But with regards to lemon juice, when processed by the body, the result is an alkaline effect.

You see, lemon has a PH of around 2 which highly acidic. That is why it is so sour.

But lemon contains mineral salts which trigger a metabolic transformation turning it from acid to alkaline.

It’s interesting to note that calcium is an alkaline mineral and the citric acid in lemon actually helps to keep and control calcium rather than to de-calcify the body or cause any damage to bones or joints.

So drinking lemon can further alkalize the body even though the initial reaction in your mouth is acidic.

But this doesn’t mean that lemon juice will help to alleviate acid reflux symptoms in all people

Some people with an already damaged esophagus may not benefit from citrus fruits or lemon in particular and should not even try ingesting it. And many heartburn sufferers simply cannot tolerate anything that is too acidic including lemons and tomatoes.

What can you do to make the most out of lemon juice

If you don’t suffer from esophageal erosion then you can try squeezing organic lemon juice and diluting it with water. It can provide relief from heartburn and can also cleanse your  system when taken on an empty stomach.

So first thing in the morning, drink a glass of half a lemon with lukewarm water and wait for a few minutes. See how you react.

When diluted with water, lemon will lose some of its acidic nature and should be safe with no side effects for most heartburn sufferers. Some people report an immediate heartburn relief after ingesting diluted lemon juice.

I wouldn’t recommend drinking undiluted lemon juice right from the start. It is too acidic and may worsen esophageal damage.

Need guidance on how to control and manage your acid reflux? Check out my Heartburn No More program

The post Does lemon water help acid reflux? first appeared on Jeff Martin's Acid Reflux Blog.

Whenever I experienced heartburn the associated pain would radiate to my lower back but I never was quite sure whether my back went out due to a sudden movement I made or was it because of the food that I was eating at lunch?

People tend to feel a soreness in their spine especially after eating a large meal. Not sitting up straight while eating can worsen that so make sure your posture is correct and don’t hunch over.

Another trigger for back pain can be peptic ulcer. A peptic ulcer is a sore in your stomach or the in the small intestines which can cause heartburn as well as radiation of pain to the back.

If you suffer from any type of indigestion including IBS then you may experience not only back pain but also pain between your shoulder blades.

Chest pain from acid reflux or acid content going up into the esophagus may radiate to your back between the shoulder blades as well as the lower back.

Upper back pain accompanied with symptoms such as nausea, heartburn, and burning sensation in the upper abdomen may be due to GERD. This pain may come and go depending on how well you control your acid reflux condition.

It’s always best to see your doctor if you heartburn or GERD trigger intense or increased back pain that is not responding well to pain relief medication.

Need guidance on how to control and manage your acid reflux? Check out my Heartburn No More program

The post Can acid reflux can cause back pain ? first appeared on Jeff Martin's Acid Reflux Blog.

Let’s take a look at how prevalent acid reflux is with covid patients.

COVID-19 is a disease that can cause a respiratory tract infection. It can affect your sinuses, nose, and throat well as the windpipe and lungs. But can it cause GERD?

The most common symptoms of COVID are:

Fever
Cough
Tiredness
Loss of taste or smell
Difficulty breathing (in severe cases)

But it can be quite difficult to diagnose whether any of the above symptoms are related to COVID or another condition.

It seems the only common symptom between COVID and acid reflux is coughing but this is mostly relevant to silent reflux in which the stomach content goes all the way up into the throat thus triggering a cough.

Please understand that coughing in itself doesn’t necessarily mean you have COVID especially if there are no other symptoms such as fever or if you’re been a long time acid reflux sufferer.

Having said that, you don’t want to take any unnecessary risk so please call your primary care provider and consult with them about your specific condition.

Need guidance on how to control and manage your acid reflux? Check out my Heartburn No More program

The post Is acid reflux a sign of covid? first appeared on Jeff Martin's Acid Reflux Blog.

I remember asking a friend nurse whether I should go to the hospital or call an ambulance. It can be such as frightening experience that I’m sure many of you readers can relate to.

Doctors often won’t rely on symptoms alone because they can be very similar but here are several differences between these two conditions that you should be aware of:

1. A heart attack can be sudden and often doesn’t just involve a burning pain or chest discomfort but also a heavy pressure or tightness in your chest or arms. It can also spread to the face or back.

