Heartburn can arise from several causes. The medical condition pyrosis or commonly known as heartburn, results from a reflux of the acidic contents of the stomach. This acidic regurgitation burns the inner walls of the esophagus and the sufferer experiences a searing or burning pain. Since this pain is felt around the chest area, people often mistake it for the onset of a heart attack.
Although the common name for this ailment is heartburn, the condition has nothing to do with the heart. It has earned it's moniker due to the fact that the burning pain is felt around the heart. People who suffer from some heart conditions may describe similar sensations.
The Impact of Certain Foods On Heartburn
The first dietary step to stop heartburn is to control the amount of food consumed. The intake of fats in large meals is high. These remain in the bloated stomach for a long time to be digested. The stomach is unable to contain its acidic contents and some escape as acid reflux. Take smaller sized meals up to five times a day, rather than the traditional three larger ones.
Knowing which foods and drinks to avoid help one from future episodes of heartburn. If this is done consistently, it may be possible to completely stop heartburn.
The common foods and drinks to avoid include the following:
1. Spicy dishes like those found in Indian and Mexican diets 2. Tomato rich dishes like those found in Italian pastas and pizzas 3. Chocolates, Donuts, Creamy desserts 4. Citrus based fruits and desserts; containing oranges and lemons 5. Certain forms of potatoes: mashed potatoes and French fries 6. Raw Onions 7. Caffeinated drinks, Alcoholic beverages 8. Some dairy products: sour cream, ice cream and cottage cheese
Smoking has been found to weaken the esophageal sphincter muscle that keeps a lid on the stomach's caustic contents. Smoking is a key risk factor that causes acid reflux.
Taking certain foods as part of one's diet is a good ingredient of a natural cure for heartburn. These include fruits like bananas and apples. Other suitable food choices are lean beef and chicken. Whole grains should be an important component of a diet as part of a natural cure for heartburn. Drinking adequate amounts of water also helps to dilute the caustic acids secreted by the stomach.
Heartburn Treatment Options
A heartburn sufferer's agony is exacerbated when he or she lies down during a pyrosis episode. The best approach to relieve the pain is to take an antacid and lie down with the torso raised - either with pillows or by raising the bed's headboard. The best approach is to avoid eating meals rich in heartburn inducing food and drinks too close to bedtime.
Medications can be a suitable alternative if preventive measures to thwart heartburn fail. Doctors will be able to prescribe suitable treatments to quell the discomfort. These may include antacids, proton pump inhibitors and h2-receptor antagonists. For those who suffer from mild forms of heartburn, antacids and other neutralizing medications are the most effective forms of treatment.
Proton pump inhibitors are usually used when antacids and other neutralizing agents are ineffective to treat heartburn. These inhibitors block the production of acids in the stomach cells and provide instant relief. Once the inhibitors reach the stomach, it disables the "protein proton pumps", which control the stomach's pH levels.
Another course of treatment for heartburn is h2-receptor antagonists. H2-receptor antagonists work by decreasing the acid production of "parietal cells" in the stomach. These are however rarely used today due to the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors.
Heartburn sufferers who prefer not to consider pharmaceutical options as their first choice can consider holistic and natural therapies. Stressful lifestyles can be moderated through meditation and yoga. In 90% of heartburn sufferers, inappropriate food and drinks have been found to be the main culprits.
There are other remedies that are natural cures for heartburn. Heartburn sufferers can take peppermint in forms like peppermint tea, which has properties that ameliorate heartburn symptoms. Likewise, apple cider vinegar is another well known natural cure for heartburn. Other items to consider especially as snacks to be taken several times during the day include almonds, dried figs and papaya.
Anorexia is a very common disease, especially among teenagers. They find themselves at that terrifying age when they do not know what path to take, what they like and hormones are giving parties in their organism. So as a parent it is your responsibility to watch over your child and give him a good example through yourself.
Try to remember that what you do affects them. If you do not want your child to suffer from anorexia, then try taking some of the pieces of advice I am going to give you.
First of all, be careful what you say about the food you eat, about your body and be especially careful about what kind of food you buy. A little confused? Let me explain. Have you ever skipped meals, bought low fat food or with no fat al all? Ha ve you ever said that food is not good and because you eat too much you' re too fat and hate yourself for that.
Your child has a fagile mind and all these remarks, which to you may seem normal, he/ she might take them otherwise. Incurage your child to lead a healthy life, explain them about food, and most important of all, communicate with your kid. Take interest in what they do, ask them about their lives, friends, school. Be their friend as well as their parents.
The media, the society has a big role as well in making anorexia become a more common disease than it was. We can only see skinny girls presenting lines of clothes, starring in the movies, almost everywhere. This might make a girl stop and think: I should be like her, right? In the past there were even weight limits in many for many of the jobs that a woman could do. Today the scenery has changed a little, but not enough.
Don' t get me wrong. There is nothing bad in being slim, if this is the way you are. But to starve yourself to death to be this way is not good at all.
So besides all the problems parents must face with their family life, now they have another one: anorexia. Researchers say that most anorexics have been diagnosed with this disease between 15 and 21 years of age. So sit together at tha table, eat with your children, do not neglect this.
If you want to have a healthy child, and prevent him/ her from anorexia take time to eat together, take time to play ball together or whatever they like to do.
Both Cindy Heller & Groshan Fabiola are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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