Heartburn at night: causes of its occurrence during sleep and methods of treatment

Do you know the feeling when everything in the esophagus area is burning, nausea rises in the throat, involuntary belching occurs every now and then, an unpleasant taste is felt in the mouth and all this terribly interferes with sleep? If the symptoms described are familiar, you are suffering from heartburn at night, which you need to get rid of.

This is an unpleasant phenomenon, but only at first glance it seems so. In fact, heartburn, especially if it is repeated systematically and strikes a person during sleep, can be a harbinger of serious illnesses. Such manifestations cannot be ignored; now we will understand the causes of this disease and talk about methods of combating it.

Causes

There are three forms (grades) of heartburn: moderate, moderate and severe. Moderate heartburn occurs once a month. Average - four times, and severe illness can occur daily.

The first two forms can be a consequence of the following factors:

eating before bedtime;
presence of stressful situations;
excess body weight;
excess food intake;
air ingestion when eating;
abuse of alcohol, smoking, meat and sweet products;
abuse of fried, sour, spicy, smoked, fatty foods;
incompatibility of products.

One of the causes of heartburn at night is eating less than three hours before bedtime. In the lying position, acids and enzymes, which are designed to break down food, are released into the esophagus.

If you can’t avoid late meals, you can get rid of symptoms by raising your head higher and lying on your left side.

If you have symptoms of the first two forms, you need to completely give up bad habits: smoking, overeating, talking while eating.

It would be better to exclude from the diet all foods that cause increased production of acids and enzymes.

Causes of systematic heartburn at night

If single attacks of the “disease” under discussion may only require you to give up bad habits, normalize your diet and get good rest, systematically repeating nighttime heartburn can become a harbinger of a serious illness and cannot be ignored.

Turning to the root causes of heartburn, the entry of gastric juice into the esophagus, there are two main explanations:

Increased or decreased acidity - both of these phenomena, but more often the first, disrupt the functioning of the digestive tract. Any failure can provoke the development of serious diseases, the consequence or precursor of which will be severe heartburn.
Reflux - this term refers to a malfunction of the muscular valve located between the esophagus and the stomach, which is responsible for the passage of food and food into the second. Disturbances in the functioning of this sphincter allow gastric juice to involuntarily enter the esophagus, and eating before bed and a horizontal position in bed only contribute to this phenomenon.

Of course, in addition to the two reasons described above, it is worth highlighting more specific cases of the occurrence of the unpleasant complications discussed. We are talking about diseases, the appearance of which can be signaled by heartburn:

Acute gastritis, which is accompanied not only by pain in the abdominal cavity, but also by the familiar symptoms of burning, nausea, etc.;
In addition to all its symptoms, a stomach or duodenal ulcer is often accompanied by severe heartburn;
GERD is the previously mentioned reflux, which is characterized by spontaneous releases of gastric juice into the esophagus, which become more frequent when the human body assumes a horizontal position;
Cholecystitis, duodenitis, oncology of the gastrointestinal tract and a number of other diseases associated with the digestive system.

Moreover, much less frequently, but still, heartburn can be provoked by problems that are not directly related to the gastrointestinal tract. This may include diabetes mellitus, Libman-Sachs disease, diaphragmatic hernia or in the area of the nutritional department.

https://youtu.be/PnUghTz8l9o

Diseases

Frequent, severe heartburn occurs in people with the following diseases:

inflammation of the mucous surface of the esophagus (esophagitis, reflux esophagitis);
tumor of the endocrine gland (pancreas);
stomach ulcer (iatrogenic, secondary, stress, endocrine, peptic);
duodenal ulcer;
gastritis;
hiatal hernia (esophageal opening);
duodenitis.

Non-esophageal diseases and conditions can contribute to the frequent appearance of symptoms: pulmonary fibrosis, pharyngitis, otitis, sinusitis, laryngitis, arrhythmia, caries, stomatitis, periodontal disease, pregnancy.

Also, the use of certain medications can cause unpleasant and even painful sensations in the stomach and esophagus.

Heartfelt.
Hypotensive.
Anti-asthmatic.

In any case, consultation with a doctor is required to determine the cause. The danger of frequent manifestations of symptoms lies in the similarity with the symptoms of acute heart failure.

Treatment and elimination of the problem

Every person who suffers from severe heartburn wants to eradicate this disease, get rid of it, constantly avoiding unpleasant sensations is not an option, take a radical approach to solving the problem.

The first step on the path to recovery, every gastroenterologist will confirm these words, will be diet. The patient should give up fatty, smoked, fried, spicy, sour and overly salty foods, even out the meal schedule, eat often, but in small portions.

Of course, drug treatment also cannot be excluded, and its basis, depending on the specific disease, is often antisecretory drugs (Omeprazole, Rabeprozole, Esomeprazole), which normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular, the production of gastric juice. However, before taking such drugs, be sure to consult your doctor.

If severe heartburn does not allow you to sleep, and you want to relieve it as quickly as possible, take a drug from a number of antacids (Almagel, Maalox, Phosphalugel, Gastal), preferably in gel form. This medicine not only neutralizes excess gastric juice, it has an enveloping and calming effect, and relief will come quickly.

As you can see, there are quite a lot of means and opportunities that will help you get rid of heartburn, however, do not neglect your health, do not ignore the problem, consult a doctor and get well soon.

