With over 60 million people reporting that they experience heartburn at least once a month, it’s no mystery that it’s a common problem. From stress to medications and even pregnancy, heartburn can be caused by a number of things, and often is out of your control. While there are changes you can make to your diet that may ease your symptoms, what are you supposed to do to get relief if the cause is out of your control? Many people turn to antacids as a way to cut the discomfort in their chest, but too much of anything can be risky. If you take antacids regularly, there may be some scary downsides you may not even realize.
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First and foremost, what is heartburn and what exactly causes it to happen? Heartburn is the sometimes painful sensation of stomach acid backing up in your esophagus, the tube that food passes through on its way to your stomach. The esophagus is controlled by lots of muscles that push the food you swallow down towards your stomach, and keeps it from creeping back up. Sometimes, due to stress or other factors, those muscles can get weak or malfunction, and partially digested food can flow backwards up your esophagus. This is what you’re feeling when you have “heartburn,” although it ironically has nothing to do with your heart at all. The sensation can be made worse when you bend over or lie down, which is why heartburn is particularly common at bedtime.
Antacids can be a great resource if you have heartburn but can’t quite pinpoint the cause but want instant relief. “Antacids work by changing the gastric pH, making it less acidic. This helps to decrease irritation to the stomach, esophagus or duodenum [part of the small intestine that connects to the stomach]." Says Robert Glatter, MD. But, it is important to note that while they are great for one-off situations, they’re not meant to be used as a regular treatment.
Using antacids excessively has been shown to cause digestive issues in people, constipation in particular. “Constipation is one of the most common symptoms of excessive use of antacid. It is usually seen with calcium, as well as aluminum antacids." Glatter says. If you experience constipation due to excessive antacid use, it may continue until you quit taking antacids altogether. Conversely, some people have also reported diarrhea as a symptom of using antacids regularly. “Chiefly, the magnesium-containing antacids. The diarrhea is usually short-lived but can recur with continued use of the antacid.”
If you have problems with heartburn and antacids aren’t doing the trick, what can you try instead? One thing that can be very helpful is ginger tea. Ginger is known to be a natural remedy for stomach issues—it works to lower the production of stomach acid, which can be a major factor in heart burn. Additionally, try avoiding eating too close to bedtime. As stated previously, when you are laying down heartburn can be worse, so make sure your food is as digested as possible before going to bed.
