How Heartburn Happens and What Baking Soda Does



Some people suffer heartburn after eating too quickly or eating particular foods. It results from a little stomach acid squirting up into your esophagus, which is the tube that leads from your mouth to your stomach. This ?acid reflux? irritates the walls of the esophagus resulting in a burning sensation. It actually has nothing to do with the heart but because the burning is felt in the chest area, it was referred to as ?heartburn?. Symptoms of heartburn can mask the more serious symptoms of heart disease so it is important to find the causes of the acid reflux and eliminate them.

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

If you take too much baking soda, or any antacid medication, then you start to neutralize the acid in the stomach. The stomach then compensates by producing more acid, leading to you taking more baking soda or antacid. This can exhaust the stomach cells and so the levels of stomach acid can drop over time. You might think this is a good thing for your heartburn, but reduced levels of stomach acid can impair digestion to such an extent that food is not properly broken down. Allergies and inflammation in various areas of the body can be the result.

Additionally, if you suffer from high blood pressure, then you do not want the excess sodium, which is present in baking soda and many antacids. Over-the-counter antacids can also contain calcium and magnesium which can cause mineral imbalances in the body if used long-term. Aluminum salts are present in some antacids and aluminum has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease. If you suffer from frequent heartburn, you should consult your doctor. It is also worth noting that some medical conditions or medicines can weaken the esophageal sphincter and cause acid reflux. If you are taking anxiety medication, calcium channel blockers for hypertension, antihistamines, asthma medication, nitrates, or prescription pain killers, let your doctor know when heartburn becomes a side effect.

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.