What It Is and What to Do About It

What you need to know about heartburn — when to worry, when not, what to do.

Written by Kathleen Doheny

• What Is Heartburn?
• How Do You Know If It’s Heartburn or Your Heart?
• Note the Time Your Heartburn Symptoms Occur
• Is There Anything Besides Eating That Leads to Heartburn?
• What’s “Normal” With Heartburn?
• When Should Someone See a Doctor About Heartburn?
• How Does the Doctor Evaluate Heartburn?
• How Is Heartburn Treated?
• More

Heartburn is that awful burning sensation in your chest or throat, usually when acid rises up from your stomach. Heartburn is always an annoyance. But if you’re like many people with heartburn, you also probably find yourself worrying from time to time. Could it be something more serious? Is there something wrong with your digestive system? Or maybe you think it’s your heart.

Even when you’re pretty sure it’s heartburn, it can be hard to know what to do. Should you take an antacid, schedule an appointment to see your doctor, or call 911?

Here’s information you can use to know what to do the next time heartburn gives you that burning feeling.

Heartburn, also called acid indigestion, is a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). It can occur when acid or other contents from your stomach “back up” into the esophagus. That’s the tube food passes through going from your mouth to your stomach.

The problem stems from a muscle that may be weak or may relax at inappropriate times. It’s called the lower esophageal sphincter or LES, and it’s located between your stomach and your esophagus. If it doesn’t close quickly enough, it can’t prevent the acid backwash. That results in heartburn.

When acid reflux is frequent, you may have a condition called GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease.

If you’re trying to figure out if it’s just heartburn from GERD — which by itself is rarely life-threatening — pay attention to any other symptoms. That’s the advice of Peter Galier, MD, an internal medicine specialist at Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital in Santa Monica, Calif. He is also an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California Los Angeles.

Galier typically asks patients who complain of heartburn these three questions:

• Are you sweaty?
• Do you have palpitations?
• Are you short of breath?

If any of those symptoms occur with the heartburn, Galier says, you should see a physician and make sure it is not heart-related.

Think, too, about when the heartburn occurs. Galier says if it happens after a big meal, and it’s just the burning in the chest, with no other symptoms, it’s more than likely heartburn or indigestion. But if you have any doubt, it’s wise to ask your doctor for an evaluation.

“If you have chest pain after a meal, it’s more likely to be reflux,” agrees Glenn Eisen, MD, MPH, professor of medicine and director of endoscopy at the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. But that’s not a perfect test, he says. “It could be cardiac.”

Phil Katz, MD, says that knowing what “classic” heartburn is like may help. Katz is president-elect of the American College of Gastroenterology and clinical professor of medicine at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.

“The classic heartburn symptom,” he tells WebMD, “is burning that starts at the upper stomach or lower breastbone and progresses upward and occurs after a meal or when bending over.” He adds, “It’s rapidly relieved by an antacid within a few minutes.”

Besides eating a heavy meal, heavy lifting can cause heartburn, says Galier. So can exercise. And lying flat, especially after eating a big meal, can lead to heartburn, too.

People who are overweight or obese are more likely to suffer, Eisen says, noting that some people think only obesity raises heartburn risk. He also points out that pregnant women can suffer heartburn. He says that’s probably because elevated levels of the hormone progesterone cause a temporary weakness in the LES.

“Heartburn should never be considered normal,” says Galier. Food is often the culprit. People with heartburn typically may be sensitive to foods such as chocolate, carbonated beverages, peppermint, coffee, citrus foods, fried and fatty foods, and spicy foods.

Having heartburn more than occasionally can reduce your quality of life. It can affect not just what you eat, but how you sleep and what activities you do.

And if heartburn from acid reflux persists and you don’t get treatment, complications can occur. They include damaging inflammation of the esophagus that affects the lining and causes bleeding. Another potential complication is Barrett’s esophagus. With Barrett’s esophagus the cells that line the esophagus become abnormal. That, in turn, boosts the risk of esophageal cancer.

Galier says if you are reaching for antacids more days than not, you should see your doctor.

Eisen considers heartburn “occasional” if it occurs once a week or less. He says it’s time to seek medical help if you have had heartburn more than once a week for six months or longer more and are not getting better.

