In today’s lifestyle health problem like acidity and gas are common but never can be taken easily as though a common problem, it has huge negative effect on health. Pain and suffering due to such problems are quite troublesome.

Acidity and gas can happen together or not. Although one does not cause the other, they may make each other worse. Certain underlying conditions may cause heartburn and gas. In these cases, treating the underlying conditions will help relieve both the gas and heartburn. Such health problems can also occur due to poor diet and lifestyle and due to some digestive issues also.

However, making lifestyle changes can prevent heartburn can also help prevent excessive gas.

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF ACIDITY AND GAS

• Belly pain.
• Belching and gas.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• An acidic taste in your mouth.
• Fullness during or after a meal.
• Growling stomach.
• Burning in your stomach or upper belly
• Headache
• Sometimes breathing trouble

ACIDITY AND HEARTBURN

Heartburn occurs as a symptom of acid reflux. When acid from the stomach pushes up into the food pipe, it can cause a burning pain in the chest. For some people, this sensation may feel like a symptom of a heart attack.

People experience acidity effect in different ways. Common symptoms include –

• Stomach pain and burning sensation
• Burning that may move up the throat
• A tightening sensation in the throat and chest
• Burning or pain in the chest
• Headache

Heartburn is common after eating meals. A person may trigger heartburn by lying down or bending over shortly after eating. Common causes of heartburn include:

• Heavy, fatty foods
• Spicy foods
• Coffee
• Alcohol
• Acidic foods like citrus fruits

In addition, some other reasons of acidity and heartburn are –

• smoking
• obesity
• pregnancy

Some medications can also increase the risk of heartburn, such as:

• antidepressants
• some medications for high blood pressure
• antihistamines
• certain drugs for treating asthma

GAS

Gas in the stomach is very uncomfortable. It may cause sharp pain, cramping, swelling, tightness, and even bloating.

Gas pain can be so intense that doctors can mistake the symptoms for many diseases like heart problem, appendicitis, gallstone or even some more serious diseases.

WAYS TO GET RELIEF FROM FLATULENCE AND ACIDITY

There are some home remedies which can help to heal heartburn and gas pain –

Say no to some foods

Eating certain foods can cause acidity and gas –

• Pickles
• Cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower
• Much dairy products
• Artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, sorbitol, and maltitol
• Fried foods
• Too much garlic
• Fatty foods
• Too much beans and lentils
• Prunes and prune juice
• Spicy foods

Exercise

Gentle exercises can relax the muscles in the gut, helping the digestive system work properly. Walking or doing yoga poses like Vajrasana after meals may be especially beneficial.

Pass stool

A bowel movement can relieve gas. Passing stool will usually release any gas trapped in the intestines.

Eat properly

Eating too quickly or while moving can cause a person to take in air as well as food, leading to gas-related pain.

Let gas out

Holding in gas can cause bloating, discomfort, and pain. The easiest way to avoid these symptoms is to simply let out the gas.

Quick eaters can slow down by chewing each bite of food 30 times. Breaking down food in such a way aids digestion and can prevent a number of related complaints, including bloating and indigestion.

Avoid chewing gum

As a person chews gum they tend to swallow air, which increases the likelihood of trapped wind and gas pains.

Sugarless gum also contains artificial sweeteners, which may cause bloating and gas.

Stop using straws

Often, drinking through a straw causes a person to swallow air. Drinking directly from a bottle can have the same effect, depending on the bottle’s size and shape.

To avoid gas pain and bloating, it is best to sip from a glass.

Quit smoking

Smoking causes air to enter the digestive tract. Because of the range of health issues linked to smoking, quitting is always preferable.

Say no to carbonated drinks

Carbonated drinks, such as sparkling water and sodas, send a lot of gas to the stomach. This can cause bloating and pain.

Drink herbal tea

Some herbal teas may aid digestion and reduce gas pain fast. The most effective healthy teas are –

• anise
• chamomile
• ginger
• peppermint

Anise acts as a mild laxative and should be avoided if diarrhea accompanies gas. For some people peppermint is not suitable also. Always wait and watch after taking any kind of herb whether it is suitable or not.

Take fennel seeds

Fennel is an age-old solution for trapped wind. Chewing on a teaspoon of the seeds is a popular natural remedy.

