A glass of slightly cold water can immediately increase gastric pH countering and calming the effect of highly a acidic gut. I highly recommend it to most people with chronic or sudden acid reflux attack.

Some people, however, choose to drink Alkaline water to combat acid reflux and manage the symptoms.

Now, a pH of 7 is considered neutral. Anything above is alkaline.

Alkaline water has a higher pH level than that of plain tap water. Tap water PH is normally between 6.5-7.5. Alkaline water PH is between 8-9 which means highly alkaline.

In fact, high pH of alkaline water neutralizes stomach acid in much the same way as antacids do which is why many people decide to use them on a daily basis.

Changing your diet and drinking alkaline water can stop or prevent esophageal damage.

But it’s always best to make a slow switch or transition from tap or filtered water to alkaline water.

You want your body to slowly get used to the high PH of alkaline water.

People with kidney disease for example, should not drink alkaline water. Another possible side effect is changes in stomach PH. This means that you may be interfering with proper digestion.

You see, the stomach PH is quite low, between 1.5 to 3.5. It is basically a reservoir of strong acid.

The pH of our stomach is critical to the digestion of nutrients and is the first line of defense against harmful bacteria and viruses.

Changing the stomach PH to more alkaline using alkaline water may do more damage than good especially when used for a long period of time.

That is why you should always discuss your doctor on whether drinking alkaline water will be good for you in your particular case and with your medical history.

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

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

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.

However, many OTC’s that may aid digestion or help reduce acidity have several potential problems. OTC’s can actually aggravate your condition in the long run by irritating your stomach or esophagus lining.

Although OTCs have less known side effects than prescription treatments, they can still have side effects

As a rule you should avoid purchasing OTCs without consulting your doctor even if symptoms are severe.

Here is some information about OTC treatments and their effect on acid reflux:

Antacids:

Antacids are drugs aimed at neutralizing stomach acid by emptying the acid from the stomach. In this way the reflux liquid will contain no acid. Although antacids work very fast, their effect is quickly reduced as acid re-accumulates in the stomach.

The effect of neutralizing acid stomach is achieved using three basic salts – magnesium, calcium, and aluminum – with hydroxide or bicarbonate ions.

The problem with calcium-based antacids is that they also stimulate the release of a hormone called gastrin that is mainly responsible for stimulating the production of stomach acid, which is counterproductive. Antacids also have some side effects including constipation, diarrhea and nausea.

Pepto Bismol

Pepto Bismol is a famous antacid OTC product that may temporarily soothe acid reflux and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) symptoms, ease nausea and help digestion.

Pepto Bismol contains bismuth subsalicylate, an active ingredient that impedes the growth of bacteria, particularly H. pylori, (a bacteria related to ulcers) and aspirin. Pepto Bismol can cause side effects such as ringing in the ears.

Foaming Agents

Foaming agents are drugs that help cover your stomach contents with foam to prevent acid reflux. They contain a combination of aluminum hydroxide gel, magnesium trisilicate and alginate.

Foaming agents are best taken after meals and in combination with other drugs to maximize their effectiveness. If your esophagus is damaged, foaming agents are useless.

H2Blockers

H2 blockers (histamine antagonists) suppress acid production by attaching themselves to the receptor cells in the stomach. H2 blockers do that to prevent histamine (They block histamine type 2) from stimulating the production of acid.

If you suffer from inflammation in the esophagus, H2 blockers are useless, but they can be effective at temporarily alleviating the symptoms of GERD. The difference between over-the-counter H2 blockers and those
prescribed is the strength of the drug.

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)

Proton pump inhibitors are more potent than H2 blockers, and their success rate at alleviating the symptoms of GERD is far greater.

PPIs work by blocking the production of acid in your stomach while helping your esophagus to heal
in case of inflammation as they protect it for any contact with acidic reflux.

PPIs are usually used when H2 blockers prove to be ineffective. They are best taken before meals.

Prokinetics

Prokinetics, also called pro-motility drugs, are aimed at helping your stomach expel content more rapidly, enhance the stomach muscle tone and strengthen the LES. Pro-motility drugs are most effective when taken before meals and at bedtime.