Prevention

Let's look at the issues of preventing and eliminating the disease, which side to sleep on if you have heartburn. The question arises among people who experience discomfort during sleep.

Often, incorrect body position provokes relaxation of the sphincter and the release of acid.

Many people are used to sleeping on their side. In this situation, with accompanying irritating circumstances, heartburn begins.

The reason is the physiological location of the stomach on the left side (with a left-sided bend).

In a horizontal position on the side, the circulation of lymph and blood worsens, food accumulates in the system.

As a result, the accumulated contents provoke the formation of gases and fermentation. Therefore, you need to lie on your left side.

Preventive measures to prevent the disease should be observed regardless of the severity. The following tips will help prevent heartburn:

lying only on the left side, on the back, on the right side is undesirable;
chew food slowly and thoroughly;
avoid physical activity immediately after eating;
consume fermented milk products, fiber, steamed and boiled food more often;
exclude fried, too spicy, smoked, fatty foods;
goes to bed two or three hours after eating;
do not eat very hot or cold foods;
drink 200 milliliters of good quality water half an hour before meals;
eat more raw than cooked (vegetables, berries, fruits, excluding cabbage, peas, beans, grapes;
do not eat too much and eat only when you feel hungry;
use frequent meals every 3-4 hours in small portions (up to six times);
limit the consumption of foods and drinks that stimulate increased acid production (coffee, alcoholic and carbonated drinks, tea, chocolate, cheese).

The main causes of evening and night heartburn

Every time after a large feast, a person is faced with the same situation: an attack of pain and discomfort in the stomach. Severe heartburn at night or in the evening occurs due to eating a large amount of food. The digestive tract does not digest accumulated food and gives signals about disruption of its work with heartburn. Also, the presence of alcoholic and carbonated drinks aggravates the situation. Intoxication of the body occurs. Containing dishes on the menu with a high content of chocolate, onions, black bread, pastries, and tomatoes provokes a burning sensation. If you limit your consumption of these products, you can get rid of unpleasant sensations.

Stress does not contribute to the normal functioning of the digestive process. During the experience of a strong emotional shock, a signal is sent to the stomach to produce more secretion, which leads to the effect of self-digestion of organ tissue.

Medicines that act as antibiotics are a factor in provoking heartburn not only in the stomach, throat and chest. The occurrence of a hernia on the surface of the food diaphragm is treated under the supervision of a doctor so as not to worsen the situation.

During pregnancy, more than 80% of young mothers suffer from heartburn. Symptoms are especially aggravated in women with a horizontal body position. The pressure of the uterus on the organs increases.

Treatment

Therapy is carried out only after contacting a specialist and making a diagnosis. When symptoms are rare, a number of drugs have been used successfully.

Medicines that restore the functioning of the stomach (Mukofalk, Motilak, Ganaton, Exportal).
Anti-secretory PPIs (Pantoprazole, Lansoprazole, Gastrozole, Peptazole, Omitox, Sanpraz, Pepticum).
Enzyme agents (Festal, Pancreatin, Mezim, Somilaza, Pangrol, Digestal, Creon, Panzinorm).
Antacids (Gestid, Maalox, Relzer, Gastal, Rennie, calcium carbonate, Almagel, Palmagel).
Drugs that reduce acid production (Neutronorm-retard, Ranitidine, Roxatidine).
Bacterial agents (Lactobacterin, Bactisporin, Acilact, Hilak, Acipol, Bifiform, Baktisubtil).

Treatment with medications

The pharmacy can offer a huge selection of drugs from the group of antacids and alginates. The products neutralize the effect of hydrochloric acid, envelop the mucous membrane, and protect against irritation. The drugs eliminate heaviness, pain, feeling of fullness, increased salivation, and nausea. Heartburn disappears within 5 minutes, the effect lasts from 4 to 8 hours. The drugs can be used symptomatically or in a course of 7 to 30 days.

Almagel;
Maalox;
Phosphalugel;
Rennie;
Gaviscon;
Gastal;
Laminal;
Calcium, magnesium, sodium alginate.

If nocturnal heartburn during treatment with antacids or alginates does not stop within 3 days, excluding exposure to negative factors, it is recommended to use gastroprotectors or antisecretory agents. The former protect the mucous membrane, stop inflammation, and suppress the development of pathogenic microflora. It is recommended to use bismuth-based medications. The active component has no contraindications and does not cause side effects.

Antisecretory drugs inhibit the production of hydrochloric acid, prevent the development of ulcers, and promote the restoration of the mucous membrane. This group of drugs includes:

Take according to the instructions from 1 to 3 tablets per day, the course of therapy is determined by the severity of the disease. Minimum course – 1 week. The effect occurs after a few days of therapy.

To improve the functioning of the digestive tract, accelerate food digestion, and strengthen the sphincter muscles, prokinetics are used - Domrid, Domperidone. As well as medications to eliminate bloating and normalize microflora. Probiotics – Linex, Laktiale, Hilak Forte, Turbiotic, Vivatex, Bifidumbacterin. To eliminate bloating, rumbling, normalize stool - Smecta, Kolikid, Pancreatin, Mezim. To strengthen the immune system, take vitamin complexes.

Heartburn is not as harmless a condition as it might initially seem. In the absence of proper measures, a burning sensation in the throat, reflux leads to inflammation of the esophagus, disruption of the intestines, and the appearance of ulcers. If, as a result of self-therapy, your health does not return to normal within 3-5 days, you should seek help from a specialist. It is imperative to follow a diet when treating with medications, otherwise the long-awaited result will not occur.

