Rapid Relief for Heartburn Sufferers?

(CBS)  Do you need help for heartburn?

Up to 50 million Americans suffer some form of acid reflux.

Now, a study from Yale says zinc salts may offer quick relief to painful and potentially dangerous heartburn without the side-effects of the popular medications used to treat it now.

CBS News Medical Correspondent, Dr. Jennifer Ashton shared details about the findings with "Early Show" co-anchor Erica Hill.

Ashton noted it's important to mention the study's limitations as well the good news it seems to contain.

Special Section: Dr. Jennifer Ashton
Dr. Jennifer Ashton's Twitter page

In this case, she said, the study has "a lot of limitations" because it only looked at 12 people.

"It is far away from coming to a theater near you in terms of being able to go to a drugstore, buy this element, zinc, as a treatment for your heartburn," Ashton said. "But the good news is that there is the potential for more research that may show that this actually is very helpful for heartburn."

For some people, heartburn is really debilitating. Current treatments always carry side effects.

Ashton points zinc was found to be quick, effective and largely safe and free of those side effects.

"Right now, if are you suffering from heartburn, the first thing a doctor will tell you is to modify your lifestyle. Behavioral changes are really the first line," she explained. "After that, you can go to over-the-counter antacids or ... blockers, and if those don't work, then to reduce the acid secretion, a doctor may write a prescription for a proton pump inhibitor or a PPI. But again, every time you take a medication, it's risk-benefit. You have to factor in cost, side effect, all of those."

In addition to lifestyle changes, heartburn sufferers should watch for triggers, which include foods high in caffeine, chocolate, spicy foods, acidic or fried or fatty foods.

How do you know if it's chronic problem?

"Self-medication and self-treatment and diagnosis is a big problem for any disease. You don't want to ignore heartburn. It can potentially lead to serious, even precancerous or cancerous changes in the esophagus," Ashton explained.

"If you are suffering from heartburn more than twice a week, over-the-counter, lifestyle containing are not working, you really want to see a doctor. Maybe in the future, something as simple as zinc might give you some relief," she added.

[AcidGuy99]

You don't have to wait for zinc salts. You just need to modify your diet.

My doctor provided me with the following food categories. You just need to eat more of the 'alkaline' foods and eat less (probably much less) of the 'acid' foods.

The foods in the 'Most Alkaline' group are the best at preventing acid reflux and the foods in the 'Most Acid' group can cause acid reflux even in small amounts.

Most Alkaline: Baking soda, Limes, Nectarine, Persimmon, Raspberry, Watermelon, Tangerine, Lentils, Yams, Onions, Daikons, Taro Root, Sea Vegetables, Burdock, Sweet Potato, Pumpkin seeds, chewable calcium pills

More Alkaline: Spices, Cinnamon, Grapefruit, Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Citrus, Mango, Dewberry, Loganberry, Kohlrabi, Parsnip, Garlic, Kale, Parsley, Endive, Mustard Green, Ginger Root, Broccoli, Poppy seeds, molasses

Low Alkaline: Herbs (most), Lemon, Pear, Apple, Avocado, Blackberry, Cherry, Peach, Papaya, Potato, Bell Pepper, Mushroom, Califlower, Eggplant, Pumpkin, Collard Greens, Primrose Oil, Sesame Seeds, Cod Liver Oil, Almonds, Sprouts, Quail Eggs, Green tea, Mu tea, Rice Syrup, Apple Cider Vinegar

Lowest Alkaline: Orange, apricot, banana, blueberry, pineapple, raisin, currant, grape, strawberry, brussel sprout, beet, chive, okra, turnip greens, squash, lettuces, avacod oil, seeds (most), coconut oil, olive oil, linseed oil, oats, quinos, wild rice, duck eggs, ginger tea, sucanar

Lowest Acid: Curry, Guava, Dry Fruit, Figs, Dates, Persimmon Juice, Spinach, Fava Beans, Kidney Beans, String Beans, Chutney, Rhubarb, Pumpkin seed oil, grape seed oil, sunflower oil, pine nuts, canola oil, millet, kasha, triticale, amaranth, brown rice, wild duck, venison, fish, chicken eggs, cream, yogurt, kona coffee, honey, maple syrup, rice vinegar

Low Acid: Vanilla, Plum, Prune, Tomatoes, Tofu, Pinto Beans, White Beans, Navy Beans, Adzuki Beans, Lima Beans, Chard, Almond Oil, Sesame Oil, Safflower Oil, Buckwheat, Wheat, Spelt, Semolina, Teff, Goose, Turkey, Lamb, Mutton, Elk, Shellfish, cow milk, goat milk, aged cheese, soy cheese, black tea, balsamic vinegar

More Acid: Nutmeg, Cranberry, Pomegranate, green pea, peanut, snow pea, legumes (other), carrots, chick pea, pistachio seed, pecans, corn, rye, oat bran, chicken, pork/veal, mussels, squid, casein, new cheeses, coffee, saccharin

Most Acid: Pudding, Jam, Jelly, Soybean, Carob, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, barley, pheasant, beef, lobster, processed cheese, ice cream, beer, sugar, cocoa, white vinegar

[gruven13777]

Actually all you need to do is chew gum for awhile after you eat. Your own saliva neutralizes stomach acid.

[baileyccc]

If you use heart burn medicine you obviously don't know how to eat. CBS news being the pawn for it's largest advertiser Big Pharma, never misses an opportunity to please them by telling the public about some synthetic poison that Big Pharma calls a drug to be sold for astronomical profit. posted by baileyccc

[peacefulperson]

I live a very healthy lifestyle and eat very healthy, too. Yet I get bad heartburn several days a week since I had an endoscopy in April. It gets so bad I've sometimes thought I was having a heart attack. The only way I can function is by taking PPIs. Otherwise I'd be sick in bed every day.

[ikahbodt7]

Eat a pickle, preferably dill. If you are going to eat something that you believe may cause you heartburn eat a pickle first, and maybe afterward as well I believe this is why dill slices are served with lunches in restaurants.