It is unlikely for anyone to discover that drinking alcohol negatively affects many of our body systems. The digestive tract will not be an exception. Heartburn after alcohol is not such a rare consequence. Why does this unpleasant burning sensation occur in the chest and stomach? What symptoms are still observed? What alcohol causes it? Are there any complications? How to get rid of heartburn after alcohol? We will give detailed answers to all these questions in the article.
Why is this happening?
Why does heartburn occur after alcohol? There are several reasons for this:
- A number of varieties of alcoholic beverages stimulate increased production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
- Alcoholic drinks are often combined with spicy, fatty, salty foods, fast food - food that additionally contributes to problems with the stomach and digestion.
- If you have consumed alcoholic carbonated drinks, they can help increase pressure on the intraperitoneal region. This entails a feeling of heartburn after alcohol - an unpleasant burning sensation in the chest and abdomen.
- Heartburn can occur if you drink alcohol or food with sugary drinks.
- In the event that a person puts on tight, uncomfortable clothes that directly tightens the intestinal or stomach zones, heartburn also occurs.
- When drinking alcohol, the esophageal sphincter relaxes. This leads to disruption of the process of moving food from the esophagus to the stomach area.
- You have already been diagnosed with high acidity, an ulcer of the esophagus, stomach, or gastritis. Taking alcohol in this case will be only a provoking factor.
In addition, to the causes of heartburn after alcohol, you can add such additional factors as excess body weight, malnutrition, addiction to tobacco smoking. But how do certain drinks affect the body?
Wine exposure
You now know why heartburn after alcohol is not so rare. What effect does wine have on the digestive tract?
Experts advise to refrain from the use of surrogate red wines in the amount of more than 100-200 ml per day. If the product is not entirely of high quality, alcohol and acid contained in it irritate the mucous membranes of both the esophagus and the stomach. The latter bursts under the force of fermentation. This helps to weaken the sphincter, which leads to the ingress of gastric juice (in which hydrochloric acid is present) into the esophagus.
Accordingly, the stronger the fermentation processes in the stomach, the higher its contents are thrown over the esophagus. This causes a feeling of heartburn, sour belching, an unpleasant burning sensation in the throat and even on the tongue. Sore throat and difficulty swallowing may appear.
What to do with heartburn after alcohol here? Do not turn to a common folk remedy - a solution of baking soda! When it comes into contact with water, a certain thermal effect is observed, which can injure the esophagus that is already damaged by hydrochloric acid.
Beer exposure
It should be noted that it is beer that contains a considerable proportion of nutrients. But at the same time, heartburn after its use will be quite frequent. Why is this happening? To add strength to beer, manufacturers include special substances in the drink that contribute to increased secretion of gastric juice. And if you bite with chips, nuts or crackers, these products can cause fermentation, and even putrefactive processes in the stomach.
Note that beer also contains a large amount of carbon dioxide, which causes bloating. He also touches the sphincter. Under gas pressure, the latter weakens, which allows gastric juice to enter the esophagus. The effect of hydrochloric acid on its mucous membranes causes an unpleasant burning sensation in the sternum. Therefore, with the abuse of beer drinks, an ulcer of the esophagus often develops.
Exposure to spirits
The most common causes of heartburn, however, are drinks with a strength above 40 degrees. Even a small portion of such a heating fluid has a negative effect on the digestive system. In particular, it burns the mucous membrane of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, violates its integrity. In addition to heartburn, a person suffers from acid belching, hiccups.
Particularly dangerous in this category are home-made (surrogate) spirits like homemade vodka and moonshine. After them, people suffer from gastrointestinal troubles most often. But lovers of strong elite alcohol are not immune from heartburn. Their frequent use also disrupts the normal functioning of the digestive tract, which is the cause of heartburn.
Exposure to low alcohol drinks
Low alcohol cocktails and champagne also have a very negative effect on the body. The carbon dioxide contained in them, not only contributes to the rapid onset of intoxication, but also causes bloating.
The digestive tract, filling with gas bubbles, suffers from strong gas pressure on the walls of organs. In particular, this effect weakens the sphincter, which begins to pass the gastric juice into the esophagus. From the action of hydrochloric acid on its walls, heartburn begins. Therefore, the frequent drinking of even a minimum of alcoholic carbonated cocktails threatens such serious diseases as gastritis, ulcers and even malignant tumors of the stomach.
Associated symptoms
To the discomfort in the form of a burning sensation in the sternum, the gastric zone, such characteristic symptoms of heartburn can be added:
- Heaviness in the stomach.
- Belching with a sour taste.
- Cough.
- Violation of the process of swallowing food.
- Sore throat.
What can be the complications?
Heartburn after alcohol the day after gatherings and parties is not the worst result. Excessive, uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, in addition, may be fraught with the following:
- Food poisoning.
- Alcohol intoxication of the body.
