Retrosternal Chest Pain: Definition, Causes, and Treatment
What Foods Should You Avoid With Acid Reflux (Heartburn)?
Eating some foods, including fried foods and spicy foods, among others, may worsen symptoms of acid reflux. Certain medications and supplements may also cause heartburn.
Acid reflux happens when the contents of your stomach back up into your esophagus. This occurs when your lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes and allows stomach acid to rise.
Your doctor may diagnose your acid reflux as gastroesophageal disease (GERD) if this happens more than twice per week.
Several food-related factors may contribute to acid reflux, such as:
You can manage each of these factors by modifying how and what you eat. Simply shifting your body position to an upright posture after a meal and eating smaller portions may help prevent reflux.
Knowing which foods to avoid can be a bit more confusing. There's still some controversy in the medical community over which foods actually cause reflux symptoms.
Despite this lack of consensus, many researchers agree that it's best to avoid certain types of foods and beverages to prevent indigestion and other symptoms of acid reflux.
Fatty foods generally lower pressure on your LES and delay stomach emptying. This may increase your risk for reflux symptoms, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
To help prevent reflux, you can try decreasing your total fat intake.
Here are some high fat foods you may want to avoid:
Studies have suggested that spicy foods can cause abdominal pain and burning symptoms if you have a functional gastrointestinal disorder.
Capsaicin, the chemical compound that makes food taste spicy, can irritate parts of the esophagus, which can result in acid reflux.
In fact, a 2017 Korean study found that hot, spicy stews led to GERD symptoms in more than half of assessed cases.
Though a 2010 study suggested that people who regularly eat spicy food experience fewer GERD symptoms from these meals, there has been little research since to support this claim.
It's generally safest to avoid spicy foods if you regularly experience acid reflux.
Fruits and vegetables are an important part of your diet. However, certain types might make your GERD symptoms worse. The following fruits and veggies commonly lead to reflux:
If in doubt, discuss your tolerance level with a doctor. If you have access, a dietitian may assist you in creating a pattern of eating that can help manage your condition.
Several common drinks may also trigger symptoms in people with GERD. These include:
With or without caffeine, coffee might promote reflux symptoms. However, some people with GERD tolerate coffee well.
Pay attention to your individual symptoms and consume only beverages that you tolerate well.
A number of other foods, medications, and supplements may cause your LES to function poorly, which can lead to GERD symptoms.
For example, you may experience symptoms after consuming:
You may be tempted to stop taking a medication or supplement if you think it's increasing your acid reflux or heartburn symptoms.
However, you should always talk with a doctor before stopping your current medications.
Learn which foods can help you manage acid reflux.
Making adjustments to your diet and eating habits can help you reduce your acid reflux symptoms and your need for antacids.
It's important to note that long-term use of antacids may result in unwanted health effects. Antacids are intended as a short-term solution to a long-term concern.
They quickly neutralize stomach acids for the prevention of pain associated with acid reflux, but they will not heal or treat the inflamed esophagus.
Long-term effects of antacid use may include;
Antacid overuse may also cause hypercalcemia, or too much calcium in your blood, which can affect many organ systems.
In addition, magnesium or aluminum buildup can potentially be a concern for those with kidney disease.
Eating smaller portions and trying to stay in an upright position after meals may help. Try to avoid high fat foods, spicy foods, and certain fruits, vegetables, and beverages if they trigger symptoms.
You might also notice symptoms after taking medications or supplements.
If this happens, talk with your doctor. They may be able to recommend alternative medications or strategies to help manage your symptoms.
5 Natural Blood Thinners
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Some foods, including turmeric, have blood-thinning properties that may help promote blood circulation. But these foods may also interfere with anticoagulant drugs.
Your body has a way of protecting you from bleeding. Most of the time your blood's ability to clot is a good thing. There are times when blood clots can be dangerous.
If you have certain conditions such as an irregular heart rhythm or a congenital heart defect, or if you've had certain procedures such as heart valve surgery, your doctor may prescribe a blood thinner.
These conditions and heart valve replacement surgery increase the chance of developing life-threatening blood clots that may cause a heart attack or stroke. Blood thinners lower your risk for heart attack and stroke by decreasing the chance that blood clots form.
There are also some ingredients found in nature that some believe help reduce the risk of clotting. However, they haven't been tested and compared against prescription blood thinners.
You may want to talk to your doctor about the following natural remedies that have been reported to help thin the blood.
Never take these natural remedies instead of or with your prescription blood thinning medication without first talking to your doctor.
Read more for additional information on some natural blood thinners.
Turmeric is a spice that gives curry dishes a yellow color, and it's long been used as a folk medicine. According to a 2012 study, one of its main active ingredients, curcumin, acts as an anticoagulant.
It works to inhibit coagulation cascade components, or clotting factors, to prevent clots from forming.
Shop for turmeric.
