The reasons that can induce more or less important digestive problems at any age are countless and not always avoidable. We learn to recognize them and to care for them properly.
The effects of hyperacidity are more or less always the same, although they can combine in different ways: feeling of swelling, heaviness, drowsiness, sometimes nausea, almost always burning. They often appear immediately after the meal, after a few hours or only after going to bed in the evening.
Although definitely annoying, in the vast majority of cases, the symptoms of indigestion or associated with the occasional increase in stomach acid should not cause concern.
Usually, after a few hours, they pass. But that does not mean that we should put up with helplessness. When the disorders are really sporadic, to mitigate them you can resort to simple and effective over-the-counter antacid remedies based on bicarbonates and citrates, or carbonates.
Useful remedies
They can be purchased in any pharmacy without the need for a prescription, they are always immediately available when needed, even when you have not had the foresight to keep a spare pack at home or to put it in your suitcase before traveling.
These products give quick relief from acidity to burning: just dissolve a couple of teaspoons or a sachet of effervescent granules in half a glass of water, repeating if necessary the intake up to 3-4 times over 24 hours.
If you are in the office or away from home, you can opt for the formulations in chewing tablets, more practical and manageable because they can be taken without water.
Given their safety and harmlessness, antacids based on bicarbonates and citrates are also indicated during pregnancy, lactation and children (remembering, however, that in the latter case the dosages indicated should be halved). These remedies can be used in absolute tranquility, but always with reason.
And if hyperacidity is associated with abdominal swelling and nausea, products may be indicated that, to bicarbonates and citrates, associate substances such as metoclopramide and dimethicone, able to keep these symptoms under control.
If digestive disorders tend to recur a little too often (ie once or more times a month) or without it being possible to recognize an obvious triggering cause, it is better not to insist: acidity and heaviness could depend on a gastrointestinal pathology that deserves to be evaluated by the doctor and treated with specific drugs.
Beware of the causes if the disorder is frequent
For example, if burning, swelling and pain appear systematically on an empty stomach or shortly after meals it could be gastritis, functional dyspepsia or ulcer. If the discomfort occurs mostly at night, however, you are probably a victim of gastroesophageal reflux.
All conditions that could be masked by the too frequent use of antacids, preventing the doctor from issuing a correct diagnosis and starting the most appropriate therapy quickly.
How to treat persistent symptoms
The first thing to do in case of persistent or recurrent gastric heartburn is to analyze with rationality (and honesty), together with the doctor, your habits, food and not.
Are you eating in a healthy and balanced way? And then: do you smoke? Do you drink alcohol? Are you a quiet person or do you have a tendency to react badly to stressful situations or get nervous about nothing?
Once the basic framework has been defined, here is what to do to reduce the inconvenience:
| What to do | What to avoid |
|---|---|
| Eat healthy foods, preferably fresh and freshly prepared | Condiments, fats, sweets and very elaborate dishes, spicy spices and salt-rich sauces |
| Give meals the necessary time and consume them in comfortable places, away from the stress of work | Too large meals, especially in the evening |
| Chew each bite for a long time | Carbonated or exciting drinks, such as tea, coffee, soft drinks and spirits |
| Drink preferably between meals to avoid excessive gastric distension | Cigarette smoke (do not smoke or reduce the number of cigarettes) |
| Moving around a bit after meals (for example, taking a walk) | Foods that promote reflux, such as mint and chocolate |
| Try to lose weight if you are overweight | Going to bed on a full stomach |
| Clothes or belts that tighten the waist too much |
When heartburn does not improve
If the gastric disorders do not improve, it is advisable to undergo some control tests. Like gastroscopy, recommended especially when the pain is very intense and antacids are unable to relieve it adequately. Or pHmetry, if heartburn occurs mainly in the evening and is associated with the ascent towards the esophagus of the acidic contents of the stomach.
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
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