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Heartburn - Are Antacids Or Baking Soda The Solution?

You probably know of 'Grandma's Remedy' of a little baking soda in a glass of water to soothe the burning sensation of heartburn or acid reflux. But before you try this, you need to know some things about using baking soda or any antacid as a heartburn remedy.

What Is Heartburn and How Can Baking Soda Help?

Some people suffer heartburn after eating too quickly or eating particular foods. It results from a little stomach acid squirting up into your esophagus, which is the tube that leads from your mouth to your stomach. This ‘acid reflux’ irritates the walls of the esophagus resulting in a burning sensation. It actually has nothing to do with the heart but because the burning is felt in the chest area, it was referred to as ‘heartburn’. Symptoms of heartburn can mask the more serious symptoms of heart disease so it is important to find the causes of the acid reflux and eliminate them.

You often only need to sip a little water for mild heartburn to dilute the acid and cool the burning sensation. Saliva produced in the mouth can also help and being naturally alkaline, can neutralize the acid. Just chew a stick of gum to get the saliva flowing.

Baking soda for heartburn is such an effective remedy because it is alkaline and neutralizes the stomach acid in the esophagus. One teaspoon in a glass of water, sipped slowly until the discomfort subsides, should be adequate to bring relief. The great thing about baking soda, compared to over-the-counter antacids, is that it is cheap, readily available and you do not need a prescription. And you can use it for baking cookies!

Why Not To Over-Use Baking Soda and Antacids

However, if you take too much baking soda, or any antacid medication, then the stomach acid itself can be neutralized. The result is that the stomach cells produces more acid to compensate. You then end up taking more baking soda or antacid to neutralize the excess acid. Eventually you can exhaust the stomach cells and the level of stomach acid can decline. Great for your heartburn perhaps, but not so good for your digestion. The level of stomach acid can fall so much that it impairs digestion and food cannot be broken down properly. The result of this can be allergies and inflammation in other areas of the body.

Additionally, if you suffer from high blood pressure, then you do not want the excess sodium, which is present in baking soda and many antacids. Over-the-counter antacids can also contain calcium and magnesium which can cause mineral imbalances in the body if used long-term. Aluminum salts are present in some antacids and aluminum has been implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. If you suffer from frequent heartburn, you should consult your doctor. It is also worth noting that some medical conditions or medicines can weaken the esophageal sphincter and cause acid reflux. If you are taking anxiety medication, calcium channel blockers for hypertension, antihistamines, asthma medication, nitrates, or prescription pain killers, let your doctor know when heartburn becomes a side effect.

Antacid medication and baking soda are not long term solutions to your heartburn. Your priority now should be to discover the causes and solutions to your acid reflux. These might surprise you. The cure for your heartburn and the solutions to your long term health could be the exact opposite of what you might expect.

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