2. Most heartburn sufferers don’t complain of shortness of breath accompanied with chest discomfort which can be a sign of a heart attack.

3. Taking drugs or even natural home remedies like baking soda will often not alleviate the acid burning symptoms if you have a heart attack.

4. Heart attacks often trigger cold sweats. I don’t remember experiencing such a symptom whenever I had an acid reflux episode.

5. You may feel lightheaded, weak or dizzy when going through a heart attack.

6. You may experience discomfort in the shoulders area. This symptom usually doesn’t happen in heartburn sufferers.

But never take any risks. When in doubt, always call for an ambulance or seek immediate medical care. This can be life-saving.

Need guidance on how to control and manage your acid reflux? Check out my Heartburn No More program 

The post How can you tell the difference between heartburn and a heart attack ? first appeared on Jeff Martin's Acid Reflux Blog.

Panic attacks, for example, can cause a racing heart, fast breathing and excessive sweating.

But can anxiety directly affect your heartburn condition? Yes, a 2018 study has found that there is a direct correlation between stress and the weakening of the LES which is basically the barrier between your stomach content and the esophagus. If it becomes weak then stomach acid will be pushed back.

Another finding is that as you become stressed or upset your stomach produces more acid and you don’t want that when you suffer from acid reflux or GERD.

We can’t always control how we feel, specifically if one suffers from panic attacks, but we can change how our body will respond to these stressful conditions by following these guidelines:

1. Reduce or stop caffeine consumption so you can lower overall stress level.

2. Eat smaller meals to decrease stomach acid production.

3. Don’t eat at least 4-5 hours before bed time.

4. Take natural antacid like baking soda in water to balance stomach acidity.

5. Engage in some form of stress-relief method like meditation, deep breathing, yoga or any other type of exercise.

The above suggestions can certainly help but always remember that panic attacks and anxiety have an underlying cause. They can be prevented so please seek professional counseling if necessary. You don’t have to suffer.

Need guidance on how to control and manage your acid reflux? Check out my Heartburn No More program

The post Can you get heartburn from anxiety first appeared on Jeff Martin's Acid Reflux Blog.

In most cases, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and long-term use of certain anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen may develop ulcers. Diet in itself usually does not cause ulcers but can definitely worsen the symptoms.

These ulcers can trigger various symptoms including back pain, vomiting and blood in the stool, so you must see your doctor if you experience any of the above.

Remember that when not treated or diagnosed on time, slow bleeding from ulcers may lead to anemia or may require hospitalization or in severe cases, a blood transfusion.

Your doctor can check for ulcers by performing an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series and endoscopy.

Don’t panic though, as ulcers may heal on their own if you simply adhere to a stricter lifestyle and change your eating habits.

Smoking and stress are considered ulcer-aggravating factors. You also must avoid coffee and spicy foods, and make sure your stick to a small portion size. You don’t want to trigger a high stomach acid production with ulcers.

Always remember to consult with your doctor before making any of these dietary adjustments.

Need guidance on how to control and manage your acid reflux? Check out my Heartburn No More program

The post How can you tell if you have an ulcer or just regular heartburn? first appeared on Jeff Martin's Acid Reflux Blog.

But dining out can be difficult and quite challenging if you suffer from constant heartburn and acid reflux. Fast food is not an option because it will almost always worsen your condition.

So what are your best take out or dining out options if you simply can’t cook or eat at home?

1. If you prefer the salad bar (my personal favorite) then choose both fresh and cooked food- I often pick a combination of green leafy vegetables like Romaine lettuce and parsley, cucumbers, chickpeas, quinoa, green peas, sweet potatoes, a little bit of olive oil and tahini sauce on top. And some lemon juice if you must but be careful.

2. You like Mexican food? Opt for grilled chicken or fish, low-fat beans and rice or guacamole on a flour tortilla.

3. If you prefer Italian food then choose pasta without sauce, vegetable Minestrone, pasta fagioli, grilled chicken or fish, vegetable side dishes without garlic or Risotto with vegetables(hold the butter or cheese).

4. Chinese food? Ok, choose steamed dumplings, Wonton soups, brown rice, or vegetables with light sauce or even some beef with broccoli.

Need guidance on how to control and manage your acid reflux? Check out my Heartburn No More program

The post Best eating out options if you suffer from heartburn first appeared on Jeff Martin's Acid Reflux Blog.