Folk remedies

The use of natural remedies has proven effective in preventing and treating the disease. But it is important to establish the cause and consider the frequency of symptoms.

The following natural remedies will help prevent and relieve symptoms.

Heartburn goes away if you dissolve a little coarse table salt (1-2 grams) in your mouth.

Use a decoction of rosehip fruits or roots forty minutes before meals (200 milliliters warm). The dosage rate is 4 times a day.

The decoction is prepared as follows: boil two tablespoons of berries for 8 minutes in 500 milliliters of water, leave for 20 minutes to infuse; crushed rosehip roots older than three years (4 tablespoons) are boiled in one liter of water for twenty minutes.

Then add to the required volume and leave for 12 hours.

Forty minutes before meals, drink Jerusalem artichoke (earthen pear) juice, two tablespoons diluted with water.

In advanced cases, symptoms are treated with an infusion of corn flour: one tablespoon of flour per 200 milliliters of hot water is kept for 8-10 hours (one night), drink the infusion in the morning, lie down or sleep on your left side for at least forty minutes, course treatment is thirty days.

Traditional medicine tips

Natural pharmacy recipes are much cheaper in cost than their medicinal counterparts, and in terms of the presence of side effects, they are much safer. Also, the effect provided is associated not only with getting rid of the painful burning sensation in the chest, but also with the restoration and strengthening of the body’s immune system:

Viburnum jam. Prepared from fresh berries of the plant. They are ground with sugar, water is added and boiled. For long-lasting effective effects, take the product several times daily, 1 tablespoon.
Potato juice with added honey. Helps relieve symptoms of gastritis or peptic ulcer.
Aloe juice. Evening procedure: before bedtime 1 tsp. The juice of the plant will help relieve the symptoms of exacerbation of the disease. Must be taken diluted.
Celery. Prepare an infusion: 2 teaspoons of crushed roots and a glass of hot water. The product copes well with heartburn.

Causes of heartburn

Why is this happening? Heartburn: its causes and consequences always inform her of any health problems. The human esophagus is protected from hydrochloric acid by the sphincter muscle and the diaphragm. They prevent the contents of the stomach from returning back. In young children they are not yet developed, so regurgitation occurs. To relieve unpleasant symptoms, relieve symptoms: drink water, take an antacid. However, this will solve the problem for a while: every day the heartburn in the throat will return, disrupting the usual way of life.

After meal

The main cause of illness is food intake. Gluttony and the habit of eating on the fly do not contribute to healthy digestion. Excessive consumption of sour, sweet or spicy foods irritate the gastric mucosa, thereby causing unpleasant symptoms. Heartburn occurs from bananas, alcohol, coffee, carbonated drinks, from flour - familiar foods.

Constant heartburn and belching

Belching and heartburn: their causes and consequences are always dangerous to human health. Diseases of the biliary tract and pancreas, increased acidity of the stomach contribute to the appearance of an unpleasant effect. With poor nutrition and snacking, the symptoms will become permanent. Foods and drinks that cause increased gas formation and burning:

eggs;
legumes;
cabbage;
black bread;
full fat milk;
carbonated sweet drinks.

After gallbladder removal

The gallbladder is an important reservoir that receives secretions from the liver. The burning sensation when it is removed is not accidental, because the “juices” are concentrated and then slowly released into the duodenum. Once removed, bile is delivered directly to the intestines, even if there is no food in it yet. The liquid begins to irritate the mucous membrane and sphincter. The muscle relaxes, an aggressive environment is thrown into the esophagus, they are worried about:

bitterness in the mouth;
bloating;
diarrhea;
nausea

In the morning

If you experience heartburn after waking up, this indicates inflammatory processes in the digestive system - gastritis, ulcers, pancreatitis, and cancer. Violation of the structure of the mucous membrane destroys the obstacle between the environment and internal organs. Gastric juices irritate the deep layers of tissue. This causes unpleasant symptoms to appear.

How to get rid of heartburn? A heavy dinner at night does not promote digestion and will cause symptoms. During sleep, the functions of the human body slow down, and certain organs stop working fully. The stomach and intestines rest at this time. Smoking affects the nervous system of the sphincter and provokes unwanted symptoms. A small cup of coffee or chocolate candy in the morning irritates the esophagus, thereby hastening the onset of the disease.

At night

The maximum formation of acid in the stomach occurs at night. During this period, salivation practically stops, due to which the acidic environment is neutralized. A late dinner will definitely provoke an unpleasant burning sensation in the lower chest. Don't forget that your last meal should be no later than four hours before bedtime. What to do if you have heartburn? Avoid late-night snacks and alcohol. Sometimes a low pillow becomes a source of discomfort.

During pregnancy

Women suffer from heartburn in the last trimester of pregnancy. It is completely impossible to avoid the appearance of symptoms, since the enlarging uterus puts pressure on the stomach. The volume of the organ decreases, so the usual amount of food overwhelms it. Additionally, the hormone progesterone relaxes the sphincter. The combination of all of the above leads to the return of what is eaten to the esophagus. A doctor from the antenatal clinic will tell you what to do if you have heartburn.

Why is nighttime heartburn dangerous?