Your doctor may order several different tests and take the following steps to evaluate persistent heartburn that hasn’t gone away even after you modify factors such as your diet:

• Your doctor may ask for an EKG to help rule out heart-related problems.
• Your doctor will perform an examination to see if you have any abdominal mass or a hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach and the LES move above the diaphragm.
• Your doctor will check your blood pressure.
• Your doctor will take a careful medical history to see if medications are causing the problem.
• Your doctor may ask for a gastric emptying study to see how fast food goes out of your stomach or a test to show how well the esophagus and the LES work.
• Your doctor may refer you for an upper endoscopy. In this test, a flexible tube with a tiny camera helps the doctor assess the esophagus and look for damage or abnormalities.

If you have uncomplicated heartburn from acid reflux, your doctor may prescribe over-the-counter or prescription medicines. These include common antacids such as Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids, or Tums. Your doctor may also prescribe more powerful medications called proton pump inhibitors, such as Aciphex, Nexium, Prilosec, and Protonix. These medicines are considered very effective and help heal the esophageal lining. Other drugs like Tagamet and Pepcid reduce acid production, while still others like Reglan help empty the stomach.

Lifestyle modification, such as cutting down on foods that trigger your heartburn, can help. So can avoiding heavy meals, not eating a big meal within two hours of bedtime, and not lying down soon after a meal. Stress reduction may help reduce heartburn incidents. If you smoke, you should quit, as it can be a heartburn trigger.

If you get exercise-induced heartburn, “try to exercise on a relatively empty stomach,” Katz says. Take medication for heartburn before your workout.

If none of those steps help enough, surgery can help. Surgery can be done to strengthen the LES muscle or to repair the hiatal hernia.

Top Picks

Is It “Just” Heartburn or Something More Serious?

By John Dowd, DO, Concord Gastroenterology Associates

10/28/2021

When is the occasional bout of heartburn not “just heartburn”? If you are experiencing heartburn on a daily basis, it is likely time to be evaluated for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Persistent, untreated GERD may lead to more serious conditions. Sometimes, it can be a precursor to other diseases, including cancer.

John Dowd, DO, a gastroenterologist with Concord Gastroenterology Associates, provides insight into what GERD is, what it is not, and how you can address symptoms in a safe, healthy way.

Reflux Signs & Symptoms

The stomach makes a very powerful acid. This acid works to sterilize the food you eat. When acid enters the esophagus, the defense mechanisms other parts of the digestive tract possess are lacking — which causes a burning sensation.

Beyond burning, reflux can cause damage to the esophagus in the form of ulcerations or erosions, especially if it occurs on a chronic basis. “Heartburn is really a symptom of acid reflux,” states Dr. Dowd. Other symptoms that can occur as a result of reflux include cough, hoarseness, throat pain, throat clearing, chest pain, nausea, and even vomiting.

And it can be very painful — even mistaken for a heart attack. It is not infrequent that Dr. Dowd’s colleagues in the emergency department see patients for GERD-related heart attack symptoms. The first step in these cases is to assess the patient for a cardiac issue and then treat them accordingly.

In some cases, the opposite occurs. Dr. Dowd recounts situations where patients came to him for a GERD evaluation and he ultimately sent them to a cardiologist. “One patient said, ‘Every time I am going up this hill, walking my dog, I get this bad pain in my chest. And my doctor sent me here for an evaluation of reflux.’ I picked up the phone and got him an appointment with a cardiologist.”

Mild, Moderate, or Severe?

Per Dr. Dowd, “Everybody has reflux. What defines whether it is a disease or not is how long the acid is in contact with the esophagus. We do specialized testing to evaluate reflux. When we see very high quantities, for very long periods of time, that’s pathologic. That designates a disease state. When it is minimal and is cleared rapidly, people usually do not have a problem.”

Reflux is considered mild if it occurs no more than twice a week.  Take this GERD risk quiz to learn more about your GERD symptoms and risks.

When Is Reflux Severe?

When individuals report suffering with symptoms more than twice a week, or if any of the below symptoms are associated with reflux, the condition requires further evaluation by a gastroenterologist.

