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Heartburn Are Antacids Or Baking Soda The Solution?

Heartburn Are Antacids Or Baking Soda The Solution?

By Natalie Beech

Can baking soda from your kitchen cupboard in a glass of water soothe your heartburn or acid reflux? Well, yes it can. But there are some important points you must know about using baking soda or any antacid as a heartburn remedy.

What Happens In Heartburn and How To Take Baking Soda

Some people suffer heartburn after eating too quickly or eating particular foods. Heartburn arises from stomach acid squirting up into your esophagus (the tube that leads down from your mouth to your stomach). This 'acid reflux' irritates the lining of the esophagus and creates pain. As the pain was felt in the chest, it was referred to as heartburn although it has nothing to do with the heart. It is important, however, to find the causes of the acid reflux and eliminate the symptoms of heartburn as they can often mask the more serious symptoms of heart disease.

For the occasional, mild heartburn, sipping a little water can help dilute the acid and cool the burning sensation. Saliva produced in the mouth is naturally alkaline and so can neutralize the acid. Chewing gum is a good way to increase the saliva for swallowing.

An effective remedy is baking soda for heartburn because being alkaline it neutralizes the stomach acid in the esophagus. Just sip a solution (one teaspoon in a glass of water) slowly until the discomfort reduces and you feel relief. Compared to over-the-counter antacids, baking soda is cheap, readily available and you do not need a prescription - and it is useful for baking cookies too!

When Baking Soda and Antacids Can Cause Problems

However, if you take too much baking soda, as with any antacid medication, then you will neutralize the acid in the stomach itself. This can result in the stomach producing more acid to compensate. You then end up taking more baking soda or antacid. With this vicious cycle, the stomach cells can become exhausted with the over-production of acid and so the levels of stomach acid can decline over time. This may at first appear to be a good thing, for your heartburn perhaps. But the levels of stomach acid can be reduced to such a degree that digestion is impaired and food not properly broken down. This in turn can lead to allergies and inflammation in other parts of the body.

You also do not want the excess sodium, from baking soda or some antacids, if you suffer from high blood pressure. If you have to use over-the-counter antacids, then make sure that they do not contain aluminum salts, as aluminum has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease. Also, be aware that antacids containing calcium and magnesium can cause mineral imbalances in the body if used long-term. You should also note that some medical conditions can weaken the esophageal sphincter and cause acid reflux, as can some medicines. Consult your doctor if you have frequent heartburn or if you think that the following medications may be a side-effect: prescription pain killers, calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure, antihistamines, asthma medication, or nitrates.

Baking soda, as with any over-the-counter antacid, is not a long term solution for heartburn. Your first step should be to discover what causes your heartburn. You may find that the causes of acid reflux are the opposite to what you might expect. Your priority should be to find a cure for your heartburn. You may be surprised by what you find. But you need to know what the solutions are for your long term health.