A one-time burning sensation in the esophagus can be stopped by drinking a glass of water with soda, taking a couple of tablets of activated charcoal, or chewing a small amount of pumpkin seeds. But such measures will not help get rid of the problem if it is caused by gastrointestinal diseases. The consequences of heartburn at night can be sad in the absence of proper treatment:

destruction of tooth enamel and development of caries;
constant presence of sour breath;
serious deterioration in the quality of life and communication with others;
the development of an inflammatory process in the esophagus and stomach, fraught with the formation of ulcers and erosions on the surface of the mucosa;
esophagitis with constant reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus.

Attention! The most dangerous consequence of nighttime heartburn is the formation of Barrett's esophagus. Against the background of compaction and erosion, the esophagus narrows, making it impossible for food to pass into the stomach. The mucosal tissues gradually become deformed and can degenerate into a malignant tumor. This is why it is important to treat heartburn early.

Consequences of heartburn

Disorganization of the body's work always has negative consequences. Daily heartburn, which is tormented by constant attacks, disrupts the motility of the digestive organs. Inflammatory processes begin, leading later to the formation of ulcers. Scarring of erosions will cause a narrowing of the esophagus: a person will feel a lump in the throat and discomfort when swallowing. If left untreated, it will lead to cancer.

Find out what duodenogastric reflux is - symptoms, treatment and prevention of the disease.

Diseases that cause heartburn

Pain and burning sensation in the chest can also cause serious diseases in the gastrointestinal tract.

Factors that provoke the occurrence of problems in the stomach are:

Helicobacter pylori. It is considered the main causative agent of the disease. Once in the stomach, the bacterium passes through the protective layer and attaches to the epithelium of the organ wall. The process of neutralizing the mucous membrane and converting the composition into ammonia begins. The microbe multiplies, the affected area increases. Lack of treatment leads to the emergence of a focus of the inflammatory process. Then the death of the wall tissue continues, gastritis becomes chronic. Gastritis manifests itself very clearly at night, when a person has an empty stomach. It can also be caused by non-compliance with diet.

Stomach ulcer. The disease is a complication after chronic gastritis if treatment is not received. With an ulcer, wounds appear in the walls of the organ, periodically bleeding. Subsequently, the inflammatory process that continues in the ulcers penetrates the wall of the organ, which can only be treated with surgery. It is also characterized by its appearance at night. This is due not only to the lack of food in the stomach, but also to the position of the body.
Duodenitis. Disease of the duodenum. The inflamed mucous membrane of the organ can provoke heartburn, pain, and bloating.
Cholecystitis. Damage to the gallbladder. The reasons for the occurrence lie in the patient’s diet and emotional state. Sometimes the cause is a congenital abnormality in the shape of an organ, an allergy, or a change in hormonal levels. They also contribute to the occurrence of inflammatory processes of infection. There are acute and chronic forms of cholecystitis. It is the chronic type of the disease that provokes a burning sensation in the chest, throat and stomach during sleep or in the evening.
The appearance of other diseases of the internal organs of the digestive system.

Therapy should be aimed at eliminating the cause, and not at combating the symptoms. What to do to correct the situation?

Video: causes and treatment of heartburn

Is it possible to cure the disease on your own? Eliminating symptoms at home does not guarantee cure of the disease. What complications await a patient who does not consult a specialist on time? Severe heartburn after eating is also dangerous, signaling the presence of problems in the stomach. They will lead to more complex diseases. The video below will tell you about this.

A burning sensation starting in the chest, an unpleasant sour taste in the mouth, pain in the stomach are the first signs of heartburn. The phenomenon is very unpleasant. If simple things cause irritation, it is difficult to enjoy food and your favorite drinks. It is especially unpleasant when heartburn reminds you of itself every day and does not plan a retreat. What are the causes of this symptom, and how to get rid of it yourself at home?

Symptoms

Very often, the appearance of heartburn in the evening or at night is provoked by bending over or moving to a horizontal position.

The main symptom of nighttime heartburn caused by heart failure is chest pain radiating to the arm and lower jaw. This symptom is accompanied by shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and requires immediate medical attention.

Most often, heartburn is manifested by attacks of burning sensation of varying intensity, and the appearance of a sour taste in the mouth. In certain pathologies, a burning sensation in the chest is accompanied by pain that disappears after the patient stands up or sits down. It is necessary to analyze the time of onset of the symptom and pain, its dependence on food intake, because a gastroenterologist will be able to differentiate diseases of the digestive tract based on this criterion.

Why you may experience severe heartburn every day

A common cause is overeating and late dinners. Our stomach is a very delicate organ that can also get tired. You should not overload him with heavy, fatty foods, especially at night. An average of 3 hours should pass between bedtime and dinner. Citrus fruits are tricky. Due to their excessive consumption, the level of acidity in the stomach increases significantly, which leads to heartburn. If you really want to eat, snack on fruit or drink a glass of kefir. This will have a beneficial effect on digestion, and therefore on well-being.
Fatty foods, such as fried meat or butter, provoke heaviness in the stomach, from which it begins to send “alarm signals” in the form of heartburn. By reviewing your diet, you can get rid of a number of problems. Such as, for example, excess weight, rapid aging of the skin, heartburn, abdominal pain.
Physical activity provokes heartburn and stomach discomfort if exercise is performed immediately after eating. The stomach has not yet had time to digest food, and physical activity causes it to “shake”. Shake a bottle of soda, can you imagine what happens in your stomach? If you exercise regularly, try to arrange your schedule so that at least an hour passes after eating to avoid heartburn.
Surprisingly, heartburn can be caused by nerves! High exposure to stress, insomnia and other psychosomatic disorders weakens the body, which, in turn, “signals” us in such unpleasant ways as heartburn and stomach pain. And it doesn’t matter what lifestyle you lead, healthy or not.
Pregnancy is a time of waiting for a miracle, great patience. During the period of bearing a baby, the female body literally tests itself for strength in every sense of the word. For example, during a certain period of pregnancy (often closer to childbirth), the expectant mother may complain of persistent heartburn, stomach pain, and poor bowel function.

