It is no surprise that people are searching for a natural remedies for heartburn. After all, health care costs are spiraling out of control and prescription medications are becoming unaffordable.  The reliability of prescription drugs has also come into question lately. It seems as if there are new drugs recalled by the Food and Drug Administration every week. One can’t watch an evening of television without noticing the commercials put out by the pharmaceutical companies. You know the ones with all the disclaimers about the POSSIBLE side effects of certain medications they want YOU to buy. So what can you do? Where is your natural heartburn relief? Let’s take a look at the following:

What is heartburn?

Heartburn is a painful and often frighteneing experience. It is not uncommon for people to believe that they are having a heart attack when they experience heartburn. Heartburn really has little or nothing to do with the heart. It is a problem caused by stomach acid that makes its way back up the esophagus. This usually results is a painful sensation in the chest (where the esophagus is located). The pain that people experience is caused by stomach acid burning the tissue in the esophagus–OUCH!

What causes heartburn?

If the stomach is too full from overeating or from eating too quickly the pressure in the stomach can push the stomach acid back up the throat.  There is a muscle valve in the esophagus that opens and closes regularly to allow food to enter the stomach. Certain conditions and foods can cause heartburn too. Almost 1 out of every three Americans experiences heartburn on occasion. It is estimated that 1 out of 10 people experience this painful phenomenon regularly. Heartburn and Pregnancy is a problem for close to half of all pregnant women.

Is heartburn serious?

Some people say that occasional heartburn is not that serious of an issue. Chronic heartburn, or heartburn that occurs regularly can be a serious issue and can lead to GERD (Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease). This is a problem where the lining of the esophagus has become worn down by the stomach acid that has been making its way up the throat. this condition will also require medical care and often will result in very expensive prescription medications. One condition that can result from chronic heartburn is especially dangerous and very frighteneing if it occurs at night and the stomach acid is inhaled. This is called aspiration. Inhaling stomach acid in your sleep is very dangerous and can lead to serious medical problems. A doctor should be notified immediately. The pain that people experience is caused by acid burning the tissue in the esophagus–OUCH!

Check out the pages on the right to find out more about natural heartburn relief.