be 15 to 20 cm higher than your feet. You can use additional pillows to make it taller. It also aims to prevent stomach acid from rising into the esophagus.
In addition, you are also advised to sleep on your left side, especially when you have GERD problems. The sleeping position on the side to the side keeps the junction that limits the stomach and esophagus above the stomach acid.
3. Chew gum
Did you know that chewing gum can be an alternative to treating heartburn without medication?
In fact, when you chew gum, your mouth stimulates the production of alkaline saliva. As a result, this can help reduce reflux when swallowing.
In fact, this method helps push the contents of the stomach back into the stomach. This method is harmless as long as you avoid chewing large amounts of artificially sweetened gum.
4. Take advantage of baking soda (baking soda)
The alkaline nature of baking soda turns out to be a natural way to treat heartburn because it can neutralize stomach acid. Baking soda is safe to use occasionally.
When used excessively can lead to the risk of cardiovascular disease and can inhibit the absorption of certain drugs. Always use baking soda occasionally or sparingly to relieve heartburn.
Basically, there are many ways you can do to support the benefits of drugs to relieve heartburn, such as paying attention to diet. If you have further questions, please discuss with your doctor.
x