• Difficulty swallowing
• Painful swallowing
• Evidence of gastrointestinal bleeding
• Unexplained weight loss
• Coughing at night

Typically, patients will undergo an endoscopy to determine if there is damage to the esophagus — and to what extent. According to Dr. Dowd, only about a third of patients who experience reflux have evidence of damage.

“When we identify patients who have more severe symptoms or longstanding duration of symptoms, that rate of damage goes up significantly. The rate of abnormalities seen in endoscopy is much higher. So, those patients are the ones who really need a gastroenterologist. ”

Treatment Options

Patients with mild GERD symptoms are often advised to try over-the-counter antacids called H-2 blockers (e.g. Tagamet, Axid). Patients who require the next level up in therapy are given a class of drug called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). However, these medications should not be used for long periods of time.

Ultimately, Dr. Dowd urges individuals who are suffering with symptoms to get checked out — especially those with significant indications. “Anyone who has difficulty swallowing, painful swallowing, weight loss, loss of appetite, or signs or symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding should be evaluated by a gastroenterologist.”

Listen to the Podcast

Dr. John Dowd discusses heartburn and when you should seek help from a doctor.

Visit our podcast page to find the latest episode or subscribe to the Health Works Here Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and wherever podcasts can be heard.

Request an Appointment

Dr. John Dowd is a board-certified gastroenterologist. For more information, or to make an appointment, fill out the form on this page or call (978) 287-3835.

Related Content

• Take this GERD risk quiz to learn more about your GERD symptoms and risks
• Learn About Concord Gastroenterology Associates
• When to See a Doctor About Common Digestive Disorders

Heartburn after eating – causes, symptoms and treatment | Heartburn after eating | Nutrition for heartburn

Co-author, editor and medical expert – Klimovich Elina Valerievna.

Number of views: 4,790

Date last updated: 12/20/2021

Average read time: 5 minutes

Such burning sensation, usually occurring 30-40 minutes after eating, is the result of involuntary reflux of acidic stomach contents into the esophagus.

Mechanism of heartburn

The esophagus is a part of the alimentary canal, which has the form of a tube that ensures the passage of the food bolus from the pharynx to the stomach. Normally, in the absence of swallowing movements, the place of its transition to the stomach is blocked by the lower esophageal valve, which acts as a damper. During the passage of food, the muscle ring opens reflexively, and then closes again until a new portion arrives, preventing aggressive gastric juice from entering the esophagus. If the action of the described protective mechanism is violated, heartburn develops.

Causes of heartburn

Obesity

According to statistics, almost 100% of obese people are characterized by the appearance of signs of heartburn after eating. This is because obese people tend to increase intragastric pressure. It helps to disrupt the action of the protective mechanism and relax the muscle ring that blocks the entrance from the esophagus to the stomach.

Stress

Under the influence of various stress factors, some people experience the so-called nervous heartburn. The cause of this condition is a malfunction of the esophagus. Psycho-emotional stress provokes periodically occurring disordered contractions of the walls of this organ, leading to improper opening and closing of the lower esophageal muscle ring.

Excessive exercise

Frequent forward bending and excessive abdominal tension, heavy lifting and other similar activities can also lead to increased pressure in the abdominal cavity, reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus and, as a result, to heartburn.

Bad habits

Smoking and alcohol abuse increase the concentration of hydrochloric acid in the stomach and reduce the tone of the lower esophageal muscle ring.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

In some cases, a strong burning sensation in the retrosternal region, which occurs against the background of other clinical symptoms, may be a manifestation of various diseases of the digestive tract.

Why does heartburn occur after eating?

Often heartburn after eating occurs due to excessive secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. This occurs when eating fatty, fried, spicy, smoked foods and marinades. Citrus fruits, fruits with high acidity and tomatoes, which contribute to increased production of gastric juice, can also provoke a burning sensation.

Under the influence of caffeine, the esophageal valve relaxes, and the contents of the stomach enter the esophagus, causing an unpleasant burning sensation, and carbonated drinks increase intragastric pressure, which also leads to heartburn.

In addition to the above, mention should be made of cheese, avocado, peppermint, nuts, milk chocolate, chips and confectionery.

Nutrition for heartburn

It is important to follow a specific diet and diet when you have heartburn. Nutrition should be balanced, mechanically, chemically and thermally sparing.

