Night Pains: Is Heartburn Keeping You Up?

" Hi and welcome to our web -- I'm doctor David mark. Heartburn can be -- news at any time of the day. But for many people the greatest frustration happens at night not only can parker getting aware of the goodnight sleep but going to that can actually make your heart hurt worse even if you want to medication. Joining me to talk about nighttime heartburn and what you can do about it at two experts for as doctor Jim Press and from the University of Connecticut welcome. And next to him doctor Michael Walsh and he is from balked at university school not welcome. How big a problem that. It's actually more problem previously recognized. -- of heartburn is occurring only after meals and actually in. Many situations was more bothersome at night and during the daytime. What is it that happened that caused the well. -- coming up into the esophagus aggressive doesn't belong is what constant pain when -- lying down at night. One doesn't have gravity pulling asset backed down in the stomach like nuclear opera get this thing is when one is -- There's less swallow swallowing clears the esophagus a massive and also saliva helps neutralize yes. He actually answered slightly Salina because I haven't decided yeah. And it's free Spirit who now wouldn't we all think that Medicaid medication to work very well -- And we probably think that it helped us. All the time. But this okay and I hate it you get in breakthrough. How how is that a common situation."

" The classic example of the proton pump inhibitors certain wonderful medication and most people actually do get five I think one pill a day. In the morning that -- significant number of people who actually. Full breakthrough. And I so called natural as a breakthrough in it'll hurt right in the middle of the night when -- sound asleep. Now they're always at the next."

" But it is an indication of turning -- we have a production. How is there have that it's actually fair to get for a well in the case of these proton pump inhibitors that Michael just mentioned they're taking in the morning and their effect gradually does wear off. But then as they're affected is wearing off remember now what they it is incumbent the -- district on the and those factors I mentioned earlier to drive heartburn that you can't they're not operating necessarily during the day. So what's a person just."

" Well there's several different. Different maneuvers one can take to besides staying up all. Mostly -- one wanted to -- We can actually sleep with the entire had a better elevated on bricks that's great for the patient but the person thing in the face and start to cool sometimes you have to stay awake and sleep. Elevator like that there are certain winds as one can use to -- entire. Thorax -- they had that with with the pillows rather from the waist up. The best thing to do is take medication if you -- in the middle of the night the options include taking antacids. And ask is will work very quickly the problems. It's very possible the personal wake up again because they are the recorders. And H two blocker can be taken. And they were eventually boats and -- rule passed before the person actually will fall back asleep. For the third option this -- combination of the two which would provide the quickly leave the antacids and sustained relief on the H two blocker. That in many ways an ideal medication to take. If one is going to experience unfortunate experience the breakthrough of thought heartburn and overnight if a person has frequent symptoms would you suggest they take it attentively every night. Before going to bed but the problem with that is that if we take it every night these two blockers -- high enough dose. Question loser effect we develop public tolerance to medications that are best suited for taking on and on an intermittent basis."

" Should people try to edit certain period of time between. They're dinner and their -- does that help yes indeed it does. Give yourself two hours at least if you've taken and very heavy a large meal even more. What about people like committing a drink of alcohol one tonight does that make the problem better or worse make it worse than those -- since the people. I think who ought to be taken. The -- and essence this is a combination plan on taking it on that evening before the fire starts. The smoking that's also in another potential problem. -- many Americans as an exact way smoking causes problems. It's not really clear but it's very ease its helpers not to smoke because there's many other problems those who -- Harper's is one of them. Under certain. Food special people -- reported maybe it was if they even if they give that to our other people talk about -- includes hot foods. It's a myth or critical point is largely a myth that spicy foods. And cartoons. Cause heartburn they may cause discomfort Donnan -- we call at a different condition to to step. Heartburn itself is. Calmly provoked by fatty foods. Citrus. Chocolate. Caught a few others. The major -- defenders really late. Now there is some research comparing. Different medications. For night time. Breaks your heart -- He just summarize -- restrict --"

" Today looking not collective ass breakthrough. Because -- much of a difference -- the medications are brought to pump inhibitors. There's certain individual preferences from person to person but they all pretty much at the same way as far as lasting through the night. But the one bricks through it really. It's gonna vary on what went takes out the medication now available the combinations of these two block grant that's attempts to complete as hooligans studied. Enough deceived -- prefer over. For example -- governor this really makes a lot of sense you something like that on an as needed basis. If one breaks through or as you mentioned if you don't you don't breakthrough take things -- before you go to bed. Don't take the chance -- thank you both for joining us thank you for joining our webcast on doctor David marks could --"