Ginger is in the same family as turmeric and contains salicylate, a natural chemical found in many plants. Salicylates are found in plants. They are derived from salicylic acid.
Acetylsalicylic acid, synthetically derived from salicylate and usually called aspirin, can help prevent stroke and heart attack.
Foods with salicylate, such as avocados, some berries, chilies, and cherries, may also keep blood from clotting. More studies are needed to see if they're as effective as prescription medicines.
Shop for ginger.
Cinnamon and its close cousin, cassia, are both widely available and contain coumarin, a chemical that, in certain drugs, acts as a powerful anticoagulant.
Cinnamon and cassia may also lower blood pressure and relieve inflammation caused by arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. However, studies done in humans don't provide evidence cinnamon is of use for any health-related condition.
Use caution when using cinnamon as a blood thinner. A 2012 risk assessment showed long-term cinnamon consumption in foods, including cinnamon-based breads and teas, can cause liver damage.
Cayenne peppers can have a powerful blood-thinning effect on your body because of their high levels of salicylates. They can be taken in capsule form or easily ground up as a spice for food.
Cayenne peppers can also lower your blood pressure and increase circulation.
Shop for cayenne peppers.
If you have cardiovascular, or heart and blood vessel, disease, or if you want to help prevent it, your doctor may recommend a heart-healthy diet.
A heart-healthy diet includes fresh fruits and vegetables, 100 percent whole grains, healthy oils, low- or no-fat milk products, and healthy proteins.
A heart healthy diet limits high-fat, high-cholesterol, and high-sugar foods. This best diet for your overall health.
If you do take Coumadin (warfarin), it's very important to eat about the same amount of vitamin K-containing foods every day.
High intake of vitamin K may lessen the effectiveness of warfarin. If you are taking warfarin or other anticoagulants, avoid high-dose vitamin K supplements.
Rich dietary sources of vitamin K include green leafy vegetables, such as lettuce and spinach, as well as broccoli and brussel sprouts.
There are many natural remedies to reduce blood clotting. It's important you don't them instead of or with your prescription blood thinner and other medications without first talking to your doctor.
Natural products and some foods can interfere with your prescription medication. They may make your blood too thin, which increases your chance of bleeding. Natural remedies may also decrease the effectiveness of your prescription medication, increasing the chance of clot formation.
Always speak to your doctor before starting any medications, home remedies, or treatments that could have an effect on your health.
Acid Reflux: Causes And Remedies To Treat It
Acid reflux, also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), is a common condition in which the acidic contents of the stomach flow back up into the oesophagus, causing symptoms like pain in the chest, heartburn and a sour taste in the mouth. As per Cleveland Clinic, a person with acid reflux often experiences a burning sensation in their chest after eating due to irritation in the linings of the oesophagus.
According to the Mayo Clinic, in some cases, people may also experience an unpleasant taste in their mouth or have difficulty swallowing. This is because of regurgitation or backwash of food.
Causes Of Acid RefluxThe most common cause of acid reflux is a weakening of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) muscle, which is responsible for keeping food and stomach acid in the stomach. If the LES becomes weakened or damaged, the acid can flow up into the oesophagus, causing symptoms of acid reflux.
Also read: 7 Things to Know About Acid Reflux
Any sickness is the result of our daily activities, interrupted patterns, and poor lifestyle choices. The same is true for acid reflux. According to Nutritionist Karishma Chawla, acid reflux can be caused due to any of the following reasons:
WebMD mentions frequent vomiting, persistent wheezing or cough, refusal to eat something and re-swallowing are some of the potential symptoms of acid reflux in infants.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, mint can also trigger acid reflux in some cases.
Medical conditions that can lead to acid reflux include hiatal hernia, pregnancy, and scleroderma.
A hiatal hernia develops when the top section of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm and then into the chest cavity. Journal Annals of Gastroenterology found the detailed mechanism of the prevalence of acid reflux in hiatal hernia. Pregnancy can also cause acid reflux due to increased pressure on the abdomen.
Treatment OptionsTreatment for acid reflux usually involves lifestyle changes. Eating smaller meals and avoiding certain foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits, spicy foods, and gluten can help reduce the symptoms.
Nutritionist Karishma suggests oatmeal prevents acid reflux. Oatmeal is a superfood with numerous health benefits, and as a result, it reaches the list of top breakfast recipes due to its high nutritional value. Oatmeal is high in fibre and easily absorbs stomach acids.
Also read: Can Acid Reflux Cause Headache or Migraine?
Another food we can use to treat acid reflux is ginger, which has been used in our Indian households for decades for its medicinal properties and some fantastic health advantages, so it's no surprise that it can assist with acid reflux as well. Ginger's anti-inflammatory characteristics aid in the treatment of a variety of digestive issues.
Research indicates that H2 blockers medications can help to treat acid reflux. Although, Doctor's recommendation is always advisable before taking any medicine.
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