For heartburn, eat:

• vegetables,
• bananas,
• sweet apples,
• lean boiled or baked meat,
• cereals,

900 61 low-fat dairy products,

• low-fat first and second dishes.

It is recommended to exclude from the diet or minimize consumption of:

• citrus fruits,
• sour fruits and their juices,
• garlic,
• onions,
• tomatoes,
• fatty and fried foods,
• high fat dairy products,
• condiments, sauces,
• cream confectionery,
• fatty first courses,

9006 1 chocolate,

• coffee,
• strong tea ,
• carbonated and alcoholic drinks.

How to get rid of heartburn?

Give up bad habits. Smoking and alcohol abuse have a negative effect on all parts of the digestive tract without exception, but the lower esophageal valve is primarily affected, which leads to a constant burning sensation behind the sternum. Giving up bad habits after a while completely normalizes the condition, and also prevents the development of more serious and dangerous complications.

Normalize the daily routine. People suffering from heartburn after eating are advised to normalize their daily routine. Instead of three meals a day, you should switch to fractional, 4-6 meals a day. It is advisable to take food silently and slowly, in order to avoid swallowing excess air and increasing intragastric pressure. Dinner should be 3 hours before bedtime. Evening walks in the fresh air are very useful, which help food to be digested as much as possible and help to normalize the level of acidity. At the same time, lying down after eating is very harmful, since in a horizontal position the contents of the stomach penetrate the esophagus more easily.

However, it should be understood that persistent heartburn is not a disease, but a symptom. Therefore, to completely eliminate it, you should seek help from a doctor who will diagnose and treat the disease that provoked this condition.

How to get rid of heartburn? | doc.ua

What is heartburn? Heartburn is a common symptom of acid reflux, a condition in which some of the contents of the stomach back up into the esophagus. This creates a burning pain in the lower part of the chest. Intermittent heartburn is common and not a cause for concern. Most people can manage the discomfort of heartburn on their own with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications. Heartburn that occurs more frequently or interferes with your daily life may be a symptom of a more serious condition that requires medical attention. In this article, we will explain in more detail what heartburn is and how it manifests itself.

Heartburn symptoms

Heartburn symptoms can range from mild to very uncomfortable. The most common symptom of heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest and throat.

What is heartburn, symptoms? Heartburn is felt as an unpleasant or burning pain in the middle of the chest. You may also experience the following heartburn symptoms:

• chest pressure or pain;
• difficulty swallowing;
• increased pain after lying down or bending over;
• sharp, sour or bitter taste in the mouth;
• nausea;
• increased gas formation in the esophagus;
• cough or hoarseness.

Causes of heartburn

Heartburn usually occurs when stomach contents back up into the esophagus. The esophagus is a tube that carries food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach. Your esophagus connects to your stomach at a place known as the lower esophageal sphincter. If the lower esophageal sphincter is functioning properly, it closes when food leaves the esophagus and enters the stomach.

In some people, the lower esophageal sphincter does not function properly or becomes weak, causing heartburn. This causes the contents of the stomach to reflux back into the esophagus. Stomach acids can irritate the esophagus and cause heartburn symptoms. This condition is known as reflux.

Other causes of heartburn or risk factors include:

• Hiatus hernia. A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach comes through the diaphragm, usually due to weakness or rupture.
• Pregnancy. Heartburn is common during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester.
• Smoking. Smoking is associated with an increased risk of developing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
• Overweight or obese. Obesity is a major risk factor for GERD, with heartburn being a typical manifestation of the condition.
• Taking certain medications. Certain medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, sedatives, and blood pressure medications, can increase the risk of heartburn.

Heartburn after eating

If you have heartburn, you may find that certain foods and drinks can trigger symptoms. These may include:

• heartburn from sweets, especially chocolate;
• citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges and orange juice;
• tomatoes and tomato products;
• peppermint;
• fried food;
• foods high in fat;
• black pepper, garlic, raw onions and other spicy foods;
• coffee and caffeinated drinks. Can tea cause heartburn? Yes, tea and sodas also contain caffeine and cause heartburn;
• alcohol, especially red wine.

Heartburn in children

In very young children, heartburn is usually caused by an immature digestive tract. This condition often resolves by the time they are 1 year old.