However, anyone pregnant or breast-feeding should probably avoid doing so, due to conflicting reports concerning safety.

Clove oil

Clove oil has traditionally been used to treat digestive complaints, including bloating, gas, and indigestion. Consuming clove oil after meals can increase digestive enzymes and reduce the amount of gas in the intestines.

Warm compress

In case of gas trouble place a hot water bottle or heating pad on the stomach. The warmth relaxes the muscles in the belly, helping gas to move through the intestines.

Some digestive issues

People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease often experience bloating and gas pain.

Curing these issues through lifestyle changes and medication can improve the condition.

People with lactose intolerance must stop taking dairy products.

Add apple cider vinegar to water

Apple cider vinegar helps the production of stomach acid and digestive enzymes. It may also help to alleviate gas pain quickly.

Add a tablespoon of the vinegar to a glass of water and drink it before meals to prevent gas pain and bloating.

Use activated charcoal

Activated charcoal is a natural product that can be bought in health food stores or pharmacies without a prescription. It can help heal acidity and gas trouble to a great extent.

One alarming side effect of activated charcoal is that it can turn the stool black. This discoloration is harmless and should go away if a person stops taking charcoal supplements.

Take probiotics

Probiotic supplements add beneficial bacteria to the gut. They are used to treat several digestive complaints, including infectious diarrhea. Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces boulardii, or a combination of probiotics may help regulate bowel movements and ease bloating. Try to take white homemade curd on a regular basis.

Drink cold milk

This is one of the simplest home remedies for acidity. One simple glass of cold milk might help you get relief from acidity. As it is rich in calcium, it may even prevent acidic buildup in your stomach.

Coconut water

Have coconut water for heartburn relief. It helps soothe your digestive system. Also, it may protect your stomach from the effects of excess acid production. 

 Avoid eating raw onion

Raw onions are known to contain fermentable fiber. So, having a meal that contains raw onion usually causes increased acidity among individuals. 

It causes irritation along the esophagus that leads to increased heartburn as well. So, you might get relief from acidity by avoiding raw onion altogether.

Ginger

Ginger helps in digestion and cure gas trouble. Take a small quantity of ginger after meal.

Mint leaves

Pudina or mint leaves are also known to have digestive properties and can act as a natural cooling agent too. This helps you get proper relief from acidity and heartburn.

A cup of mint tea acts as an effective natural remedy for acid reflux.

Buttermilk

Your normal buttermilk or “chaas” is also one of the most helpful home remedies for acid reflux and heartburn. It contains lactic acid that helps normalize the acidity in your stomach.

You can drink a glass of buttermilk after any heavy meal to get relief from acidity.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is one of the most effective home remedies for acidity. Just mix 1-2 teaspoons of raw apple cider vinegar in a cup of water and drink it once or twice a day.

Raw Almonds

As they are rich in natural oils, almonds have a soothing effect on your stomach. While raw almonds are known to help with the digestion process, almond milk can keep your stomach in good health and offer relief from acidity.

Jaggery

Having a small piece of jaggery after your heavy meal is one of the most helpful home remedies for acid reflux. Take it along with some fennel seeds and get relief from gas and acidity.

Watermelon juice

Watermelon juice also acts as one of the natural remedies for heartburn. It’s cooling effect can heal heartburn.

Avoid having carbonated beverages

Soft drinks or carbonated beverages are known to increase acid reflux symptoms. The major reason for this is the carbon dioxide gas present in carbonated beverages.

So better to stop taking carbonated drinks.

Drink less coffee and milk tea

Excess consumption of coffee and milk tea is known to worsen the effects of acid reflux and heartburn. So, reducing intake of such drinks might act as an effective heartburn cure.

Avoid eating just before going to bed

Having heavy meals too close to bedtime affects the digestive system. Your body does not get enough time to digest the food which often leads to increased acid reflux symptoms.

Aloe vera juice

Aloevera helps heartburn relief. It contains anti-inflammatory properties and is loaded with powerful vitamins as well.

Just extract the pulp from aloevera leaves, mix it with water and have it 2-3 times a day for effective heartburn relief.

 

Along with these remedies take enough water . Clean, purified water can easily flush out toxic elements from body and thus can heal acidity and gas.