Other than losing excess body weight which can directly improve your acid reflux condition, here are a few tips with regards to how and when to exercise:

1. Don’t eat too much or exercise as soon as you finish your meal. Allow the food to digest for at least 2-3 hours before going to the gym or starting any type of exercise routine.

2. A brisk walk is always preferable to running, even on a treadmill, because you don’t want to jar or wobble your body too much.

3. Pilates and yoga should be safe but avoid any activity that puts too much stress or pressure on the stomach area such as crunches or abdominal presses.

4. I would recommend avoiding weightlifting completely as it may aggravate your acid reflux, especially heavy weights. The actual movement may trigger food regurgitation as well.

5. Make sure you breathe properly while exercising. Breathing correctly can prevent and even stop acid reflux episodes.

6. People with chronic heartburn should avoid drinking too much at a time. It can cause stomach content to regurgitate. Drink slowly and make sure you remain hydrated.

Need guidance on how to control and manage your acid reflux? Check out my Heartburn No More program 

The post Which exercise you must avoid if you suffer from GERD? first appeared on Jeff Martin's Acid Reflux Blog.

Hiatal hernia is a condition where the part that connects the stomach to the esophagus is pushed between the LES and the diaphragm, thus compromising the ability of the diaphragm to help the contractions of the LES, resulting in GERD.

Very few GERD sufferers will develop hiatal hernia.

Many people that have hiatal hernia don’t necessarily suffer from reflux symptoms.

Mostly obese or old people with weak muscles tend to develop these hernias.

Hiatal hernia may be congenital or acquired. There is an increased prevalence in older people. It is believed that muscle weakness with loss of flexibility and elasticity with age predisposes to the development of a hiatal hernia.

A hiatal hernia can cause acid to build up in the part where the stomach pushes its way past the LES, a condition called hiatal sac.

The acid that is built up can easily find its way into the esophagus as the latter relaxes.

Now, small hiatal hernias won’t necessarily give you any symptom.

The larger hiatal hernias though can cause heartburn, regurgitation of food or liquids into the mouth, difficulty swallowing, chest or abdominal pain, shortness of breath and even vomiting of blood or passing of black stools.

If left untreated, Hiatal hernias may rarely become trapped in the chest or strangulated—which means the hernia begins to cut off blood to the entrapped intestine.

The success of hiatal hernia surgery can be measured by relief of symptoms, improvement in esophageal acid exposure, complications, and need for reoperation.

A hiatal hernia is often discovered in an X-ray of your upper digestive system and probably the best treatment outside of surgery is lifestyle changes in which you change your diet and your eating habits.

Losing excess weight can also be tremendously helpful in alleviating the symptoms.

Need guidance on how to control and manage your acid reflux? Check out my Heartburn No More program

The post HOW CAN YOU TELL IF YOU HAVE HIATAL HERNIA? first appeared on Jeff Martin's Acid Reflux Blog.

There is some trial and error involved with most quick relief products because not all people will react the same but here are 5 remedies that you may not be aware of that have proven to be the most effective when it comes to stopping heartburn symptoms quickly:

1. Cold water. Next time you feel that burning sensation in your chest, fill a glass with cold water and sip slowly. Wait 10-20 seconds between each sip. This should put down the heartburn fire quite fast.

2. Eat a cucumber-you don’t have to peel it. From my experience, eating 1-2 whole cucumbers can have a tremendous effect on any heartburn within minutes but eat them slowly.

3. Baking soda in a glass of water. Add 1 tsp of baking soda to a glass of lukewarm water stir and drink immediately. The effect of baking soda on excess acid in the stomach is amazing.

4. Eat a banana. Because of its high potassium content it is highly alkaline so eat 1-2 bananas every day to prevent heartburn or whenever you start experiencing acid reflux symptoms.

5. Aloe Vera juice- you can find this at most drug stores or health food stores. It can soothe the stomach lining and counter excess acidity. Drink ½ cup of aloe juice before meals or whenever you start feeling that burning sensation.

Need guidance on how to control and manage your acid reflux? Check out my Heartburn No More program

The post TOP 5 REMEDIES FOR INSTANT HEARTBURN RELIEF first appeared on Jeff Martin's Acid Reflux Blog.