What to do

To eliminate heartburn, in some cases it is necessary to adjust your daily routine, reconsider your lifestyle, create the right diet, stop using irritating medications, and put your nervous system in order. If you have gastrointestinal diseases, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination to determine the cause of nighttime heartburn and undergo comprehensive treatment. In both the first and second cases, the main task of therapeutic measures is to eliminate the effect of irritating factors, remove unpleasant symptoms, and normalize the level of acidity.

You need to eat small portions at least 4 times a day. Last meal 2 hours before bedtime. Dinner should be light to ensure quick digestion. Chew food thoroughly and do not talk while eating. You need to start your morning with a glass of mineral or spring water. After half an hour you can have breakfast. Fast food is prohibited - pizza, hot dog, shawarma, etc.

You should eat warm foods. Hot and cold worsen heartburn. It is recommended to serve the dishes in crushed form, soft, and ground until the condition is completely normalized. It can be mashed potatoes, meatloaf, stewed vegetables, cutlets, soufflé, cheesecakes, omelettes, cottage cheese casseroles, soup. Spicy, salty, fatty, fried foods complicate the digestion process and irritate the gastric mucosa. You should absolutely not consume products containing flavor enhancers, chemical dyes, preservatives, or GMOs.

A properly formulated diet helps eliminate nighttime heartburn and prevents its occurrence. Preference should be given to porridges - buckwheat, rice, oatmeal, semolina, vegetables - potatoes, carrots, onions, zucchini, cucumbers, beets, cucumber, fermented milk products - cottage cheese, homemade yogurt, milk, butter, cream. Recommended fats include butter, sunflower and olive oil. Every day you need to eat soup with vegetable and meat broth. Recommended meats include chicken, turkey, beef, lean pork, and rabbit. Introduce fish, eggs, and dried fruits into the diet. You should drink non-carbonated mineral water, green tea, a decoction of medicinal herbs, and milk.

Causes of constant heartburn after eating

The cause of heartburn after eating is stomach overload. For the average person, the volume of food eaten at a time should not exceed 1.5 liters. It's even better to completely reconsider your diet. For example, you can increase the number of meals you eat during the day. This will improve digestion, you will immediately be able to feel lightness that you did not suspect before.

As for heat treatment of products, it is better to give preference to such types of cooking as boiling or steaming. Steamed dishes retain their beneficial properties, contain a low percentage of fatty acids, have a beneficial effect on the intestinal microflora, and help the functioning of the stomach. Baked products belong to the neutral category.

In the evenings

Another secret recipe for heartburn is not to eat before bed. The stomach is active only while we are awake. When we sleep, all processes in the body slow down. Remember folk wisdom? “Eat breakfast yourself, share lunch with a friend, and give dinner to your enemy.” There is no need to be your own enemy. Dinner really needs to be made as light and juicy as possible. Important: recommendations for not eating after 6 are relevant for those who go to bed no later than 10 o’clock. Therefore, calculate your schedule individually, do not go to extremes.

During pregnancy

Only heartburn was missing during this already difficult period in a woman’s life! While carrying a baby, every third expectant mother suffers from it with enviable regularity. Heartburn occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy, when the baby is already large enough to “communicate” with the mother’s organs. He actively moves and “kicks”, which causes not only sighs of tenderness. We feel the baby’s blows only on the surface, but in fact they are clearly felt by each of our organs: stomach, liver, kidneys.

In this case, the recommendation is simple: switch to fractional meals to unload the stomach. Every woman during this period of time remembers that her diet should be extremely healthy. You need to eat fresh vegetables, fruits, natural ingredients, freshly squeezed juices, preferably not citrus fruits. Fatty meat is contraindicated; it puts a strain not only on the stomach, but on the liver, pancreas and kidneys. In the last trimester of pregnancy, a woman's organs shift and become difficult to function.

If heartburn bothers you for more than half a day, consult a doctor to clarify the diagnosis. During pregnancy, diseases may arise that are not directly related to it, but are provoked by it. Regular medical monitoring will help avoid acute diseases that sometimes occur during pregnancy. Take care of yourself and your baby, watch your health. At this time, your internal organs are very vulnerable, especially the stomach, liver, and intestines.

Drug treatment

An effective method of getting rid of heartburn is taking medications. They come in several types: antacids, H2-blockers, prokinetics, enveloping agents, and inhibitors. The action of antacids is aimed at neutralizing hydrochloric acid and protecting the esophageal mucosa. Antacid-based medications should be taken for occasional symptoms of heartburn. They can be purchased at a pharmacy without a prescription. Antacids are made from aluminum, magnesium, or calcium. Available in tablet or liquid form.

