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TwitThisThe alternative approach. If you're overweight, lose the weight. Meanwhile, drink plenty of water to neutralize the acid, stop smoking and limit alcohol. Sleep with pillows under your shoulders to keep acid from washing back. As for supplements, liquid aloe vera soothes inflammation; chewable deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) coats the stomach.
-- Gerald Lemole, MD, Associate Medical Director, Christiana Care Center for Heart and Vascular Health, Wilmington, Delaware
The yoga way. Try gentle yoga. Be careful not to strain yourself and avoid inverted poses, such as the head stand or shoulder stand, since acid can slip back into the esophagus during these moves. Try meditating for 10-15 minutes, twice a day. Visualization can also help: In one study, when people imagined blotting paper in their stomachs to absorb the acid, they reduced acid in just 10 days.
-- Sandra McLanahan, MD, Medical Director, Integral Health Center, Buckingham, Virginia
The diet angle. Figure out your triggers, then avoid them. Fried or spicy foods, coffee, citrus, sugar, chocolate, soda, tomatoes and onions are common culprits. If diet and lifestyle changes don't help, try antacids. Chewing gum after meals can help too. (Saliva decreases the acidity of the stomach.) Still in pain? See a gastroenterologist, who may prescribe drugs or do an endoscopy to get a better look at the problem.
-- Mark Rosenberg, MD, Delray Beach, Florida
The pharmaceutical path. If you just have occasional heartburn, do whatever it takes to relieve the pain. But if it still hurts, you likely need medication. OTC proton pump inhibitors, such as Prilosec, work for most people. If they don't help after a week or two, see a gastroenterologist to make sure it's not something more serious.
-- Kenneth R. Devault, MD, Chair, Division of Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
Bottom Line
The pain of heartburn is a warning sign. Hiding discomfort with medication or alternative approaches may not cure the actual burning of the esophagus. Untreated, this can cause cancer, so if you're in pain for more than a few months, have a doctor take a look. In the meantime, put a block under the legs at the head of your bed to reduce acid reflux.
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