Heartburn to die for

August 21, 8:03 AMSan Diego Page One ExaminerMichaela Renee

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PastriesandBacon.com

For three days I’d been drinking black coffee, dousing Tabasco on my food and then each night I’d wind up clutching my chest screaming, “Owww my ulcer!” Then someone said, “Just have a glass of water with some baking soda, heals it right up.”

I contemplated it for all of two seconds before deciding that I didn’t want to spontaneously combust. But that night I got to thinking about that old Alka Seltzer commercial, “Pop pop fizz fizz oh what a relief it is.”

A few years ago I sold drugs. That is, that I worked for a pharmaceutical company and one of the prescription medicine’s that we offered was called Axid. An H2 Receptor blocker whose job was to slow acid production in the stomach. As I waded through an entire aisle of over the counter heartburn relief medicine in the pharmacy I realized that one could become incredibly confused on all the remedies available.

I ended up walking out with a chalk-like “berry” flavored substance with both Famotidine (an H2 receptor blocker) and Tums mixed together. Sorta like a Coke Slurpee- a two in one for my $10 offering to the companies that thrive on my pain.

Then I started researching this “baking soda” theory, thinking that perhaps spending $2 on Arm & Hammer, which I use for nearly everything, including baking cookies, keeping my fridge smelling nice and whitening my teeth, might be a better deal, a sixteen in one.

People have varying degrees of heartburn, from a mild food related jolt after something incredibly spicy, to those with lower esophageal sphincter problems, which causes constant heartburn even if they eat white bread and water (like myself).

While I offer the standard “consult your physician” here’s a little guide to the heartburn aisle at your local CVS:

Pepcid/Zantac (Famotidine/Ranitidine) - an H2 receptor blocker which works to lower acid production, also treats and prevents ulcers in the stomach and intestines.

Prilosec/Prevacid (Omeprazole/Iansoprazole) - this group of medicine is referred to in the medical world as a proton pump inhibitor. Much like Pepcid they work to lower acid production/secretion and in same cases prevent acid production. Which makes it much stronger and typically used for the treatment of GERD (Gastroesophogeal Reflux Disease) and erosive esophogitis.

Tums/Rolaids - contains calcium and magnesium (some also recommend Apple Cider Vinegar in place of Tums/Rolaids, an entire topic in and of itself) which neutralizes acid already existing in the stomach. It is not effective for decreasing new acid production.

Alka Selzter - the active ingredients are aspirin, sodium bicarbonate and citric acid. Alka Seltzer serves many medicinal purposes, but it works to treat heartburn by binding to and neutralizing excess acid in the stomach.

Mylanta Ultimate Strength - is a lot like Tums, except it also contains aluminum, it works to treat both sour stomach and gas by neutralizing acid in the stomach it is mostly used for the treatment of gastritis and peptic ulcers.

I saved the best for last, you’ll likely find it in the baking aisle near the Splenda.

Baking Soda - a small spoonful of baking soda in a glass of water…believe it or not works just like any other antacid. It is an alkaline element and neutralizes stomach acid immediately. I can say from experience, you’re one burp away from heartburn relief with a little splash of baking soda in a glass of water. One word to the wise, if you’re familiar with the song Love Potion #9, make sure you “hold your breath and close your eyes” when you take a drink.