Treatment with proton pump inhibitors is highly effective. The most common medications in this group are Asifex, Prevasid, Nexium and others. The drugs reduce acid reflux, especially at night.

H2-blockers are best taken at night, as their duration of action is up to 12 hours. During this period, the active substance suppresses acid secretion. They also remove histamine from the body, which promotes the active production of hydrochloric acid.

A separate attack of heartburn can be relieved with the help of prokinetics, for example, Cerucal. Treatment with such medications increases muscle contractions in the upper digestive tract and promotes food digestion.

To protect the mucous membrane of the esophagus, coating agents or sucralfates are prescribed. The components of the medicine cover the mucous membrane, thereby protecting it from the negative effects of acid. They relieve pain and burning.

What to do: effective means at hand

Take care of your health - save the VKontakte link

When heartburn takes us by surprise, we often strike back. Either we relieve the symptoms by unloading the stomach, or we eat something tasty. The degree of success of this struggle depends on the contents of our bag or refrigerator. Take a look at your supplies and tell me if there is anything from this list for heartburn:

soda;
Activated carbon;
mineral water;
seeds;
honey;
lemon;
apples;
salt.

Baking soda really helps with heartburn attacks. But you should not use it regularly, it is harmful to the body. Activated carbon is another universal remedy for the stomach for all occasions. It helps a lot, the main thing is not to overdo it with the dosage. Seeds in moderate quantities (otherwise the stomach will suffer, there is a high probability of gastritis), like candy, distract from the irritant, but do not eliminate its cause. On the contrary, lemon in large quantities will cause harm, increase acidity in the stomach, which will lead to heartburn, and in small quantities it will distract attention.

Separately about liquids. Mineral water, like regular warm water, helps normalize the acidity level of the stomach and cleanses the esophagus in case of heartburn. It is best to drink it in the morning half an hour before breakfast. This way you are guaranteed to feel light throughout the day. Juices are refreshing, give positive emotions and fight heartburn, delighting your stomach with freshness. But your coffee consumption will have to be limited, although for many this will seem difficult.

Many of the methods listed are not always appropriate during pregnancy. Contraindications are caused by diet, exacerbation of chronic diseases, which manifest themselves in the form of heartburn, or various pains. Pregnancy is a difficult time when you have something to fight, but nothing to fight with. Expectant mothers are helped by folk remedies for heartburn. Herbs are mostly harmless during pregnancy as long as you don't overdo it.

Apples are extremely beneficial for the stomach. They normalize digestion and eliminate heartburn. Regularly eating apples will help combat this problem, at least at the level of masking the symptoms. Either way, your stomach will thank you. Heartburn can't last forever if you don't feed it. Apples, like kefir, cleanse the body. They are especially recommended during pregnancy, when it is important to monitor the tone of the uterus and avoid junk food.

Contributing Factors

In most cases, heartburn at night occurs due to increased acidity. This may be a temporary phenomenon due to exposure to external factors or evidence of a long pathological process in the digestive system. In the first case, the occurrence of an unpleasant phenomenon can be associated with nutrition and certain circumstances in life over the past few days. The feeling of heartburn may disappear on its own within a day when the irritating factors are eliminated. Constant heartburn at night indicates the development of the disease. This could be gastritis, GERD, stomach ulcer, duodenal ulcer and some other pathologies.

Causes of heartburn during sleep:

Rough, heavy foods during the day or just before bed.
Overeating, dinner later than 2 hours before bedtime.
Fatty, spicy, salty, fried foods.
Sweets - chocolate, candy, cake, cookies, fresh baked goods, especially with filling, gingerbreads, jam.
Physical activity less than 2 hours before bedtime, overwork.
Severe stress, shock to the nervous system, exhaustion.
Long trips, moving to a new place.
Eating exotic foods.
Dinner with sour foods - citrus fruits, canned food, salad with apple cider vinegar, table vinegar, etc.
Taking antibiotics, hormonal drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and some other medications.
Disturbed diet during the last 3-7 days.
Bad habit of eating at night, drinking coffee before bed, carbonated drinks.
Pregnancy.
Gastrointestinal diseases, chronic inflammatory processes.

Heartburn is one of the main symptoms of gastritis with high acidity. The causative agent of the disease is considered to be Helicobacter bacteria. Opportunistic microorganisms are constantly present in the stomach, but under certain circumstances they intensify their activity and reproduction begins. The trigger is a weakened immune system. A decrease in protective functions occurs due to constant exposure to negative factors, poor lifestyle, nutrition, unfavorable psycho-emotional environment, diseases of viral, bacterial, mixed origin, and hormonal imbalance.

Treatment of heartburn with folk remedies

All folk remedies for diseases were obtained empirically, which is why there are so many of them. With the help of juice and decoctions, it is easy to cure a sore stomach and esophagus and increase intestinal motility. Folk recipes for heartburn are conventionally divided into two camps: herbal infusions and potato juice. If everything is clear with the second, then the first require detailed decoding. Herbal treatment is suitable for allergy sufferers. Although allergies also occur to herbs, they are much less common than to synthetic drugs.

Here are a few herbal recipes for heartburn and stomach pain:

Pour a glass of boiling water over a tablespoon of chamomile, St. John's wort and plantain. Leave for 3 hours and divide into 3 parts. Drink half an hour before meals.
A teaspoon of mint per glass of boiling water. This infusion quickly eliminates the burning sensation.
Take a pinch of anise, dill and fennel and brew in a glass of water. Drink in small doses only when heartburn worsens. Not only is fennel healthy, it can cause damage to the stomach and intestinal tract if consumed regularly. The course of treatment with this herb should not exceed 5 weeks.

