- Heartburn can often be relieved with simple measures, such as drinking cold water, ginger tea, or eating an apple.
- Avoiding fatty foods, quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and reducing stress can help prevent heartburn from coming back.
- Frequent or persistent heartburn should be assessed by a healthcare provider to identify the cause and guide treatment.
How to relieve heartburn may involve simple steps like drinking cold water, eating an apple, drinking ginger tea, or taking time to relax.
A burning sensation in the stomach or throat is usually caused by indigestion or acid reflux. Acid reflux occurs when stomach contents flow back into the esophagus, causing discomfort that often gets worse when lying down.
If heartburn and burning symptoms occur frequently and last more than 15 days per month, it is important to see your primary care provider or a gastroenterologist. They can help identify what is causing your symptoms and recommend the most appropriate treatment.
Tips to relieve and prevent heartburn
Some ways to relieve heartburn and a burning sensation in the stomach include:
1. Drinking cold water
Drinking a glass of cold water may help relieve heartburn and stomach burning caused by gastroesophageal reflux (GERD).
Water can temporarily dilute stomach acid, which may help ease discomfort.
However, it is best to avoid drinking water or other beverages immediately before meals or within 30 minutes after eating, as this may worsen reflux symptoms.
2. Drinking ginger tea
Ginger tea may help relieve heartburn, burning in the stomach, and nausea caused by GERD or indigestion.
This is because ginger contains compounds such as gingerol and shogaol, which have anti-inflammatory and anti-nausea properties.
Another tea that may help is chamomile tea, which can help reduce stomach acid production and ease heartburn.
3. Eating an apple
Eating a peeled red apple may help relieve heartburn and burning in the stomach.
Apples contain anti-inflammatory compounds and are rich in pectin, a soluble fiber that may help reduce stomach irritation and neutralize excess stomach acid.
Some juices, such as raw potato juice, kale and apple juice, or papaya and flaxseed juice, may also help reduce stomach acidity and ease heartburn.
4. Avoiding fatty foods
Avoiding fatty, fried, or spicy foods, as well as foods made with rich broths or sauces, can help relieve or prevent heartburn. Limiting beverages that contain caffeine or alcohol may also help.
These foods and drinks can increase stomach acid production and may be harder to digest, which can trigger heartburn or make symptoms worse.
It is also important to choose light, easy-to-digest foods, such as non-citrus fruits, fresh vegetables, and legumes, and to eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day.
5. Raising the head of the bed
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, elevating the head of the bed with blocks, risers, books, or bricks is one lifestyle measure that may help manage GERD symptoms.
Keeping the head elevated helps reduce the likelihood of stomach acid flowing back up toward the mouth, which may help relieve reflux symptoms.
It is also recommended to sleep on your left side, especially after eating, as this position may help keep stomach acid from moving back up into the esophagus.
6. Avoiding stressful situations
Reducing stress can also help prevent heartburn and burning in the stomach.
High stress levels may increase stomach acid production, which can worsen symptoms of conditions like gastritis.
7. Quitting smoking
Quitting smoking is important for relieving and preventing heartburn and burning in the stomach.
Smoking can relax the lower esophageal sphincter, making it easier for stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus and cause reflux symptoms.
8. Maintaining a healthy weight
Maintaining a healthy weight with a nutrition plan developed by a registered dietitian may help relieve heartburn and burning in the stomach.
Excess weight and obesity can increase pressure on the stomach due to fat accumulation around the abdomen, which may contribute to GERD.
9. Avoiding isometric exercises
Avoiding isometric exercises, such as planks and traditional abdominal exercises, may help relieve heartburn and burning caused by GERD.
These exercises can increase pressure inside the abdomen and may promote the movement of stomach contents back toward the esophagus.
10. Taking over-the-counter medications
Over-the-counter antacids can provide fast heartburn relief by neutralizing stomach acid. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recognized active ingredients include aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, and sodium bicarbonate.
These medications should be used as recommended by a healthcare provider, based on the underlying cause of the symptoms.
Acid-reducing medications, such as omeprazole or lansoprazole, may also be recommended in some cases.
If heartburn continues despite treatment and lifestyle changes, a gastroenterologist may recommend surgery for GERD.
This procedure helps strengthen the barrier between the stomach and esophagus, reducing the likelihood of stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus and causing reflux symptoms.