In older children, the causes of heartburn are different than in infants and adults. In many cases, this happens when the muscular valve between the stomach and esophagus relaxes, or when pressure builds up under that valve.

Risks include being overweight, exposure to secondhand smoke, and eating certain types of foods (eg, spicy foods). Children with neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy are also at greater risk.

What can children do for heartburn?

• Give your child smaller meals throughout the day rather than three large meals.
• Do not let your child eat 2-3 hours before bedtime.
• Do not give your child caffeine and spicy, fried or acidic foods. Foods to avoid if your child has frequent heartburn include chocolate, caffeinated sodas, peppermint, oranges and other citrus fruits, and tomatoes.
• Raise your child’s headboard.
• Encourage your child to exercise regularly.

If symptoms persist, medicines for heartburn in children may be needed. Some heartburn pills for kids that help with gas include:

• simethicone;
• calcium carbonate antacid.

These medicines should only be taken with your doctor’s prescription.

Pregnancy heartburn

Heartburn in late pregnancy is very common. More than half of all pregnant women complain of severe heartburn, especially in the third trimester. It is more common in women who have been pregnant before and in those who had heartburn before pregnancy.

Why do pregnant women get heartburn? Causes of heartburn during pregnancy include:

1. Changes in hormone levels: Hormone levels change during pregnancy, which affects how you carry and digest food. Hormones often slow down the digestive system. Food moves more slowly, causing bloating and heartburn.
2. Relaxation of the esophageal sphincter: progesterone, known as the hormone of pregnancy, can cause relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. When it relaxes, stomach acid can rise up into the esophagus.
3. Enlargement of the uterus: as your baby grows, your uterus will get bigger. This can overfill the stomach and push stomach acid up into the esophagus. This is why heartburn is more common in the third trimester, the last few months of pregnancy.

How to get rid of heartburn during pregnancy? What can help pregnant women with heartburn at home? Try these natural remedies for pregnancy heartburn:

• Eat yogurt or drink some milk.
• Add a tablespoon of honey to warm milk and drink.

First Aid for Heartburn

If your heartburn suddenly sets in, first aid at home will include the following options:

• The best known way to get rid of heartburn as quickly as possible is to take a solution of baking soda. You can dilute a pinch of salt in 1 glass of boiled water and drink. Do not overdo it with soda, because by neutralizing hydrochloric acid, at the same time, it leads to the formation of gas bubbles that provoke belching.
• The same applies to milk, which is often advised for heartburn, because milk is digested in the stomach with the release of lactic acid, which, when it enters the mucosa of the esophagus, irritates it just like hydrochloric acid. A glass of low-fat milk may help.
• Drink a glass of mineral water.
• Take heartburn medicine (powder, tablets).

Treatment for heartburn

What is heartburn and how is it treated? In most cases, heartburn can be treated at home with over-the-counter medications and lifestyle changes that trigger this feeling. Intermittent heartburn is common and usually not serious. However, if you have frequent and severe heartburn, contact your healthcare provider. This may be a sign of a chronic condition such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Over-the-counter heartburn medications usually include antacids and acid blockers.

Heartburn medicine

What to take for heartburn? A modern analogue of soda are antacids based on magnesium, calcium and aluminum salts (Renny, Gastal, Gaviscon), the action of which is also based on the neutralization of acids and enzymes that have entered the esophagus. At the same time, antacids, although they eliminate the symptoms of heartburn, do not protect against its recurrence.

Other drugs for heartburn include:

Symptomatic 170 ml; Almagel M tablets for rassas. with taste. mint No. 24; Almagel Neo suspension 170 ml; Almagel A suspension Pak. 10 ml No. 20.

Remmax-KV tablets #18 (orange).

Medicinal

• Omez capsules 10 mg #30; Omez DSR capsules №30.
• Omeprazole Teva capsules 20 mg №30.
• Nolpaza tablets 20 mg #28; Nolpaza tablets 40 mg, №28.
• Kvamatel tablets 20 mg №28.
• Controloc tablets 20 mg, #14.
• Zolopent tablets 40 mg №30.
• Nexium tablets 20 mg, №14.

Important! You can take drugs only as prescribed by a doctor, self-treatment can only worsen the symptoms.

How to get rid of heartburn?