Products as medicine

To prevent heartburn from causing trouble at night, you need to follow the recommendations of nutritionists. In case of gastrointestinal diseases, certain restrictions may arise; in the absence of pathologies, simple nutritional rules are used:

you should eat small portions;
you should eat slowly, without rushing;
Do not lie down immediately after eating;
The last meal before bed should end 3-4 hours before falling asleep;
products with dyes and preservatives, fatty foods, alcohol, semi-finished products, yeast-based baked goods, fast food (fast food) are prohibited;
excessively salty foods further irritate the stomach;
Avoid eating too hot or too cold food.

Nutrition can also serve as a kind of medicine, which works great if heartburn appears in the evening.

What folk remedies in the form of products can be used to treat and prevent symptoms:

puree of grated fresh carrots;
oatmeal with water;
warm milk or kefir, drunk slowly in small sips;
potato juice – ¼ glass 3 times a day before meals;
natural sunflower or pumpkin seeds, nuts;
a teaspoon of vegetable oil (olive, flaxseed, sunflower);
boiled egg shell, ground into powder - ½ teaspoon of the product, washed down with 200 ml of water;
chopped fresh ginger root (no more than 4 g).

If intense heartburn at night does not allow you to get enough sleep, the last meal menu includes puree soups that envelop the mucous membrane, steamed rabbit or veal cutlets, and boiled chicken breast. Excess acid will be used to digest protein, it will not irritate the mucous membrane.

Pharmacy drugs

When heartburn knocks on your door, buy something for your stomach at the pharmacy. Heartburn should be treated immediately. Do not tolerate it, otherwise the consequences may not be the most rosy. Heartburn and stomach pain are only a symptom of the disease, so you need to consult a doctor and find out the cause of its occurrence. Use this list of medications that can eliminate or relieve heartburn:

Rennie. A popular product with a neutral composition. Rennie can be consumed even during pregnancy and lactation.
Gastal. Contains a combination of magnesium and aluminum, which improves intestinal motility.
Almagel line of drugs (regular, A and NEO). Envelops the walls of the stomach and relieves irritation.
Line of drugs Geviscol (chewable tablets and viscous suspension). Reduces the acidity of gastric juice.
Vikair (or Vikalin). For heartburn, it relieves pain, burning, and coats the walls of the stomach.
Gastrofarm. Allowed during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Reduces acidity, relieves pain, contains lacticid bacteria, creating a favorable atmosphere to protect the walls of the stomach.
Maalox. An analogue of the drug Almagel, but from a different manufacturer.

Before taking any heartburn medication, be sure to read the instructions carefully. It is important to consult a doctor in order to diagnose possible diseases of the esophagus, intestinal tract, and stomach in time and begin treatment. Contraindications and special recommendations are possible when combined with other drugs. The dosage of the medicine for daily heartburn is indicated in the instructions or it will be prescribed by a doctor.

Several ways to get rid of the symptom

But if heartburn takes you by surprise and is painful, and there is no way to see a doctor, then you should try several ways to get rid of heartburn at home, without using medications:

You need to take a closer look at the pillow and replace it with a more comfortable product. To relieve heartburn, sleep should take place with the head raised in relation to the position of the body.

Try not to eat before bedtime. In the evening, eat a light dinner, the food should not be fatty, then go to bed after 2-3 hours.
If the patient is taking analgesics, then stop taking them or replace them with a similar drug.
Follow the prescribed diet.
Doctors recommend giving preference to a sleeping position on the left side. This reduces the likelihood of heartburn recurring.
If night pajamas compress the abdominal area, this also causes a burning sensation. It is necessary to change night clothes, use more comfortable and non-squeezing ones.

Why does it occur

Heartburn at night is fraught with the main danger - it can be the development of oncology in the esophagus and stomach. Cancer cells begin to divide with prolonged exposure to hydrochloric acid on the esophageal mucosa. The causes of heartburn lie in the reflux of undigested food with a large amount of acid into the esophagus. At night, saliva is not secreted, so it cannot neutralize the acid. Heartburn at night has numerous causes, and they do not always indicate any disease. Here are the safe ones:

Systematic overeating before bed.
Having bad habits. If you smoke a lot or drink alcohol before going to bed, then nighttime heartburn is guaranteed.
Poor nutrition. Uncontrolled consumption of coffee, carbonated drinks containing dyes, eating spicy and salty foods.
Treatment with certain medications. If you take a painkiller in the evening, severe heartburn will certainly occur at night. Or it happens during any illness, if you take a lot of medications.
Uneven distribution of physical activity. When vigorous activity is performed before dinner, digestion of food will be difficult. Undigested food will cause a burning sensation in the stomach.

Some diseases or the patient's condition provoke heartburn in sleeping people:

Pathological fatigue.
Constant stress.
Weakening of the muscles that help move food down the esophagus.
Carrying a baby.

