Medizines

Chest pain can be a very scary, serious issue. If you are one of many Americans at risk for heart disease, it can be even more frightening. But sometimes chest pain isn't heart related, it is a digestive issue.
Heartburn, or it's more serious cousin acid reflux, affects millions of people everyday. The symptoms of both heart problems and acid reflux are very similar, but the treatment is obviously very different. It's easy to mistake one for the other because the esophagus is located behind the heart in the chest cavity.
Identifying the real problem when you have chest pain is very important. Here's a few things to look out for. But remember, when in doubt see your health care provider.
1. Burning in the throat due to stomach acid. This is an extension of the heartburn pain caused by acid reflux. Pain caused by stomach acid regurgitating into the esophagus and mouth is due to acid reflux, not heart problems.
2. Chest pain that begins or increases with exercise is more likely due to a heart problem. Acid reflux symptoms don't change with physical exertion. The heart experiences stress during physical exercise that can manifest potential problems within.
3. Coughing, wheezing, breathing problems, acid regurgitation, bitterness in the mouth: these are all signs of acid reflux disease. The acid entering the esophagus is to blame for each of these symptoms, some of which can be very pronounced. Pregnant women seem to be prone to heartburn during the last two trimesters where a growing fetus crowds the space the stomach normally occupies. For these women, and others in high risk groups, understanding their propensity to heartburn is also important. For example, some pregnant women with chest pain find themselves in the hospital thinking they are having heart attacks, when in fact they are having very serious acid reflux. Again, knowing you are susceptible to acid reflux can help you identify the cause of your symptoms.
4. Numbness or tingling in the arm or arms can be a symptom of a heart attack, and is generally not a symptom of acid reflux. Obviously these symptoms are serious and should be treated immediately by a health care professional.
5. Increased pain after meals is usually a symptom of acid reflux disease. Overeating or bending over after eating can exacerbate the problems, which are not heart related. The extra acid a stomach releases to digest food is to blame for the increased discomfort after meals. While these acids are effective in helping the digestive process, they can be very detrimental for those who suffer from acid reflux disease.
Acid reflux disease and heart disease do share some of the same symptoms, but with careful attention and the help of a health care professional, you can determine which of these issues is causing your chest pain.

It is not at all strange to be on the lookout for acid reflux home remedies. You might even say it is wise, especially during these times when you need to be practical when it comes to health and wealth. Home remedies are generally understood to be safer and cheaper. They are natural and do not contain artificial chemicals which we all know our body has great difficulty processing. When these chemicals are inefficiently processed, they end up causing more damage to our internal organs.
Home remedies are remedies you can do at home and probably even find in your backyard, making them loads cheaper than their commercial counterparts. You don't have to make trips to a pharmacy and worry about travel expenses.
Yet, there are people who argue about the effectiveness of home remedies. To them, nothing beats commercially-prepared and bought antacids in so far as giving immediate relief is concerned. But let's not forget, antacids work like a double-edged sword. As they relieve symptoms of acid reflux, they also cause many side effects and may even eventually result to organ malfunction.
Treating acid reflux at home can be done with the same degree of effectiveness, but better long-term results. Home remedies target not just the symptoms but the cause of the symptoms which make them highly effective in managing acid reflux once and for all.
Acid reflux is not mainly due to overconsumption of acids, although that can trigger an attack. The problem with acid reflux is the weakening of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (or muscle) that may in fact has many contributing factors, such as smoking and over  consumption of fried, fatty, and acidic foods. Eating too much at one time, drinking too much water at one time, and lying down within an hour of eating can make things worse for your already weakened LES.
So what do you do?

1. Avoid the factors that may have brought an attack in the first place. Stay away from smoking, fried and fatty foods, acidic foods, and caffeinated beverages.
2. Eat small but do it more frequently.
3. Eat slowly. Make time to chew your food. The process of chewing breaks down food into smaller particles for easier digestion.
4. Prep your stomach by eating papaya or banana right at the start of your meal. These fruits contain enzymes that aid digestion.
5. Take sips of water at the initial symptom of acid reflux.
6. Take a tablespoon or two of organic honey to calm your stomach and soothe your esophageal lining.
7. Bend your knees at the first symptom of heartburn - it strengthens your LES, helping to keep the stomach contents in the stomach.
8. Chew a sugar-free gum after eating to neutralize the acids and enable the production of enzyme-rich saliva.
9. Have some nuts for dessert. For some reason, eating nuts immediately after a meal does seem to reduce incidence of heartburn or acid reflux.
10. If acid reflux symptoms occur frequently at night, wait for 3-4 hours after eating before lying down, and when lying down, have a pillow or two underneath your head.

With acid reflux home remedies, you get the best of both worlds - better health at lesser cost!

By Xylene Belita

Home Remedies for acid reflux and heartburn is best option to control acid reflux and heartburn symptoms, since these items are easily available at home and give immediate relief.
Baking soda, water and lemon juice
This home remedy for acid reflux and heartburn is probably the most used with the greatest success for the temporary relief of heartburn. In a tall glass put two tablespoons of baking soda. Fill the glass half full with cold water. Pour the juice of one fresh squeezed lemon in to the baking soda solution. You will be amazed at what happens. I would suggest that you perform this procedure over the kitchen sink, as the fizzing of this solution will flood over the glass. Try to drink this as quickly as possible, as it is the fizz and water that will relieve your heartburn. Be warned that this remedy produces sodium in the system. If you suffer from hypertension, it is not advisable to over use this remedy. A few Tums would be a safer choice.
Raw Potato Juice
Wash a potato well (preferably organic). Do not peel the potato. Juice the potato and mix the juice with an equal amount of water. Drink immediately. Do this three, or four times a day as needed. Potato juice has been used for centuries to make the stomach more alkaline. Before the advent of juicers, the potato was simply allowed to stand in water for several hours before drinking. The juicer method is much more potent. Try it. You will definitely benefit from this home remedy for acid reflux and heartburn.
Celery and cabbage Juice
Celery and cabbage are both very alkaline in nature. The more alkaline you can become, the less you will be prone to acid indigestion. Of course a juicer is required to make this drink as well as potato juice. I juice celery and cabbage together every day. Be sure to drink it freshly made. You be amazed at how good this makes you feel.
Papaya & papaya juice
Eat a fresh papaya with your meals. Papaya contains papain, which has a soothing effect on the stomach and aids in the digestion of protein. Papaya is also loaded with beneficial vitamins and minerals. I sometimes juice several papayas and drink it as an afternoon treat. Papaya is very alkaline, as well.You can also take papaya enzyme in a chewable tablet form.
Bitters
In Europe it is customary to drink bitters after a big meal. Bitters contain herbals that aid in digestion. They also contain a little alcohol. Bitters can be taken in 11 tablet form as well. Taking bitters has been known to help some people avoid the start of heartburn. Bitters are usually beneficial to those who have lower stomach acid (hypochlorhydria). It is believed that Bitters stimulate digestive function by increasing saliva, stomach acid and digestive enzyme production. If you suffer from too much acid (hyperchlorhydria), bitters could exacerbate the problem.
Gingerroot
Fresh ginger, which is sold in every grocery store, has been used for centuries to aid in indigestion. It seems that ginger has the ability to absorb acid. It has a side benefit of calming the nerves, as well. Ginger may be eaten raw or taken in capsule form just after a meal. Start with one capsule and work up to more, as needed.