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

The post Over-The-Counter (OTC) Medications and their effect on heartburn first appeared on Jeff Martin's Acid Reflux Blog.

Typical items on the breakfast menu in a Western diet include porridge, eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast, pancakes, waffles, bagels and pastries.

These are highly acidic foods that you want to stay away from especially if you suffer from acid reflux.

It is very individual but some people who skip breakfast in order to avoid experiencing heartburn symptoms will usually feel worse. That is because stomach acid is produced and there is no food to digest.

The best thing to do is to eat a breakfast that is mostly alkaline forming as well as nourishing for your body.

Oatmeal is a good example of a whole-grain breakfast idea that can not only provide your body with plenty of valuable nutrients but can also keep you full and absorb excess stomach acid.

You can always add some almond milk or rice milk and a couple of bananas which are alkaline forming. Sprinkle some raw nuts like walnuts or almonds on top and you should be fine.

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

The post What is a good breakfast for acid reflux? first appeared on Jeff Martin's Acid Reflux Blog.

If acid reflux is experienced on a daily basis or multiple times a week then the esophagus can, over time, get more and more irritated and damaged.

There are basically 4 stages a person with acid reflux should be familiar with:

The 1st type of acid reflux is what most people have.

There is a mild inflammation in the lower part of the esophagus with occasional heartburn, regurgitation of food or chest pain.

The 2nd stage or type of acid reflux is the same as stage 1 but is more frequent. Antacid medications are often prescribed to alleviate the symptoms.

The 3rd stage or type of acid reflux is the severe kind in which your esophagus has some level of erosion already.

Heartburn is now almost constant despite taking medications on a daily basis.

Coughing and sore throat can also be common at this stage. If you don’t treat this stage properly then you’re at risk of further complications.

The 4th and final stage is where pre-cancerous lesions have already developed or you may develop esophageal cancer. This stage is also known as Barrett’s esophagus.

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

The post What are the 4 types or stages of acid reflux? first appeared on Jeff Martin's Acid Reflux Blog.

Hypochlorhydria or low stomach acid is a condition where not enough stomach acid is produced. And there are many reason for that…

As we age our stomach produces less and less acid. Another reason is stress. People who suffer from anxiety or chronic stress may also develop Hypochlorhydria.

Certain acid blocking medications and PPI’s that are used on a daily basis can also disrupt the normal stomach acid production leading to chronic Hypochlorhydria. People with H. pylori infections are also more likely to have low stomach acid condition.

You must understand that this condition can lead to various digestive and health issues including gas and bloating, undigested food, nausea and nutrient deficiencies. It can also trigger heartburn.

So is betaine HCL good for acid reflux caused by low stomach acid ? Yes, but you have to know exactly when and how to take it. For example, people with ulcers should refrain from using betaine HCL so as not to cause further irritation.

You should not take betaine HCL on an empty stomach unless it is followed immediately by consuming a meal or half-way through the meal or right at the end of the meal. Either way, talk to your doctor before using betaine HCL just to make sure it is right for your particular condition.

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

The post Is betaine HCL good for acid reflux? first appeared on Jeff Martin's Acid Reflux Blog.

Many people consider milk to be an antacid, a substance which neutralizes stomach acidity and is used to relieve heartburn, indigestion or an upset stomach but is there a truth to that?

First, what is the PH level of milk? because of its lactic acid it is acidic but not highly acidic like other foods. Closer to neutral, about 6.7. Neutral is 7.

All animal products including meat, chicken, eggs, fish as well as dairy products are acidic. Fruits and vegetables are mostly alkaline.

It is true that milk may act as a temporary buffer but the fat content may actually make your acid reflux condition worse. So if you must use milk for heartburn relief, choose low fat.

But you really don’t have to rely on milk for heartburn relief. Better to use other methods such as sipping on cold water or eating a cucumber which is highly alkaline.

Please remember that you must switch to a mostly alkaline diet if you want to decrease symptoms of acid reflux. A temporary relief is not enough. Always opt for eliminating the root cause of your condition.

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

The post Is milk good or bad for heartburn? 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.