Baking Soda for Heartburn Relief: A Natural Solution

Can I Drink Baking Soda for Heartburn? Heartburn is most frequently a sign of acid reflux. Some people also use baking soda for heartburn relief. Read more to know.

Acid reflux disease is characterized by heartburn, a condition that gives you a painful sensation around your chest and a foul taste in your mouth. Around 60 million people in the United States experience heartburn once a month. People with this issue may use a variety of hacks and techniques or even prescription drugs to treat it. Heartburn has typically been treated with OTC (over-the-counter) and other prescribed medications that have an ingredient of sodium bicarbonate. Meanwhile, some people also use baking soda for heartburn relief. Yes, just the one you're likely to find right now in your kitchen cupboard.

But can you drink it or will this home remedy work? We will look at the possible effects of baking soda, also called sodium bicarbonate for heartburn and its potential risks in this article.

Is Baking Soda for Heartburn Effective?

Yes, you can drink a mixture of half a teaspoon of baking soda and water for heartburn which will provide short-term relief. However, the Canadian Society of Intestinal Research advises that baking soda is not a long-term treatment for acid reflux. They asked to prepare a mixture of baking soda and water to quickly relieve the potential symptoms. You can also use Alka-Seltzer and other well-known OTCs that are effective and safe to use as they have baking soda as their active ingredient. Make sure to carefully follow the instructions on the packaging.

Moreover, doctors suggest the use of baking soda for a temporary period. This is because too much intake of salt from baking soda can lead to certain health issues. Furthermore, as it is alkaline in nature, too much alkalinity in the body can also cause some problems.

Note: Children under the age of 6 years must use baking soda only after consulting with a doctor. 

How Does Baking Soda Help Treat Acid Reflux?

Sodium carbonate is the active ingredient present in the baking soda. It is also available in many antacid drugs. Research says sodium bicarbonate as an absorbable antacid can rapidly relieve heartburn for a temporary period. It is generally a typical home treatment for acid reflux that works by neutralizing stomach acid due to its alkaline qualities. It, in turn, temporarily relieves some indigestion and heartburn symptoms. The high acid levels in the stomach are responsible for developing acid reflux symptoms like heartburn. In general, the pancreas of the body naturally releases sodium bicarbonate soon after eating to neutralize the balance of stomach acid and enzymes in the intestine. Baking soda is believed to copy this process. 

How to Use Baking Soda for Heartburn?

How much baking soda for heartburn? Well, to use baking soda for heartburn, you can try the following steps:

1. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 125 ml or half cup of water.

2. Drink the mixture to neutralize the acid in your stomach.

You can try this procedure every 4 hours or as instructed by a healthcare expert. However, if it doesn't work after 3 or 4 attempts, you should try another treatment strategy. People above 12 years old should take half a teaspoon with a glass of water. However, children should completely avoid it. Moreover, if you don't like the flavor of baking soda or find it difficult to calculate the amount of baking soda, try an over-the-counter (OTC) prescription that contains sodium bicarbonate and flavorings that make the drink more appealing and drinkable. However, if you utilize this remedy consistently for two weeks and still experience symptoms, it may indicate a larger issue that needs to be addressed soon. 

Things to avoid when using baking soda

You should not consider using baking soda as a remedy for heartburn when:

• Take over 3 and 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda each day

• Use more than 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda every day if your age is above 60

• consuming the high dosage for over 2 weeks

• drinking the mixture very fast as it can cause gas and diarrhea

• Use it in case you are excessively full to prevent gastric rupture

• following a low-sodium diet

What is Baking Soda's Effectiveness for Heartburn?

If you take it as directed, using baking soda for heartburn can give instant relief. Taking a certain dosage at a certain time every day is beneficial. To prevent complications and medical issues, do not take sodium bicarbonate more frequently or for a longer period than recommended. According to studies, antacids like sodium bicarbonate, which can temporarily neutralize esophageal acid, have no discernible effect on gastric pH or the frequency of heartburn episodes.

Hence, antacids are not advisable for treating persistent heartburn because of this. Antacids are typically inferior in quality to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) at controlling stomach acid and treating persistent heartburn. This is because they do not provide a prolonged suppression of gastric acid production.

What are the Risks of Using Baking Soda to Treat Heartburn?

Baking soda side effects may include:

• Gas

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Stomach discomfort

• Vomiting

• Headache

• slow breathing

• bad mouth taste

• More urination 

If you develop any side effects, seek medical help immediately.

Complications Associated with Baking Soda for Acid Reflux

Using baking soda excessively is the major cause of baking soda intoxication. Long-term and excessive baking soda use does increase your chance of:

1. Hypokalemia, a potassium shortage in the blood.

2. Hypochloremia, a lack of chloride in the blood.

3. The kidney condition that keeps deteriorating.

4. Hypernatremia, an increase in sodium levels.

5. Cardiac arrest that gets worse.

6. Muscular weakness and cramping.

7. Increased stomach acid production.

People who consume excessive amounts of alcohol are at higher risk of significant complications. Sodium present in baking soda will lead to dehydration and also intensify other symptoms.

Who Should Not Drink Baking Soda?

Drinking baking soda and water mixture can raise the risk of health complications in case you are:

• pregnant

• drinking alcohol

• on a low-sodium diet

• have some underlying health issues like edema, kidney disease, or congestive heart failure

• taking some medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antacids, antibiotics, mesalamine, and sulfasalazine.

Other Treatments for Acid Reflux

Besides baking soda, there are other treatment options that you can consider:

Lifestyle Changes

You can naturally relieve heartburn by implementing lifestyle changes in your everyday routine:

• Maintain a healthy body weight

• Avoid overeating and fast eating 

• Quit smoking and alcohol

• Don't consume large, heavy meals at night

• Sit up straight when eating

• Don't lie down immediately after eating, so wait for some hours

• Elevating your bed's head while sleeping 

• Consume low-fat and low-sugar-rich foods  

Medications

You can also try over-the-counter as well as prescription medications for heartburn:

• Antacids: They can prevent mild symptoms of heartburn. Make sure to avoid taking them for severe symptoms and also for every day.

• H2 blockers: These can help reduce the production of acid in the stomach for at least 12 hours. You get them from pharmacies. However, doctors can only prescribe the stronger versions.

• Proton pump inhibitors: They are more potent than H2 blockers, preventing acid production in the stomach for a longer time. This gives sufficient time for the damaged tissue of the food pipe to recover. You can find them as OTC and prescription medications.

Surgery

In rare cases, where acid reflux is untreatable with lifestyle changes and medications, surgery can help. Around 20% of Americans struggle with chromic acid reflux called GERD. The most commonly recommended surgery is fundoplication. During this surgical procedure, doctors wrap the area of the stomach around the food pipe. In certain cases, they insert a device to prevent stomach acid from coming into the food pipe

Final TakeAway 

We hope you understand how baking soda for heartburn can be an effective and temporary home remedy. Its alkaline qualities can help neutralize stomach acid, preventing heartburn. This remedy is a key ingredient in many regularly prescribed and over-the-counter antacids that are popular due to its quick onset of relief for moderate to mild bouts of heartburn and convenience of use. It is not, however, suggested as a long-term treatment, particularly for persons on a low-sodium diet. If you have chronic heartburn that affects your everyday life, consult your doctor. The providers will assist you in determining the best possible treatment for you.

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