How to get rid of severe heartburn? You may need to see your healthcare provider again if lifestyle changes or over-the-counter or prescription medications do not improve your symptoms. This may be a sign that you have a more serious condition called GERD.

To diagnose GERD, your doctor will review your medical history and ask you about your symptoms. It can also run several tests, including:

• Ambulatory acid (pH) probe test. Your doctor will insert a small tube through your nose and into your esophagus. A sensor at the end of the tube measures the amount of stomach acid in the esophagus.
• Esophageal pH monitoring. The doctor places a capsule on the lining of the esophagus to measure acid reflux.
• X-ray. The doctor will use an X-ray image to look at your esophagus, stomach, and upper intestines.
• Endoscopy. The doctor will insert a small tube equipped with a camera through the throat and into the stomach to check for an ulcer in the esophagus or stomach lining.
• Esophageal manometry. The doctor will insert a tube through the nose into the esophagus to measure the contractions of the esophagus as you swallow.

How to deal with heartburn? Depending on your diagnosis, your doctor will be able to offer you treatment options to help reduce your symptoms or eliminate heartburn.

How to get rid of heartburn forever?

How to get rid of heartburn forever? If heartburn persists, medications cause side effects that you cannot manage, or you have other complications, you may need surgery. Surgery for heartburn is rarely needed, but it can help get rid of heartburn once and for all.

How to cure heartburn forever? There are several different procedures that can strengthen the valve between the esophagus and the stomach to prevent acid backflow. The most commonly used method is called fundoplication. The surgeon wraps the top of the stomach around the bottom of the esophagus to increase pressure on the muscles that open and close it. There are also modified versions.

The operation is usually performed as a laparoscopy, requiring only small incisions in the abdomen and a short hospital stay.

How to get rid of heartburn at home?

What helps with heartburn at home? The most effective way, in addition to taking drugs for heartburn, is nutrition.

What foods relieve heartburn?

What to eat to get rid of heartburn? To get rid of heartburn through nutrition, try to include foods with low acidity in your diet, such as:

• whole grains such as oatmeal, couscous, brown rice, bread;
• root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and beets;
• green vegetables: broccoli, asparagus, green beans, celery and cauliflower;
• lean chicken and meat;
• bananas, melons, watermelon;
• cucumbers;
• nuts;
• herbal tea;
• milk, yoghurt;
• ginger.

Folk remedies for heartburn

As we said above, the most popular folk remedies are soda and milk for heartburn. Other effective folk remedies for heartburn are:

• Heartburn salt. Ordinary salt can serve as a good remedy for the manifestations of symptoms of heartburn. It is able to cause the release of acidic enzymes that help neutralize the effects of bile. A small pinch of coarse table salt is placed in the mouth and slowly absorbed, constantly swallowing the resulting saliva.
• Chewing gum. Some studies show that chewing gum for half an hour helps with heartburn. This process stimulates the production of saliva, which flushes stomach acid from the walls of the esophagus.
• Herbal tea. Suitable chamomile, ginger or licorice.
• Homemade lemonade. Although lemon juice is acidic, a small amount mixed with water reduces the acidity of the stomach during digestion.

Heartburn Prevention

You can often prevent and manage heartburn by making dietary and lifestyle changes. These changes, more specifically the prevention of heartburn, include:

• Don’t go to bed with a full stomach. Eat at least three to four hours before you go to bed.
• Avoid overeating. Reducing portion sizes at meals can help reduce the risk of heartburn.
• Slow down. Slow eating often helps prevent heartburn.
• Wear loose clothing. Belts and tight clothing can sometimes cause heartburn. By changing your wardrobe to avoid these items, you can prevent heartburn.
• Avoid certain foods. Sour fatty, spicy foods, chocolate, alcohol, mint and carbonated drinks should be removed from the diet to prevent heartburn.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Losing weight can often help relieve heartburn.
• Do not smoke. Nicotine can weaken the lower esophageal sphincter (the valve that separates the stomach from the esophagus).
• Sleep on your left side. This can aid digestion and remove acid from the stomach and esophagus more quickly.
• Raise the head of the bed so that the head and chest are higher than the legs.
• Plan your workouts to avoid heartburn. Wait at least two hours after eating before exercising.