How to Get Rid of Heartburn Fast: 10 Simple and Effective Methods to Try at Home

Heartburn is a burning pain that you feel in your chest, usually behind your breastbone. This happens when stomach acid travels up into your esophagus, which is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. Your stomach can handle this acid, but your esophagus cannot, so it becomes irritated and painful.

Normally, a muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter acts like a door between your stomach and esophagus. This muscle opens to let food go down to your stomach, then closes to keep acid from coming back up. When this muscle does not work properly, acid can escape from your stomach and cause heartburn.

What are the signs that you have heartburn? The symptoms can feel different for each person, but most people notice similar warning signs. Here are the main signs of heartburn:

- A burning sensation in your chest that often gets worse after eating

- A sour or bitter taste in your mouth because of stomach acid

- A cough that keeps coming back

- A hoarse voice

- Bad breath

- Feeling sick to your stomach

- Pain that starts behind your breastbone and moves up toward your throat

- Symptoms that become worse when you lie down, bend over, or eat large meals

Many things can cause heartburn, and knowing what triggers it can help you avoid problems. Some causes are related to what you eat, while others come from your daily habits. Here are the most common causes that lead to this uncomfortable condition:

- Spicy and Acidic Foods: Foods like hot peppers, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and vinegar can irritate your esophagus and make acid reflux more likely to happen.

- Fatty and Fried Foods: These foods take longer to digest and can cause your stomach to produce more acid. They also make the muscle that protects your esophagus work less effectively.

- Chocolate and Caffeine: Coffee, tea, chocolate, and caffeinated drinks can relax the muscle that keeps stomach acid in place, making heartburn more likely to occur.

- Alcoholic Drinks: Alcohol can increase stomach acid production and relax the muscles that normally prevent acid reflux from happening.

- Large Meals: Eating too much food at one time puts extra pressure on your stomach and can force acid up into your esophagus.

- Being Overweight: Extra weight around your stomach area puts pressure on your digestive system and increases your risk of developing heartburn.

- Smoking: Cigarettes can weaken the muscle that protects your esophagus and increase acid production in your stomach.

- Lying Down After Eating: When you lie flat after a meal, gravity cannot help keep stomach acid where it belongs, making reflux more likely.

- Tight Clothing: Belts, pants, or shirts that are too tight around your waist can put pressure on your stomach and push acid upward.

- Certain Medications: Some medicines like aspirin and other pain relievers can irritate your stomach lining and increase acid production.

When heartburn strikes, you want relief as quickly as possible. These methods can help you feel better in just minutes.

- Take an Antacid: Over-the-counter antacids work fastest to neutralize stomach acid and provide immediate relief. They start working within minutes and are safe for most people to use.

- Try Baking Soda: Mix one teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and drink it slowly. This home remedy can neutralize stomach acid quickly, but only use it occasionally.

- Chew Sugar-Free Gum: Chewing gum increases saliva production, which helps neutralize acid and wash it back down to your stomach. This simple method works within 10-15 minutes.

- Drink Cold Milk: A small glass of cold, fat-free milk can temporarily coat your esophagus and neutralize acid. Avoid whole milk because the fat can make symptoms worse.

- Sit Up Straight: Good posture helps gravity keep stomach acid in your stomach. If you are lying down, sit up or stand to get immediate relief.

- Loosen Tight Clothes: Remove belts or unbutton tight pants that might be putting pressure on your stomach and making heartburn worse.

- Sip Water Slowly: Small amounts of water can help wash acid back down to your stomach and dilute the acid that is already there.

- Try Ginger Tea: Ginger can help reduce inflammation and calm your stomach. Drink a small cup of mild ginger tea for natural relief.

- Use Apple Cider Vinegar: Mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water. Some people find this helps, although scientific evidence is limited.

- Elevate Your Upper Body: If you are lying down, prop yourself up with pillows or sit in a chair to let gravity help keep acid in your stomach.

Prevention is the best way to avoid the discomfort of heartburn. These lifestyle changes can help reduce how often you experience symptoms.

- Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals: Instead of three large meals, try eating five or six smaller meals throughout the day. This puts less pressure on your stomach and reduces acid production.

- Avoid Eating Before Bedtime: Stop eating at least three hours before you go to sleep. This gives your stomach time to empty before you lie down.

- Identify Your Trigger Foods: Keep a food diary to track what you eat and when heartburn occurs. Once you know your triggers, you can avoid them.

- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Losing extra weight reduces pressure on your stomach and decreases your risk of acid reflux significantly.

- Quit Smoking: Stopping smoking improves the function of the muscle that protects your esophagus and reduces acid production in your stomach.

- Limit Alcohol Consumption: Reduce how much alcohol you drink, or avoid it completely if it triggers your heartburn symptoms.

- Wear Loose-Fitting Clothes: Choose clothes that do not put pressure on your waist or stomach area, especially after eating meals.

- Elevate Your Bed: Raise the head of your bed by 6-8 inches using blocks under the bed legs. This helps prevent acid from traveling up while you sleep.

- Manage Stress Levels: Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or gentle exercise to reduce stress, which can worsen heartburn.

- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help with digestion, but avoid drinking large amounts during meals.