A burning sensation in the esophagus at night is a sign of the disease. The following diseases can cause the presented symptoms:

Gastritis. Characterized by thinning and inflammation of the stomach walls. Accompanied by pain, nausea and burning. Occurs during an exacerbation when, before going to bed, you eat something that is prohibited.
Stomach ulcer. Its symptoms are burning and nausea, usually at night.
Duodenitis. This is an inflammatory process of the duodenal mucosa. Accompanied by severe pain in the intestines and flatulence.
Cholecystitis. Its chronic form provokes a burning sensation in the sternum during sleep.
Diaphragmatic hernia. If it is present, severe heartburn occurs.
Sick stomach and other organs of the digestive system.

Before you treat heartburn, you need to find out why it happens. To do this, you need to see a doctor and undergo an examination. If heartburn is not associated with exacerbation of chronic diseases, then coping with it will not be difficult.

Heartburn that appears after sleep, on an empty stomach, occurs due to the following diseases:

Inflammatory processes of the walls of the stomach and duodenum.
Unhealthy diet and obesity of any degree leads to heartburn due to indigestion and intra-abdominal pressure.
Features of the location of the stomach, congenital or acquired, leading to frequent releases of gastric juice into the esophagus.
Late pregnancy due to intra-abdominal pressure.

Physiological reasons

Poor nutrition causes discomfort at night. Especially if a person ate before going to bed. Dinner should not consist of spicy, fried foods, or foods that can increase stomach acidity. These include tomatoes, citrus fruits, garlic, and strong coffee. Do not overuse sweets, chocolate, or carbonated drinks at night. Fast food is also at risk.

There are factors that can cause nighttime, unpleasant heartburn:

Obesity. People with this diagnosis are more likely to suffer from heartburn.
Go to bed immediately after dinner.
Drinking alcohol during dinner.

In addition, you should be careful when taking certain medications. Some of them relax the muscular system of the esophagus. Gastric juice, not seeing any obstacles, enters the gastric mucosa, irritates it, and pain appears. A similar picture is observed in pregnant women. They often suffer from heartburn because their esophagus is relaxed.

Causes of heartburn at night in pregnant women

Heartburn that occurs at night in pregnant women is explained by additional reasons in addition to those mentioned above.

Heartburn at night during sleep in the early stages can occur due to a sharp increase in the production of the hormone progesterone in the body of the expectant mother. This hormone is necessary for the normal consolidation and full development of the fetus; it relaxes the uterus, preventing it from rejecting the “stranger”. At the same time, it relaxes other smooth muscles. The intestines work worse, the lower esophageal sphincter weakens. The result is that food is thrown into the esophagus when the expectant mother assumes a horizontal position.

In the later stages, another provoking factor is added - an increase in the weight of the growing uterus. The uterus causes internal organs, including the stomach and intestines, to shrink and shift, disrupting their normal functioning - the pregnant woman wakes up at night from a burning sensation in the chest.

This will not cause any consequences for the child. But the mother must definitely prevent constipation and esophagitis.

How to deal with heartburn

Heartburn at night can be prevented by following these recommendations:

Quit smoking and drinking completely.
Stop eating fatty foods.
Eliminate the habit of going to bed immediately after eating. In a horizontal position, acid enters the esophagus more easily.
Treat with tablets only as prescribed by a doctor, especially during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Do not overload yourself with excessive physical activity.
Monitor yourself after what dishes and foods the burning sensation appears at night, and stop eating them.

If all the measures taken do not bring relief, then it is necessary to treat the symptoms with medications. For heartburn, you can take the following medications:

Antacids that have enveloping properties on the esophageal mucosa.
Gastal, Maalox, Phosphalugel, which reduce stomach acidity.
Omeprazole, Omez, which reduce the secretion of gastric juice.
Solutions of citric or acetic acid are taken after surgical interventions on the stomach.

These drugs have side effects and are not very cheap. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to traditional medicine recipes; they are no less effective and are much cheaper.

Anyone who takes care of their health does not eat foods harmful to the stomach, does not smoke or drink alcoholic and carbonated drinks at night, sleeps peacefully and does not suffer from night heartburn.

What not to eat before bed

If you are prone to heartburn, you should exclude fatty, salty, and spicy foods from your evening meal. It is not advisable to eat tomatoes or drink tomato juice. Carbonated drinks and coffee also provoke nighttime heartburn.

During dinner, try to eat fruits and vegetables. In the evening, the last meal should be taken 2-3 hours before bedtime, no later. This way the stomach will have time to process everything.

Frequent strict diets also provoke heartburn because they cause disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and contribute to poor absorption of vitamins and nutrients.

Treatment of symptoms

Treatment depends on the cause. If heartburn appears in the evening, experts advise not to eat too much or too late at night. This will increase abdominal pressure and worsen symptoms. Instead of lying down immediately after lunch, taking a walk after eating is beneficial.

With the help of autonomic nervous system acupuncture, Chinese prescription medicines, diet and lifestyle changes, symptoms of heartburn and reflux can be effectively treated in the short and long term.

Diet

Strict diets and associated fasting expose the body to physical and mental stress. Food intake should not be reduced too much. Fatty and fried foods stay in the stomach longer. This will increase the pressure, causing the muscles that hold hydrochloric acid outside the esophagus to open.

For breakfast, you need to introduce fermented milk products and avoid fried foods. Porridges made from buckwheat, rice and oatmeal will satiate the body without filling the stomach. For lunch, nutritionists advise introducing salads with protein and some foods such as chicken or beans. No need to neglect liquid food. Vegetarian soups and borscht normalize digestion.