There are many common heartburn remedies ranging from old wives tales with no basis in fact to medicine prescribed by physicians and everything in between.

In order to understand what remedies would work best for you it is wise first to understand what causes heartburn in the first place.

Heartburn is caused from your stomach acids traveling back up through your esophagus and into your throat and mouth. Because these areas do not have a lining like your stomach does, there is no protection and the acid literally begins to burn the area. There is a valve that is supposed to protect against this but sometimes the valve malfunctions either once in a while or due to permanent damage of some sort.

The first defense against mild acute heartburn is to drink water. Water sooths the throat and as it is the ‘universal solvent’, water can dilute the stomach acid to the point where it does not hurt you any longer.

If water is not effective for you, you should consider dairy products for your acute heartburn. Milk or yogurt can provide somewhat of a protective film over your esophagus, throat and mouth protecting them from your stomach’s acid.

If dairy products or water are not effective for your acute heartburn, consider purchasing some over the counter medications such as Tums or Rolaids. These types of medications are typically made of calcium carbonate (baking soda). They help you dissipate the gas and settle the stomach acid down. They can become almost addictive to some though so you should be cautious of how many you are consuming.

If your heartburn is chronic (reoccurring) you should see your doctor who may prescribe medication such as Zantac, Prevacid or Prilosec. Many people take these types of medications preventatively and combined with a responsible diet they do not experience the symptoms of heartburn very often. Some people, though not all, can experience side effects such as nausea, upset stomach or diarrhea. Speak to your doctor to see if one of these types of medications is right for you.

When it comes to your health, you need to be on top of everything. You need to decide for yourself which of these heartburn remedies are right for you. Perhaps your heartburn is infrequent and you can manage it with a better diet coupled with more water or dairy foods. If you choose to move towards medication, be it over the counter or prescription make sure to read the warnings so you know what to expect. It is your health, please take charge of it.