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Category: Articles » Health & Fitness » Nutrition » Article » Article Code

How to Prevent Heartburn

Millions of us suffer from bouts of heartburn, some more frequently and more painful than others. We reach for the antacid and hope that it helps, the quicker the better. However, there are ways we can reduce the risk of enduring another bout of heartburn. Despite the name, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart. It is a burning feeling that occurs in the lower chest area and is usually accompanied by a sour taste in the throat or mouth. Heartburn usually happens after overeating, eating certain foods that are heartburn triggers, bending over, wearing clothes that ... read more

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Despite the name, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart. It is a burning feeling that occurs in the lower chest area and is usually accompanied by a sour taste in the throat or mouth. Heartburn usually happens after overeating, eating certain foods that are heartburn triggers, bending over, wearing clothes that are too tight, and stress.

CAUSES OF HEARTBURN

The food we eat is transported from our mouth down a tube called the esophagus. In order for the food to enter the stomach, it must go through a gap that is between the esophagus and the stomach.

Normally, this gap closes as soon as food passes through it. If it does not close, stomach acid can rise up through the opening back into the esophagus (called reflux). The stomach acid causes irritation to the esophagus, causing the feeling of heartburn.

Some guidelines that can help prevent heartburn are listed below:

+AVOID KNOWN HEARTBURN TRIGGERS. There are some foods and beverages that can increase your risk of reflux. Some of these triggers are: alcoholic beverages (Alcohol relaxes the lower esophagus, allowing reflux. It also increases the production of stomach acid.), coffee and sodas containing caffeine, chocolate, tomatoes, onions, spicy and fatty foods. Since you probably know already what your triggers are, try to avoid them.

+DO NOT STUFF YOURSELF. A full stomach puts extra pressure on your esophagus, increasing the chance of reflux. Eat smaller portions at regular intervals throughout the day.

+LOSE WEIGHT. Being overweight or obese puts more pressure on your abdomen, pushing the contents of the stomach up into the esophagus.

+DO NOT EAT NEAR BEDTIME. Lying down too soon after eating increases the chance of reflux.

+ELEVATE YOUR HEAD WHILE YOU SLEEP. When you lie down flat, the contents of your stomach are pressed against your esophagus. Elevating your head reduces this pressure.

+DO NOT WEAR TIGHT CLOTHES. If you wear clothes that are too tight around your middle, it pushes the food in your stomach up into your esophagus, causing reflux.

If your attacks of heartburn are infrequent, then it is probably nothing to worry about. If you experience it regularly, you can damage your esophagus, causing trouble with swallowing. It can also be a symptom of acid reflux disease or a peptic ulcer.

For most people, there are effective over-the-counter medications that can provide relief by neutralizing their stomach acids. Antacids are the most popular choice for most people. Some brands of antacids that are widely used are Maalox, Mylanta, and Rolaids. If antacids do not provide the relief you need, ask your physician for suggestions.

If you have any of the symptoms listed below, see your physician:

+You suffer from heartburn more than several times a week

+Difficulty in swallowing

+Dizziness

+Shortness of breath

+Vomiting blood

+Pain in your chest accompanied by pain or numbness in your neck, arm or shoulder

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