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You Are Here » Heartburn Information » Heartburn Remedy
Heartburn Information
Contents of this Article
Heartburn Remedy
- Following the "Changes In Lifestyle Can Help" (mentioned below)
- Proper medications that help decrease the production of stomach acid. Heartburn Medication
- When symptoms are severe, your doctor may recommend surgery. GERD Surgery
Changes In Lifestyle Can Help
- Diet modification (avoid the foods that give you hearthburn or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Raising the head of your bed on blocks by 4 to 6 inches
- Do not lie down after eating
- Avoiding food 2 to 3 hours before bed
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals
- If you smoke, quit
- Avoid drinks with caffeine
- Avoid alcohol
- Lose weight if you're overweight - Body Mass Index Calculator & Chart
- Avoid tight clothing around the waist
If you don't get relief from the changes in lifestyle, mentioned above, it is best to visit your doctor. Your doctor will give you the proper medications that will help decrease the production of stomach acid. If symptoms are severe, or there are complications and medical treatment does not help, your doctor may recommend surgery. Most people can get sufficient relief from changes in lifestyle and medications and do not require surgery.
Your Doctor May Want to Schedule You For Some Tests
Tests Might Include:
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Barium Swallow (also called an esophagram) is a series of x-rays of the esophagus. The patient drinks a liquid which coats the inside of the esophagus called barium (BAIR-ee-um). Barium is a chalky liquid used to coat the inside of organs so that they will show up on an x-ray. The barium will show any changes in the shape of the esophagus through the x-rays.
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24 Hour Esophageal pH Test measures how much stomach acid backs up into the esophagus in 24 hours. For this test, a small tube (catheter) is passed through the nose, down the back of your throat and positioned in the esophagus. On the tip of the catheter is a sensor that senses acid. The other end of the catheter exits from the nose, wraps back over the ear, and travels down to the waist, where it is attached to a recorder. Each time acid refluxes back into the esophagus from the stomach, it stimulates the sensor and the recorder records the episode of reflux. After a 20 to 24 hour period of time, the catheter is removed and the record of reflux from the recorder is analyzed. The complications of this procedure are exceedingly rare, with the most significant being esophageal perforation. Sometimes your nose might bleed and you may have a sore throat after the test.
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Endoscopy is an examination of the inside of the esophagus using a small, flexible tube with a light and a lens on the end called an endoscope. An anesthetic (substance that causes loss of feeling or awareness) is usually used during this procedure. If an abnormal area is found, the doctor can collect cells and tissue through the endoscope for examination under a microscope. This is called a biopsy. A biopsy can show cancer, tissue changes that may lead to cancer, or other conditions.
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CAT (or CT) Scan (computed tomography). A computer linked to an x-ray machine creates a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body.
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Helicobacter Pylori (H. pylori) Test (previously called Campylobacter pylori). Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a spiral shaped bacterium found in the stomach. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) damages stomach and duodenal tissue, causing ulcers. An ulcer is a sore on the skin surface or on the stomach lining.
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