Each and everyone of us has heartburn at some stage or other. Have you ever developed heartburn after a heavy meal especially with alcohol? What about Thanksgiving day or Christmas Day? Have you noticed how some foods “repeat” on you?

This does not suggest you have or will one day develop acid reflux. If you have the occasional heartburn, what should you do? Here are a few things you can do to help yourself.

Saliva is alkaline. Acid refluxed into the esophagus from the stomach is highly acidic. Saliva will neutralise and reduce acid. So if you have heartburn, do whatever you can to increase salivation. Best way is to chew a gum. It is surprising how good this is as a treatment of acid reflux. Saliva reduces acid level and takes pressure off the lower esophageal sphincter.

Take an antacid or an alginate. Antacid will reduce acid level by neutralising acid. Alginates line the inner wall of the stomach and also form a foamy raft on top of the stomach contents. It is effective because when reflux occurs, the refluxate is mainly the foamy raft of alginate which is harmless to the esophagus. Alginates, however, break down after a time and is usually more effective when there is contents in the stomach.

Wind in the stomach will put pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter. Try whatever you find effective to induce belching. This reduces pressure in the stomach. Ginger ale will encourage belching.

Remember the measures above are to counter the occasional heartburn. If you have true acid reflux then you have an incompetent lower esophageal sphincter, and acid reflux treatment should be more aggressive.

Dr. Phil Hariram,