One doctor has explained three remedies for heartburn (stock image) (Image: Getty)
Heartburn is an uncomfortable and unpleasant feeling, caused by stomach acid flowing back up towards your throat. It can be triggered by a range of factors, including spicy or fatty foods, smoking, pregnancy, stress or anxiety, and a range of others.
One A&E doctor with more than 500,000 followers on TikTok has revealed three simple ways to tackle the problem which are easy to do at home. Dr Ahmed, who bills himself as the “healthcare Gordon Ramsay”, uploaded a video to the platform on the issue. Starting his video, he said: “Shut up and listen – if your stomach is literally trying to Mount Fiji its way out of your mouth, this is what you can try.“
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His first recommendation, which he said has “high-moderate evidence” of effectiveness, involves foods containing seaweed and kelp. “Seaweed and kelp release a lot of natural alginate inside your stomach,” he said. “It’s the stuff that coats your stomach and lower oesophagus, literally protecting it from all the acid that’s trying to eat its way through.
“This is pretty much what a lot of medications like Gaviscon try to do. You can get seaweed and kelp easily from Asian food stores, or you can get preparations of those from places like Holland and Barrett.”
Tip number two, which Dr Ahmed said there is “moderate evidence” of, involves eating oats “an hour or so before you go to bed”. “Oats are naturally a good fibre source,” he said.
“What they do is they absorb all that acid and keep it in your stomach, preventing it from going into your throat and causing you to breathe fire. Incorporate oats into your night-time meal, or have them separately, like an hour before bed.”
Dr Ahmed’s third tip, which he said there is “strong evidence” of, involves chewing sugar-free gum. “Chewing gum stimulates you to release your own natural saliva,” he said.
“Your natural saliva contains a damn good amount of bicarbonate, which is literally antacid. Chewing gum for 15 to 20 minutes before you go to bed [will] help you release lots of spit and neutralise all that acid in your stomach and you have a good night’s sleep.”
Concluding, he said: “So try those things and tell me how it went. Or don’t and get an ulcer. I don’t care.”
The NHS also has a number of other tips for dealing with heartburn. These include eating smaller, more frequent meals, losing weight if you’re overweight, and finding ways to relax.
The NHS also suggests avoiding foods that you know trigger your symptoms, not eating three or four hours before bed, and not wearing clothes that are tight around the waist. Smokers are also advised to quit, while too much alcohol should be avoided.
Another tip is to raise the head of your bed by between 10 and 20cm using wood, bricks, or books, so your head and chest are above your waist. This can prevent stomach acid from travelling up your throat. Trying to achieve the same effect using pillows on the bed can make the issue worse. Medications are available and can be prescribed by your GP.