- The appearance of addiction to alcohol.
Medications
What to do with severe heartburn after alcohol? The most correct way out is to consult your doctor. Depending on the specifics, the severity of your condition, he will prescribe a certain medication:
- "Maalox." A medicine based on sodium hydroxide. It should be taken an hour after eating.
- Almagel. The drug is presented in pharmacies in the form of a suspension for internal use. Shake the medicine bottle immediately before use. To eliminate heartburn, 5-10 ml of such a drug is enough. The frequency of medication is about 3-4 times a day. Almagel can be used not only in case of severe heartburn after alcohol, but also for the prevention of stomach problems.
- Smecta. One of the most effective adsorbent preparations. Its effectiveness is guaranteed by the fact that Smecta creates a protective film on the walls of the stomach, which reduces the effect of hydrochloric acid on them - this also neutralizes heartburn after drinking alcohol. Also, the drug helps the body to intensely remove harmful substances and compounds. For use, Smecta powder is diluted in 1/2 cup of water.
- Phosphalugel. The medication is appreciated for its enveloping properties in relation to the walls of the stomach. It neutralizes the effects of hydrochloric acid, helps to eliminate toxins. Take twice a day, one sachet. Drinking water "Phosphalugel" is not necessary.
- Activated carbon. This universal remedy will help not only with heartburn, but also with a hangover, food poisoning and alcohol intoxication of the body. It is best to take on an empty stomach, observing the dosage - 1 tablet of coal per 10 kg of human weight.
Folk remedies
Against heartburn after drinking alcohol, folk remedies can also be effective. We list the most common and verified of them:
- Flax seeds. They are appreciated for their enveloping effect on the gastric walls. To get rid of discomfort, you must first grind 15 g of seeds, and then pour them with a glass (200 ml) of boiling water. This remedy needs to be insisted on the order of 10 hours. It is best to prepare a drink for the night, and in the morning, be sure to strain. The drug is taken in 10 ml before each meal (at least three times a day). The rest of the infusion can be drunk completely at night.
- Buckwheat. How to get rid of heartburn after alcohol? Pre-grind the grits in a coffee grinder. The powder is taken 5 g three times a day. It must be washed down with plenty of water. Note that buckwheat is an important component of diet in general. Therefore, soups, side dishes with their contents also help to reduce the unpleasant feeling of heartburn.
- Baking soda. If you began to suffer from heartburn after an alcoholic party, you can try to alleviate your condition with the help of the most popular folk remedy. Dilute 5 g of baking soda in one glass (200 ml) of pure water. Such a solution will help neutralize the effect of hydrochloric acid on the walls of the stomach. But do not exceed the prescribed dose! Otherwise, you may be bothered by side effects such as poor overall health, heaviness in the abdomen, and headache. In addition, people with severe diseases of the heart and digestive system should refuse this remedy.
- Mineral water. Alkaline mineral water is considered to be a popular folk remedy for treating the consequences after drinking alcohol - without gas!
- Caraway or marshmallow. Such infusions can cope with an unpleasant burning sensation in the sternum and stomach. They are also known for calming effects on the digestive system. But their use is contraindicated, if you are prone to allergic reactions, you have been diagnosed with individual intolerance to such components.
Helper Products
If there is heartburn after alcohol the next day, pay attention to delicious herbal teas, infusions, drinks that will significantly ease your condition:
- Pharmacy chamomile.
- Marshmallow.
- Plantain.
- St. John's wort
- Caraway.
- Dill.
- Nettle.
- Sagebrush.
As for food, the following will help alleviate the condition:
- Viburnum jam (1 tbsp.spoon of product per day).
- Potato juice (in 200 ml of the drink, add 1 tbsp.spoon of honey, then use it before meals three times a day).
- Walnuts (1 tbsp.spoon of product per day).
- Almond.
What consequences?
Heartburn is not a disease in itself. Nevertheless, if you constantly provoke it by taking alcoholic beverages, this can lead to rather serious consequences:
- Chronic gastritis.
- Chronic cholecystitis.
- Duodenitis.
- An ulcer of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum.
What should I refuse?
Of course, if every reception of even a small portion of an alcoholic drink turns into heartburn and other problems with the digestive tract, alcohol should be completely abandoned.
If heartburn torments you occasionally, you can afford to occasionally have a glass of high-quality vodka, elite cognac. Wine should be drunk with caution - it increases acidity and promotes enhanced production of gastric juice. The black list contains all carbonated alcohol - beer, champagne, cocktails.
Heartburn with alcohol is not such a rare consequence. Even small portions of alcoholic beverages can have a negative effect on the esophagus and stomach. If you use them often, in large quantities, you can greatly damage not only the digestive tract, but also the whole body. Single consequences can be really neutralized by the methods of this article. But if heartburn awaits you after each alcohol party, you should refuse alcohol altogether.